【英语生活】钻石王老五征婚：美女蜂拥 媒体炮轰

More than 50,000 young beauties from across China have lined up to win a date with one of 18 young, millionaire bachelors. The contest is the latest in a trend of beauty contests for the rich that has been criticized heavily in the media, on the net, and even by the government.

The new contest was organized online, and its first round was held simultaneously in several major cities. Most contestants have already gone home in defeat, having failed an examination by feng shui masters to see whether they have a 'lucky face', according to an article on the People's Daily's English website.

Only 18 finalists will ultimately date - and, if they're lucky, marry - the eligible young men.

Editorials in the online edition of China Daily, mirroring the overwhelmingly negative public reaction, blast the contest as 'money worship' and accuse it of treating women as sex objects. Editorialist Zhang Tianpin complains that the contest is the kind of scandalous behavior that makes many Chinese hate wealthy people.

Elites should 'not to flaunt their money to seek beautiful women as partners but invest their money in activities for the benefit of society,' he argues.

Some defend the contest by saying that at least the women are mature and chosen not solely for their looks. Men are looking for the whole package: 'beauty, good temperament, psychological balance, sound character, good educational qualification, high moral values, love, and respect for the institution of marriage,' asserts freelance journalist Huang Yunxiang. Indeed, most of the contestants are between 28 and 30, college-educated and have steady jobs.

China has seen a steady expansion of elite dating contests, TV shows and websites in recent years. Golden Bachelor Matchmakers, a high-end dating site, hires 'Love Hunters' to scour the country for attractive women between 5 feet,
5 inches and 5 feet, 8 inches. Then, luxurious parties with steep entrance fees pair up rich men with these carefully selected beauties.

'It is not like they use money to find true love. They just want to have the best options,' Golden Bachelor Chairman Xu Tianli told China Daily.

Vocal critics, however, are uncomfortable with the impact of these beauty contests on Chinese culture. According to an online article in the Global Times, the government has ordered all TV stations to stop showing 22-year-old fashion model Ma Nuo after she made comments that Chinese audiences deemed 'too materialistic.'

On a TV dating show, Ma refused an unemployed man's offer of a bicycle ride, saying: 'I would rather weep in a BMW than smile [on your] bicycle.'

中国各地五万多名年轻美女报名应征与18位年轻的单身男富豪约会的机会，这是美女争嫁富豪潮流的新一波，媒体、网络甚至中国政府一直在对这种活动进行严厉谴责。

ZUMApress.com舟山国际海洋小姐大赛的参赛选手为拍摄合影摆姿势。这次活动是在线组织的，第一轮竞争在几个大城市同步举行。据《人民日报》(People's Daily)英文网络版报道，大多数应征者未能通过风水师审查她们是否有“旺夫相”这一关，已失败回家。

仅有18名进入决赛的美女将最终获得约会机会，如果幸运的话，还将嫁给合适的年轻男士。

《中国日报》(China Daily)网络版评论反映出多数公众对这一事件持完全否定态度，抨击这种活动是“拜金”，并指责这种作法是将女性视为性玩物。评论人张天频（音）批评说，这是一种可耻的行径，使得众多中国人仇视富人。

他说，精英人士不应化大钱找美女结婚，而应将钱用于造福社会等活动。

有人为这类活动辩解说，至少这些女性是成熟的，不光凭外表入选。自由撰稿人黄云翔（音）说，男性追求的女性条件是：相貌好、有气质、心态平和、性格好、受过良好教育、有高尚的价值观、有爱心而且要尊重婚姻。的确，大多数应征者年龄为28至30岁之间，受过大学教育，且有稳定的工作。

近年来，中国的精英婚恋活动、电视婚恋节目及婚恋网络呈逐渐增加趋势。一家高端婚恋网站钻石王老五征婚网(Golden Bachelor Matchmakers)雇佣“爱情猎头”在全国搜寻1.65米至1.72米的魅力女性。而后举行入场费昂贵的奢侈派对将这些精心挑拣出来的美女与富豪配对。

钻石王老五征婚网总裁徐天立接受《中国日报》采访时说，富豪们用钱不可能找到真爱。他们只是想有最好的选择。

但直言不讳的评论家们，就美女争嫁富豪类征婚活动对中国文化的冲击非常不安。据《环球时报》一篇在线文章称，政府已下令所有的电视台封杀22岁的时装模特马诺，此前她的言论让中国观众认为“过于功利化”。

之前在一个电视婚恋节目《非诚勿扰》中，马诺拒绝了一位失业男士的求婚，她说，“我宁愿坐在宝马里哭，也不坐在自行车后座上笑”。