Who are the "white monkeys", or Why is a "good guy" a profession in China

Working abroad attracts many. After all, this is not only an opportunity to get a decent salary, but also a good way to see the world and learn a foreign language. If earlier our countrymen were attracted by the USA and European countries, today many look to the East and choose an amazing and full of opportunities China.

When a guy or girl from Russia, Ukraine or Belarus goes to work in China under a contract, then, as a rule, he can enjoy all the advantages of living in Beijing, Shanghai or Hong Kong. But it's completely different when an employee enters the country not quite legally, under the guise of a student or a tourist and tries to find a job. As a rule, such people choose to live in small provincial cities, where life is cheaper and there are fewer chances to get problems with immigration services.

Not knowing the language and having no idea about the peculiarities of life in the country, boys and girls, most often, get to work in the so-called "monkey show", where they play the role of ... animate props from Chinese photographers. Simply put, they take part in advertising shoots as low-paid models or even extras. This is not a God-knows-what way to earn money, but for many "illegals" it is the only possible one.

Such people are called "white monkeys" by the Chinese themselves and they are the least integrated foreigners into Chinese society. Such models get their jobs from local agents who speak English and sometimes Russian. Intermediaries feel like fish in water in the advertising business and are ready to offer a job with a Chinese customer for 20-30% of the contractual amount.

Sometimes agents not only provide work, but also take "white monkeys" under their care, warning against unscrupulous clients and offering, in fact, a permanent job on the set. For those who do not know the language and are not always legally located in the Middle Kingdom of workers from the countries of the former Union, this is not the worst option for cooperation.

The girl Alice, who has been a link between the "white monkeys" and their employers for several years, told reporters about the essence of her business. The Chinese woman knows English perfectly, but she also dreams of learning Russian in order to better interact with her clients. While her vocabulary of the "great and mighty" is small and consists of several obscene expressions.

Alice said that almost all of her wards are from Russia and Ukraine. These people came to China in different ways, but mostly they came under the guise of students who want to learn Chinese. Of course, having received the coveted student visa, they do not attend classes and immediately disappear into more than a billion people of the country, getting out of control of immigration services.

The girl said that she likes working with Slavs, as they are less demanding than models from Western Europe. This is a very important factor in the high demand for our fellow countrymen, but there are still some nuances.

In addition to the appearance, there are not so many requirements for models — neither charm nor artistry are expected from the "white monkeys". All that is needed is obedience and remarkable patience. Sometimes the shooting lasts for several hours and all this time you need to stand in certain poses or move among the scenery, following the instructions of the director or photographer.

In big cities, the result of such photo shoots and video shoots is ridiculed, but on the periphery they are effective advertising of products, such as cosmetics, food or alcohol. Slavs are also actively used by construction companies and real estate agencies — the demand for light-skinned models in this market segment is steadily growing.

In general, a person of typical Eastern European appearance in a Chinese province is always a success. Visitors are surprised at first by the fact that Chinese people easily approach them on the street and ask them to take a selfie with them. Given the constant offers to participate in advertising shoots, many feel like real "stars" against this background.

Many of the models earn more than 20 thousand yuan per month (more than 190 thousand rubles), which is very good for a small city, even by Chinese standards. If the "white monkey" dances, sings or performs acrobatic tricks, then its income may be even higher. What is the secret of such hype around blonde and snub-nosed guys and girls?

It turns out that the appearance of a light-skinned person in the frame with a certain product acts magically on the average Chinese. It just so happened that in the country it is believed that everything that a European uses and speaks about with respect is expensive, high—quality and effective.

Unfortunately, soon the market of "monkeys" is waiting for serious shocks. It's not just the coronavirus pandemic: because of the too large influx of Ukrainian citizens, the authorities have paid attention to this semi-legal business. Already, many workers who live in the country illegally are being detained and deported from the country. In this regard, there is a possibility that this original type of earnings may disappear in the near future.