‘Imitation genius’: China influencer overcomes abusive dad to self-fund US education

A 19-year-old influencer in China has announced he has been admitted to top-tier Boston University, with tuition and living costs to be covered entirely by himself, as he has earned money through his online activities in recent years.Zhong Meimei, born Zhong Yusheng, shot to fame in May 2020 when he released his first batch of videos in which he mimicked female teachers at primary and middle schools, the National Business Daily (NBD) reported.His works quickly captivated internet users, who called him an “imitation genius.” Many people described how Zhong, then just 13, perfectly portrayed teachers through his lines, facial expressions, and movements.His videos went viral six years ago, with many praising his spot-on teacher impressions. Photo: nbd.com.cnHe amassed his first million followers in only one month. At the end of 2020, Zhong won a national video creation award given by mainland media outlet New Weekly.Zhong focused on his studies over the past couple of years while occasionally releasing videos, which also feature humorous content in which he impersonates hotel receptionists, crew members, or office workers.On June 22, Zhong revealed on social media that he has been admitted to Boston University, with his semester set to start next year.“BU is a highly qualified university. You cannot get enrolled simply because of money,” he wrote, refuting online speculation that his admission was achieved through improper means.Boston University is a prestigious private school in Massachusetts, next to the Charles River in the city’s heart. Photo: Getty Images“I have saved the money I earned online to pay for my tuition, after deducting the basic living costs for my family. I knew clearly that I had to fund my own growth by myself,” continued Zhong.“I am grateful for this era, my fans, and my middle and primary schools. Of course, I should thank my hard-working self,” he said.BU responded to Zhong’s post on Weibo by saying: “Welcome to be a New Terrier. Welcome to join the big family of BU.”It is estimated that the total cost of studying and living in Boston is around 700,000 yuan (US$103,000) per year, according to the NBD report.Further ReadingGiven that a bachelor’s degree takes four years, it will cost around 3 million yuan for Zhong.Zhong now boasts a total of nine million followers across several major social media platforms in China.On June 22, Zhong told fans he would cover his Boston University tuition and living costs with his own online earnings. Photo: nbd.com.cnShortly after he became famous, an agent contacted him with a contract offer of one million yuan per year. Zhong turned it down.“If I signed with them, I could only earn a fixed advertising fee, while the rest of the money would go into the agent’s pocket. What’s more, being bound by the contract would affect my studies. If I study well, I can potentially make 10 million or even hundreds of millions of yuan in the future,” he told domestic media years ago.Zhong’s mother, Wu Qiong, has served as his agent in recent years. Last year, Zhong and Wu jointly established their own media company.Zhong hails from an ordinary family in Hegang, a less-developed city in northeastern Heilongjiang province.Hailed as an imitation genius, Zhong masters teachers’ expressions and personas to perfection. Photo: nbd.com.cnHe said his motivation for working hard was to become the backbone of his family and to protect his mother and younger sister. He also hoped to let his grandparents live a better life, Zhong once told the media.This drive stems from his parents’ divorce, which came after his father had frequently physically abused his mother and Zhong himself. At one point, Zhong’s mother suffered bone fractures after being beaten by his father.Zhong revealed that even after the divorce, his father continued to harass them by ceaselessly calling his mother and violently knocking on their door.“I don’t like my father. My family is complete, without a position for a father,” Zhong said tearfully on a TV programme three years ago.He gained his first million followers within a month after he launched his online content six years ago. In late 2020, he won a national video award from New Weekly. Photo: nbd.com.cnIn his latest post, Zhong admitted he is not an academically elite student, but rather has average grades.“I admire my peers who have strong learning abilities. Therefore, I want to continue studying and to expand my horizons. I hope to become a better and stronger version of myself,” said Zhong.“You’re so excellent to have earned enough money to fund your own overseas studies,” praised one internet user.Another person said: “I watched his early videos. He imitated and played teachers so vividly. He must be a boy with strong observational skills.”