Hana Lin (林小宅)

Lin Xiaozhai (born Lin Xiaoting) represents a new breed of Chinese celebrity who has successfully bridged the digital and traditional entertainment worlds. Rising from a social media influencer with millions of followers to a pop singer and then a film and television actress, she has become the embodiment of the “multi-hyphenate” star. Her journey—from founding her own fashion brand “Mukashi Zakka” at 19, to competing on the hit survival show Youth With You Season 2, to landing leading roles in film and television—makes her a symbol of the 95-generation‘s relentless drive to break labels and redefine what it means to be an entertainer in the digital age.

Breakthrough Role While Lin Xiaozhai first gained massive public attention through her 2020 participation in the hit girl group survival show Youth With You Season 2, her acting breakthrough came in 2022 when she transitioned to the screen. Her debut film was the action movie Extreme Pursuit (《极地追击》), co-starring with Aarif Lee. However, it was her leading role in the 2022 web short drama The Unruly Princess (《惹不起的公主殿下》) that truly marked her arrival as an actress. Portraying a willful yet endearing princess, she demonstrated strong comedic timing and a natural affinity for period costume dramas. Since then, she has steadily built her filmography, starring as the female lead in the 2024 costume suspense drama The Legend of the Tibetan Medicine (《藏药令》), and appearing in the fantasy series Fangs of Fortune (《大梦归离》) and Yi San Yan Yu (《一伞烟雨》), solidifying her transition from digital influencer to working actress.

Public Perception Lin Xiaozhai occupies a fascinating and complex space in the Chinese entertainment industry. To her loyal fans, she is an inspiration—a self-made entrepreneur and artist who has fearlessly reinvented herself, earning her the affectionate nickname “the Oxygen Beauty” for her fresh and wholesome image. In 2022, she was selected for the 9th “Wenrong Award” Young Actor Support Program, signaling growing industry recognition. Yet her journey has also been marked by intense scrutiny. Her decision to compete on Youth With You Season 2 as an established influencer was met with skepticism and ongoing controversy. Public and media narratives have been similarly divided, portraying her as either a dedicated artist “breaking the mold” or a talent “consuming herself” by overextending across too many fields. Regardless of the debate, Lin continues to push forward, amassing over 16 acting credits, venturing into interactive film games, and proving that her determination to grow and evolve is, perhaps, her most defining trait.