Chinese actress Jiang Xin (also known by her English name Rulu Jiang) recently broke down in tears as she recalled her grueling weight loss journey that left her physically exhausted and emotionally drained.
In a video posted on November 5, the 41-year-old star got emotional, confessing: “I can’t let other people think I’m fat.” Her voice trembled, her eyes red as she spoke, laying bare the painful reality of how body image expectations in entertainment can turn into psychological torment.
According to Jiang Xin, she dropped from 70kg to 56kg, losing nearly 14kg in a short period of time. Each public appearance brought waves of praise for her slimmer figure and sculpted shoulders, but behind the glamorous photos lay a relentless regime of deprivation.
He revealed that he had cut out carbs and oil completely, surviving only on boiled vegetables, eggs and cucumber slices. “Some days, my lunch was just a small box of corn. Even the cows didn’t want to eat what I was eating, but I had to force myself to swallow it just to survive.” he said tearfully.
Fans were left heartbroken watching her silently wipe away tears in front of the camera. At 41, Jiang Xin looked frail, with her hair casually tied back, her complexion pale, in stark contrast to her radiant red carpet appearances.
Experts have warned that extreme diets like his, especially those lacking in energy and carbohydrates, can lead to emotional instability, stress and even depression. Combined with a busy filming schedule, Jiang’s rigid self-control brought her close to exhaustion.
Jiang Xin admitted that she has a naturally large frame and gains weight easily, forcing her to maintain a grueling level of discipline just to meet industry expectations. “Even animals eat better than me” he joked bitterly.
But his story is not unique. Many actresses find themselves trapped in the same vicious cycle: losing weight to wear luxury clothes, to appear “smaller” on camera, or to avoid unflattering comparisons with younger stars. Even after taking on more mature roles, often playing mothers, Jiang was still under pressure to maintain a slim figure like the one she had in her twenties.
“Women don’t have to be thin to be beautiful. Every era has its charm,” Jiang Xin pondered. “I’ve gotten so skinny I don’t even recognize myself anymore.”
Audiences still remember her powerful performances by the proud Consort Hua The legend of Zhen Huan to the warm and confident Fan Sheng Mei Ode to joy. Back then she wasn’t defined by her weight but by her charisma, a natural glow that no diet can replicate.
Now, despite having achieved the “ideal” body that so many aspire to, Jiang confesses to feeling empty and alienated: “When I look in the mirror, my face looks sunken. My spirit is gone. I don’t know who I am anymore.”
Her story has sparked heated discussions online, serving as a sobering reminder of the toxic body image culture that continues to stifle women in entertainment. In a world where “beauty” is reduced to the word “thin”, even the most talented actresses find themselves fighting not only against the public, but also against themselves.
Because in the end, what audiences truly loved about Jiang Xin was never the size of her waist, but the fire in her eyes, the emotional honesty in her performances, and the strength of a woman who dares to show her pain in a world obsessed with perfection.
Sources: Weibo, The Paper
