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These Aren’t Wrestlers, They’re Chinese Women Modeling the Latest Beachwear

2 minute read

When you look at Kevin Frayer’s slightly unsettling images, you ask yourself if masked Mexican wrestlers have invaded the coastal Chinese city of Qingdao. But no.

The lucha libre look is just the latest in beachwear, a must-have for women worried about getting too much — or, um, any — sun. And while they may look a little frightening — “other people may worry you plan to rob a bank!” observed one netizen — they are the talk of the town, from China’s stodgy state press to supposedly chic French fashion magazines.

The facekini, or lianjini in Chinese, first made waves in 2012, when a bunch of Chinese women were photographed wearing them in Qingdao. An Aug. 19 report in Xinhua, China’s state newswire, said 58-year-old resident Zhang Shifan created the look to protect herself from jellyfish and the summer sun.

Pale skin is prized in China — so much so that the slang term for an attractive woman is bai fu mei, or fair, rich, beautiful — but even Zhang said she was caught off guard by the level of interest. “I’m so surprised that this mask is so popular,” she told Xinhua.

That makes all of us, auntie.

A Chinese woman wears a face-kini as she poses on Aug. 21, 2014 in the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.
A woman wears a facekini as she poses on Aug. 21, 2014, in the Yellow Sea in Qingdao, China.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Chinese women wear face-kinis as they stand in the water on Aug. 20, 2014 on the Yellow Sea in Qingdao, China.
Women wear facekinis as they stand in the water on Aug. 20, 2014, on the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
A Chinese woman wears a face-kini as she walks into the water to swim on the beach on Aug, 22, 2014 on the Yellow Sea.
A woman wears a facekini as she walks into the water to swim on the beach on Aug. 22, 2014, on the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
China's Face-kini Becomes Unlikely Global Fashion Hit
A woman wears a facekini as she poses on Aug. 21, 2014, in the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
China's Face-kini Becomes Unlikely Global Fashion Hit
A woman wears a facekini as she swims on Aug. 20, 2014, on the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
A Chinese woman wears a face-kini as she swims on August 20, 2014 on the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.
A woman wears a facekini as she swims on Aug. 20, 2014, on the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
A woman wears a face-kini as she poses on Aug. 21, 2014 in the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.
A woman wears a facekini as she poses on Aug. 21, 2014, in the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
A Chinese girl wears a face-kini as she floats in the water on August 21, 2014 on the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.
A girl wears a facekini as she floats in the water on Aug. 21, 2014, on the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
A Chinese woman and her daughter wear face-kinis while swimming on Aug. 22, 2014 in the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.
A woman and her daughter wear facekinis while swimming on Aug. 22, 2014, in the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
A woman wears a face-kini as she poses on Aug. 21, 2014 in the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.
A woman wears a facekini as she poses on Aug. 21, 2014, in the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
A woman and her daughter wear face-kinis as they leave the water at the beach on Aug. 21, 2014 on the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.
A woman and her daughter wear facekinis as they leave the water at the beach on Aug. 21, 2014, on the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
A woman adjust her face-kini as she talks with others as they stand on the beach on Aug. 21, 2014 on the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.
A woman adjust her facekini as she talks with others as they stand on the beach on Aug. 21, 2014, on the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
A woman wears a face-kini as she poses on August 21, 2014 in the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.
A woman wears a facekini as she poses on Aug. 21, 2014, in the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
A woman wears a face-kini while swimming on August 22, 2014 in the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.
A woman wears a facekini while swimming on Aug. 22, 2014, in the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
Women wear face-kinis as they exercise on the beach on Aug. 20, 2014 on the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.
Women wear facekinis as they exercise on the beach on Aug. 20, 2014, on the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
A woman wears a face-kini as she poses on Aug. 21, 2014 in the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.
A woman wears a facekini as she poses on Aug. 21, 2014, in the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.Kevin Frayer— Images
A woman sits next to men on the beach on August 20, 2014 on the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.
A woman wearing a facekini sits next to men on the beach on Aug. 20, 2014, on the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images
A woman wears a face-kini as she gets wet before swimming on Aug. 22, 2014 on the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.
A woman wears a facekini as she gets wet before swimming on Aug. 22, 2014, on the Yellow Sea in Qingdao.Kevin Frayer—Getty Images

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Write to Emily Rauhala / Beijing at emily_rauhala@timeasia.com