According to Znewsin an interview with Phoenix New MediaMeng recalled the experience, saying: “A member of the film crew told me directly, ‘You’re too beautiful, you’re not suitable for this role.’”

“I was stunned,” she continued. “You could say my acting wasn’t good enough or that my status in the industry wasn’t high enough, but to say I was too beautiful—it made me feel like beauty was a crime.”

Meng’s comments quickly sparked a heated debate on social media, with users split into two camps. Supporters praised her for courageously speaking out about “discrimination based on appearance,” while others expressed skepticism about her claims.

At 30 years old, Meng made her acting debut in 2016 but faced a period where she was criticized as having a “pretty face with no acting skills.” It was not until the 2024 drama series “Blossom” that she experienced a breakthrough.

The series became one of the biggest successes of the year, propelling its lead actors, Meng and Li Yunrui, into stardom within the Chinese entertainment industry. Meng’s performance in “Blossom” was widely praised for its improvement.

Meng had previously revealed that before “Blossom,” she had limited opportunities to choose her roles, accepting nearly every script that came her way. The success of “Blossom” has since transformed her career, opening doors to more diverse and exciting roles, and significantly increasing the demand for her talent.