A 19-year-old college girl says she will brave the knife, free of charge, to become the top beauty in Zhengzhou for more job opportunities, and in return she will serve as an image presenting the surgery that creates an ugly duckling to a swan.

The beauty pursuer, alias Jiang Han, who has a charming young look despite her plain-looking face, is now studying Foreign Trade English at a Zhengzhou university.

Not so confident with her outer appearance, Jiang decided to turn to plastic surgery, saying "I just want to draw closer to my dream to be an entertainer or a TV host by remaking my face into an attractive one."

Very talkative and easy going, Jiang is not hesitant in revealing she spent 2,000 yuan (US$241.6) for a face reconstruction after finishing her college entrance exams, having her chin blocked up and her eyelid doubled.

"My family didn't know it until I stood before them with a better look," she recalled, adding "Both my parents said I looked more appealing after the surgery."

However, Jiang found later when she came to study in Zhengzhou that the 2,000-yuan-face-change was far from enough and what she really needed was a sea of changes to her face.

Once, when she applied to host a soft-drink promotion event, she was immediately turned down due to her mediocre appearance, even though her audition was greatly praised.

"That experience hurt me a lot and I finally made up my mind to undergo a thorough face change. In this way I could land more job opportunities I favor after I become beautiful."

Although she freely tell her classmates of her previous plastic surgery, Jiang is still reluctant to tell her boyfriend she met at her college. "I am not a shy girl but I always fence off the topic of my plastic surgery whenever he asks me."

"I just don't want him to know that much about it," added Jiang, who drew a lot of attention in the summer as she roamed in her bright red tube top on campus.

Most of her school peers are supportive of her planned second surgery. "She's a brave girl and not everyone dare to go under the knife for beauty," said one of her classmates.

Appreciative of the understanding from her family and friends, Jiang worries about the risk of the surgery but says she won't let it hinder her path to a better looking, adding, "Great beauty does come at a price. I think it's worth a try."

While challenged by a wild guess that she is an ambitious girl who is just trying to gain instant fame by the media hype, Jiang Han refutes that, saying, "For me the media coverage is a necessary evil because I need attention and help. If I could afford to pay for the surgery myself I would not need the media to get involved."

China in 2004 churned out a total of 2.8 million university graduates, with the number increasing year by year.

The huge number results in a tighter and tighter job market where the competition is harsh. Graduates, under considerable employment pressure, try every means to land themselves a descent job.

Many resort to doctors in pursuit of a flawless face that they think would surely add points to their job hunting.

However, education experts don't nod at the idea.

"College graduates should build their confidence by possessing more skills rather than faking an attractive face." said Henan sociologist Niu Sulin, adding, "they should bear in mind that only sustainable efforts lead to success."

(China Daily July 21, 2005)