Jing Qi, a part-time presenter on the livestreaming platform Huajiao, underwent cosmetic surgery in March to improve her chances of becoming an internet celebrity.
After five hours of rhinoplasty and facial fat injections that left her with gauze covering her nose, eyes, forehead and cheeks, the 27-year-old said she felt "even worse than dead." But the suffering was worth it.
Jing is among tens of thousands hoping to find online stardom as an anchor on the live video-streaming phenomenon sweeping China's media.