9. Zhang Zilin: first Miss World

Zhang Zilin

The 57th Miss World Beauty Pageant was held in December 2007. Miss China, Zhang Zilin, surprisingly took the laurel. It was the first time that a Chinese competitor had won one of the three world beauty contest events. Many foreign media commented positively on the event, saying that it demonstrated the rapid development of China's economy.

Zhang Zilin's success has created new opportunities for the Chinese fashion industry. As a unique brand, the influence of the Miss World title and its commercial value will be raised to a new height as the beauty contest is popularized among more and more people.

10. Zhang Zhifeng

Zhang Zhifeng

Zhang Zhifeng is the inspiration behind China's leading designer brand, NE • TIGER, which will headline the opening show at the upcoming China Fashion Week in November for the seventh consecutive year. Through NE • TIGER, established in 1992, Zhang has applied a philosophy that blends ancient and modern, Chinese and Western, to create the brand's unique "sensual de luxe" style.

A contemporary range of furs established NE • TIGER at the pinnacle of fashion's haut-de-gamme; its innovative evening gowns introduced evening dress culture to China; NE • TIGER wedding dresses heralded a creative revolution in China's wedding market, while the "Hua Fu" line unveiled fashions inspired by traditional Chinese dress to the rest of the world.

(China.org.cn by Fan Junmei, October 30, 2008)