A New Chapter for Fan Bingbing
After a major career setback, Chinese actress Fan Bingbing has transformed herself into a successful entrepreneur. She is now the founder of a cosmetics brand that has climbed to become one of China’s top 100 beauty labels. This achievement marks a significant shift in her professional journey, especially considering it has been seven years since her tax evasion scandal.
Fan Bingbing, who is 44 years old, has found renewed success in the beauty industry. Her brand, Fan Beauty Diary, has gained recognition as one of the hottest beauty labels in China. According to a financial report from July, the company generated 1.45 billion yuan (US$201.9 million) in revenue last year. Although this amount is significantly lower than the earnings of top brands, industry experts consider it an impressive feat for a company that is only seven years old. The brand is often referred to as a "dark horse" in the competitive beauty market.
Today, Fan is more recognized as a founder and entrepreneur rather than an actress. A source mentioned that while she collaborates with livestream sales hosts to promote her products, the brand's success is largely attributed to her personal reputation.
Expanding Horizons
Fan’s ambitions go beyond China. Since last year, she has expanded her distribution to Southeast Asian e-commerce platforms and increased her promotional efforts on TikTok. However, overseas sales have not met expectations in the past year. Despite this, she continues to explore international markets.
Fan launched Fan Beauty Diary in 2018, the same year she was investigated and fined for tax evasion. She paid 883 million yuan to avoid criminal prosecution. Before the scandal, she was a dominant figure in Chinese entertainment, frequently appearing on international red carpets, endorsing luxury brands, and even financing films in which she starred.
The scandal marked a turning point in her life. Fan has described it as sending her "from the peak to the abyss." At the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival, she shared that after her fall, she learned the importance of patience and persistence, gradually rebuilding her life instead of giving up.
Rebuilding a Career
For the past seven years, Fan has been largely absent from most entertainment activities in China. She has not participated in domestic film events or productions. While she has achieved business success, she admits it is painful to be unable to act—her lifelong passion. She remains committed to acting and hopes to find a role that fits this new chapter of her life.
Seeking opportunities abroad, Fan starred in the 2023 South Korean production "Green Night" and filmed the Malaysian movie "Mother Bhumi" last year. She has also reportedly purchased the rights to several scripts and plans to move into production work.
On social media, Fan has shared her thoughts on taking control of her own life. She emphasizes the importance of self-reliance and hard work. "For everyone, the only person you can rely on for a lifetime is yourself," she wrote. "I believe that, and I live that way. If you expect others to bring you happiness, you’ll be passive your whole life."
Reflection and Resilience
Fan describes her current stage as difficult but sees it as a time for calm reflection on how she wants to live the rest of her life. She likens herself to someone at a crossroads, unsure which way to go, but determined to embrace the journey—even if it leads to loss or regret.
In a video message to fans, she expressed gratitude to those who supported her after her fall. "After going through difficulties and pain beyond what people can imagine, I am still the Fan Bingbing everyone knew before," she said. "I will face life as strongly, gently, and kindly as possible."
Born in Shandong province, Fan began acting in 1996 and rose to fame as Jinsuo in the 1998 drama "My Fair Princess." For many years, she was China’s highest-paid actress. A 2018 report estimated her assets at more than 3 billion yuan, with income from acting, endorsements, and business ventures.
She was named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2017, but the tax scandal tarnished her public image. Despite these challenges, Fan continues to navigate her path with resilience and determination.