Hong Kong Ads & Bikini Pseudo Models

Hong Kong has a really lively advertising market, and that’s often one of the most interesting sources for social interpretations of Hong Kong culture.

One of the first things you’re bound to notice in HK are the big banner-posters hanging all over the MTR. I’ll be honest with you… being the male that I am, walking through a Hong Kong MTR station filled with poster ads is usually quite a pleasurable task as most of the ads include slim & gorgeous half-naked girls wearing bikinis that emphasize the right part of the body to sell various dubious fitness schemes. And to think those ads are aimed at girls…

Here, let me show you… (first few adopted from Tsai, thanks)

The most famous sensation, I imagine, is Chrissie Chau – a local pseudo model that made it to local fame through one of those somewhat provocative ad campaigns (atleast in local terms). [BTW – you can check her personal blog here]

If you’re wondering what the big fuss is about, you need to watch the most engaging video campaigns.

Not too long ago she released her new photo collection book and created an even bigger controversy at the HK book fair over whether she is, or her photos are, art worthy of he occasion. No doubt the local HK guys lining up for hours to have a quick glance at her found her to be more interesting than any of the books showcased.

Generally speaking, I find the ads on the public buses extremely annoying but of vital importance for my foreigner anthropological look on HK. Some of them are so bizarre that you can’t help but wonder how the locals can endure all that. Still, some are entertaining, in a masochistic male chauvinist kind of way.

Quickly going back to the posters, sexy pseudo models in bikinis aren’t the only source of controversy. This next movie poster for the Coco Channel movie was recently banned as it shows the celebrity starring the movie – Audrey Tautou – smoking a cigarette. A danger to the public, I’m sure.

If this is interesting to you, you might be interested in other posts on the topic from HK’s finest :

• Ride On, Chrissie Chau
• Slimming Shop Scams and Deceptions
• Chrissie Chau: The Bikini Girl That Melted Hong Kong
• Kissy Chrissie Chau Saipan 2009
• Pseudo models?
• MTR media firm bitch-slaps Brüno distributor
• Calling all butterballs!

Found other posters/videos from HK public transport? send’em to me… this is a good research topic :P