Chinese businesswoman sparks debate by giving $21K monthly clothes to 14-year-old daughter

Angela Wang Shiling, 14, daughter of Chinese TV hostess turned business mogul Li Xiang. Photo from Wangs' Weibo

The South China Morning Post reports that Li subscribes to the ancient Chinese adage advocating that while sons should be brought up in austerity, daughters should enjoy a wealth of material possessions.

After posting photos of her daughter on a holiday in late March on social media, online observers highlighted the cost of Wang’s attire.

They noted that Wang’s purple plaid coat was valued at US$3,500, her white blouse at US$1,900, and her skirt at US$2,000. Moreover, the price tags on her accessories were notably high, with her Miu Miu hairpin costing US$450, her bracelet at US$5,500, and her handbag at US$1,800.

Angela Wang Shiling during a holiday in March, 2024. Photo from Wang's Weibo

This ostentatious display of wealth has divided Chinese social media users, with some critiquing how the pricey garments looked on Wang and others coveting her opulent lifestyle.

"I think those clothes do not fit her," voiced a Weibo user. "They make her look much older."

"Wang Shiling is the girl I envy most," another remarked. "I hope to be Li Xiang’s daughter in my next life."

Li’s approach to lavish parenting has previously stirred controversy, as she disclosed in an interview last year that purchasing expensive clothing and accessories for her daughter is commonplace for her.

"We are not short of money," she said. "Why live a frugal life?"

Li, 48, initially gained recognition in the early 2000s as a TV presenter and actress. She subsequently entered the real estate and entertainment industries by founding her own business in 2004.

Wang is Li’s daughter with her second spouse, director Wang Yuelun, whom she wed in 2009 and divorced in 2021, as stated by the Malaysian news outlet Hype.

Her first marriage was to businessman Li Houlin, with the couple marrying in 2005 and separating the subsequent year.