Despite the controversy around the American Idol-like singing contest Super Girl, the smash hit TV show undoubtedly tapped into China's musical talent pool and brought to light some of the nation's most popular names in pop music today.

Singer Zhou Bichang in this undate photo.

The top three winners of the 2005 Super Girl contest: Chris Li, Zhou Bichang and Jane Zhang, are forging ahead with their music careers and proving themselves to be the most successful singers emerging from the show.

Top winner Chris Li has retained her high popularity over the past two years. Her first album "The Queen and the Dreams" was released in September 2006 and her second "Mine" this October. Her recent national tour could not have been more successful; ardent fans swarmed to see her wherever she went.

Zhou Bichang, the second runner-up, occupied entertainment headlines for her troubled life, particularly surrounding her record contract woes; for this reason she made little progress with her music. However, following the debut of "Who Touched My String" in August 2006, she will finally release her second album next month and the third as well!

The twin albums, "Now" and "Wow", involved China's best lyricists and composers, such as Albert Leung and Zhang Yadong. "Now" features Zhou's symbolic R&B style and "Wow" is her exploration into different musical genres.

"Dolphin princess" Jane Zhang, who is most acclaimed for her singing skills, always has a full schedule ---leading musicals, holding concerts and guest-staring at the opening ceremony of film festivals...just to name a few. She released the second album "Update" this August, and will soon launch a new EP called "Dear Jane".

(CRI.cn November 27, 2007)