What started as a simple degree photo broke out in a global conversation on race, identity and hypothesis on the Internet. The viral image of a young woman – subtitled “Chinese girl who graduated in a university in Canada …” – It quickly became a trendy topic on X (previously Twitter), but not for reasons he had ever anticipated.
In the photo, the woman, with pale skin and wears a degree dress, is located between a crowd of individuals mainly with darker skin. This contrast led many online users to jump to the conclusions, with some to assume that the image was taken in India, while others imagined that it could be Korean due to its right complexion and its delicate characteristics.
Now he is talking
To rest the swirling voices, the woman took a step forward with a calm but clear declaration. Shared on Xiaohonghu (red), he wrote: “This is a degree photo last year. My friend took it during our ceremony and I thought it was good, so I published it without thinking a lot.”
He confirmed that the photo was taken in Canada, not in India, and clarified his identity: “I am Chinese. I was born and raised in China.” Facing the comments on its appearance, he added: “I do not make up, I didn’t intentionally dyed my hair: the blond tone remained from an old tincture work. And no, I didn’t have a cosmetic surgery.”
He also noticed that his clear skin is natural and inherited from his mother and that her appearance has been consistent since childhood.
“Please stop disseminating false information”
What shocked it was not attention, but the disinformation: “This is just a random graduation photo that my friend took. I did not expect it to become viral, especially not with the people who mistakenly identify me.”
He concluded with a message for those who commit themselves into the viral debate: “Lately there have been many discussions on appearances and identity. I hope this clarifies things. Please, stop spreading false information.”
This episode is a vivid reminder of the speed with which narratives can spiral online – and how easily the conditions, in particular on the race and ethnicity, can lead to false declarations. While the internet may never stop discussing the identity, the voice of this student represents a timely call for empathy, precision and a little more moderation before hitting “sharing”.
Sources: X
