Shang Wenjie, a 24-year-old French-Chinese interpreter*, received 5 million text message* votes* in the September 29 final to become the newly elected idol* of China’s younger generation*.

The new Supergirl appears to be almost a carbon copy* of last year’s champion*, Li Yuchun. Both cut their hair short, behaved in a boyish way, and were widely regarded as ordinary singers.

Shang may stand out because of her self-possessed* manner, determination*, educational background and her job as an interpreter. Before she entered the Supergirl contest, the only place she had done any singing was in karaoke clubs.

“In this public election for the Supergirls,” said Dong Lu, a Beijing-based music critic*, “the voters tend to* favor the candidate* who is most like themselves and who is therefore best able to represent* them.”

Shang did well in the French-language department at Fudan University in Shanghai, one of the country’s leading universities.

“Her manner and experience can easily be a model for young professional* women, who are booming in both their number and significance* in society,” Dong said.

By contrast, Dong said, runner-up Tan Weiwei was too perfect to be a representative of ordinary young women.

Tan, a graduate of the vocal* department of Sichuan Conservatory* of Music, is beautiful, sweet and experienced on stage. But in the young voters’ eyes, it was Shang, not Tan, who was their Cinderella*.

(SD-Agencies)