China’s Next Top Model is 72-Year-Old Grandfather Liu Xianping

China's Next Top Model is a 72-year-old grandfather named Liu Xianping.

By Jorge Rivas Nov 21, 2012

China’s Next Top Model is 72-year-old grandfather Liu Xianping.

Mr. Xianping’s granddaughter needed a model for her online store that sells clothing  for teenage girls and thought it’d be funny if she dressed up her grandfather. Mr. Xianping agreed to be photographed and the shots went viral overnight.

The Daily Mail translated parts of a China Newsweek interview with the grandfather. In the excerpt below, Mr. Xianping explains why he’s proud of helping his granddaughter:

Posing in a sequence of outfits, his long slim legs and slender physique shows Yuekou’s clothing off to its full advantage – and has earned the store infinite more hits than if a regular model had been used.

Indeed, since Liu’s photographs, posted on Tmall, one of China’s leading retail sites, went viral, sales at Yuekou have increased fivefold.

Liu’s legs are reportedly the envy of women all over China – even the world. ‘He has such a good figure,’ offbeatchina.com reported one fan as saying. ‘He has such a good figure, especially those legs!’ and another likening the elderly gent to Karl Lagerfeld.

For his part, Liu told China Newsweek that he is glad to model for the store – and happy to be able to help his family.

‘Why unacceptable for someone like me to wear women’s clothes? Modelling for the store is helping my granddaughter and I have nothing to lose,’ he said.

‘We were very happy on the day of the shooting. I’m very old and all that I care about is to be happy.’

Check out the pictures below.