"Mori girl," "selfie lady," "DIY talent" – these are some of the names bestowed upon Liu Yao by followers of her online selfie-sharing channel. The selfie photographer from Nanjing began to chase her dream at the age of 50.

Liu used to be an "ugly" girl. She was often mocked for her dark skin and wide mouth. Feeling ashamed, little Liu kept everything to herself.

Back then, Liu lived with her parents in a community where the residents were all co-workers. One of their neighbors was a shutterbug who used to take random photographs, especially of the good-looking kids. Liu was never one of the models. She would hide behind a crooked locust tree and watch them taking photos and developing film. When the kids made noise and laughed in the darkroom, she also felt happiness.

Liu thought about being photographed, but she was afraid of rejection and buried the desire at the bottom of her heart.

The dream has never faded with time. Her childhood happiness re-emerged when she saw other people's portraits online. After retiring at the age of 50, she decided to learn photography. She bought an SLR camera and started taking photos herself.

Her passion for photography soon turned far more significant as she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, gallbladder disease and depression. Since then, photography has become an emotional outlet. One week after a cholecystectomy in 2012, Liu took her tripod and rushed to the botanical garden. All of her feelings, joys and sorrows were expressed through her lens. "This is real life. It's not always happy or smooth, but often full of pain and embarrassment. We have to face them with bravery." Photography has helped improve Liu's mental health. She gradually became a sunny and happy lady.

Liu then tried taking selfies. "I had a lot of dreams: to be an artist, a novelist or a vendor. When I got sick, I took selfies, too." She's versatile and talented in her selfies. She's a housewife reading in the park, the owner of a supermarket or Grandma Moses in the forest. Makeup, hairstyle, setting and lighting – every single detail is designed by Liu. She has experienced all the lives she wanted through her diverse selfies.

Liu's selfies have gone viral on the internet. Her portraits once received nearly 500,000 hits in 10 hours. Netizens were amazed by her photos. They'd never expected a 50-year-old woman to be so creative and confident. Many young girls were inspired that a lady of her age has every right to be elegant and interesting. "It's never too late to have a hobby," Liu once said to an interviewer.

In 2015, Liu held her first exhibition at home, showing 100 of her favorite photos – a success. One of the visitors said that she could see through the stories and emotions behind Liu's works. Liu has proven that anyone can live the life they want.

Photography has opened the door to a new world for Liu. Proud and satisfied with what she has, she is no longer the girl hiding in the dark, but a beautiful selfie lady.

(Photos courtesy of Liu Yao)