VERSACE IS ROSY: A few days after unveiling ambassador Hyunjin from Stray Kids is fronting the 2023 holiday ad campaign, Versace looked again to the Far East, naming Chinese actress Rosy Zhao its new global brand ambassador.
The Chinese personality who turns 25 Thursday has frequently sported Versace gear on her public appearances and attended the luxury brand’s runway show for spring 2024 in Milan last September. There, she donned an A-line spaghetti dress bearing a baby blue checkerboard pattern with rhinestones and crystals framing the neckline, accessorized with satin black platform pumps and leather tote bag.
“I am thrilled Rosy is joining our Versace family. I love her style, her energy and her spirit. She is a powerful Versace woman,” said chief creative officer Donatella Versace.
The ambassador-tapping game is getting increasingly hotter, especially for celebrities in China and South Korea, with brands rushing to secure deals with personalities in a bid to expand their awareness and footprint in the region. Zhao counts about 87.7 million followers across Weibo, Red, Instagram and Douyin.
“The power of Versace is clear to see in the perfectly designed clothes and stunning Italian craftsmanship, but for me, the real power of Versace is how it makes me feel my personal strength when I wear it. Thank you Donatella, I can’t wait to start this exciting chapter together,” Zhao said.
The actress, whose original name is Zhao Lusi but who is internationally known as Rosy, debuted as a host to variety show “Mars Intelligence Agency” in 2016 and landed her first actress job a year later, starring in a supporting role in the web drama “Cinderella Chef.” Her popularity increased with the release of the historical romantic series “Untouchable Lovers” in 2018 and by playing her first leading role in historical drama “Oh! My Emperor.” In 2019 she won her first prize, the Newcomer Award, at the Golden Bud — The Third Network Film and Television Festival, followed in 2020 by the Best Leading Actress prize at the Wenrong Awards.
Starring in leading roles in Chinese television dramas and series, including “The Long Ballas,” “Who Rules The World,” and “Love Like the Galaxy,” Zhao gained huge international acclaim this year by starring in “Hidden Love,” a drama series based on the Chinese novel “Secretly, Secretly; But Unable to Hide It” by Zhu Yi, which is centered on the blossoming love affair between a young girl and her older brother’s best friend. The series landed on Netflix last June and was a hit for the streaming platform.
In her role, Zhao joins the likes of Chinese singer, actress and model Chris Lee, who fronted the Versace Icons campaign alongside Anne Hathaway, as well as Hyunjin.
