Step forward Sister Lotus, whose weblog attracted hundreds of thousands of hits in a matter of weeks. Glossy magazines competed to feature her on their pages and television companies bid for her services as a presenter.

Then the propaganda tsars stepped in to stamp out the Sister Lotus phenomenon.

In the photos accompanying her blog, Sister Lotus, 28, assumes a variety of poses in which she curves her torso and thrusts her chest forward. Many pictures show off her dancing skills and an ability to toss her waist-length hair high above her head.

These images of a woman from the Shaanxi province hardly seem to be material to grip the attention of the Chinese masses and raise the hackles of the guardians of Chinese moral rectitude, but her writing is another matter. Sister Lotus’s fame — or notoriety — has stemmed from her willingness to speak of her “irresistible beauty” and “ astounding grace”. “All day boys chase me, I really can’t stand it. I’m almost driven to death by these fanatics. It can’t go on like this, I must escape,” she wrote.

Sister Lotus, whose real name is Shi Hengxia, said that the phenomenon was easy to explain. “I am the kind of person who, wherever they go, will be famous. That’s partly to do with my personality but also my face, my figure and my dancing.”

Therein lies the controversy. She is loved and loathed, admired and mocked in thousands of chat rooms across China. In a society where modesty and self-deprecation are traditional virtues, this slightly overweight woman with a few spots challenges social norms.

Debate about her looks has been heated. “Disgusting” and “repulsive” are words that recur countless times, although “unique” and “sexy” are the adjectives Sister Lotus prefers to use. “I’m quite pretty and I have self-confidence,” she said. “Since childhood I have been told I am very good-looking.”

Her rise to prominence came after she failed to gain entry to two of China’s most prestigious universities, both in Beijing. She used the web to promote her talents, and her blog began to attract attention.

Chinese television began talks with her and she found a publisher for a book.

Sister Lotus said that in July she was famous in China and by August she was known worldwide. She then caught the attention of the Central Propaganda Department. Television negotiations halted and the publisher said that her writing was subject to a secret ban issued by the censors.

Sister Lotus is considering suing the Propaganda Department for affecting her future. “Being self-admiring is not a crime,” she said.

IN HER OWN TYPE

“I am so unhappy. My unhappiness stems from being extraordinary. My beautiful and sexy exterior and my pure and noble essence mean that wherever I go I am followed mercilessly by people’s eyes”

“Every day I have to hide from suitors of every hue and refuse their sudden proposals. In front of men now my face has become as cold as marble”

“I was born to be a focus, with a seductive face and a sexy body. I dress boldly and my personality is rebellious, so I am always in the limelight and it is natural that I attract countless men”

“I am not in a hurry to find a boyfriend. If a girl as outstanding as me can be created, then certainly there will be a boy as excellent waiting for me”

AND WHAT THEY SAY

"I showed her pictures to my classmates. They lost their appetite for lunch" - Xiabob

"People will soon forget a clown like you. I want to vomit when I look at you. You desperately need diet pills" - Mr Chen

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