When the eyes of the whole world are focused on the World Cup in Russia, an entertainment program named “Produce 101”has  quickly become popular in China. The reputation of the female stars participating in this program are no less than that of Ronaldo, Messi or Neymar. So what is "Produce 101" and why has it become so popular in China?

"Produce 101" is spinoff of a South Korean reality show. The goal of the reality show is to select 11 girls out of 101 contestants to form a female pop group similar to their Korean peers, such as Twice and Girls’ Generation. In each of the show’s 10 episodes, participants compete against each other, and viewers decide who advances and who is eliminated.

The increasing popularity of "Produce 101" reflects how young Chinese people are moving away from traditional norms and towards a more Westernized understanding of the self. Unlike past generations, who upheld collectivism and sameness, this new generation pursues uniqueness: to be the one who stands out in a crowd. The move away from more mainstream music is paralleled by the simultaneous growth of other subcultures, such as hip-hop and parkour – growth that has been accelerated by the Internet as a medium for the free, uninhibited, and instant sharing of information.

Rather than pursuing homogeneity like the generations before them, young Chinese people are identifying themselves with these subcultures to display the uniqueness of their personality and interests.

In much the same way, the show emphasizes the uniqueness and fan appeal of the contestants at the cost of drawing less attention towards their actual musical ability. Rather than being a platform for these individuals to showcase their talent, the program is much more an appeal to the younger generations’ longing for validation that being unique is the most important. 

Consider which contestants are the most popular among the viewers. Wang Ju would be judged negatively according to traditional Chinese culture, but she is one of the most popular contestants right now. Why? She is unique amongst all the girls there. Her style and approach to music is really different to other participants. Her musician talents and the passion for the stage have become her unique tags! These traits have helped her attract followers who are not satisfied with homogeneity, and seeking uniqueness.

The contestants on this show are all highly individual, and so can satisfy the varied interests of the viewers. The popularity of "Produce 101" proves that young Chinese people, under the influence of globalization, are beginning to seek different ways to express themselves. 

"The audience participation in 'Produce 101' could be a key element in its success. Perhaps you could say that people feel empowered," Adrian Vickers, a professor of Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Sydney told CGTN.

Reality TV shows allow the viewer to follow along with the realization of the contestants' dreams, finding the fulfillment and validation that they struggle to find in the pursuit of their own dreams.

"Produce 101" has taken off in China because it sells an adult fairy tale to its audiences. 

The reason why this program is very popular in China is mainly because it has empowered China's populace by giving them the option to vote for their favorite. 

In the banquet of the princess, a girl named Yang Chaoyue is notable. She has become a household name in China through this program. Her success explains to a certain extent why this program is popular in China.

Most of the girls who participated in the show were born in wealthy families. Unlike other girls who participated in the program, Yang was born in rural China. Her family is poor and she has not received a good education. 

Yang's origin has made many viewers who watch this program think of themselves. Most of the viewers are ordinary people like Yang, and they work in big cities like Beijing and Shanghai. Yang's background is something many people can empathize with. They watched the show and felt like they were Yang. Therefore, Yang's success is also their success.

Although the TV show is extremely popular in China, it is notable that it is an adaptation of the Korean entertainment model. According to Professor Vickers, "China's attempts to create new trends are based on adapting Korean or other programs. This means that China will not be setting trends, but following what has been successful in [South] Korea (or Japan before that)."

As for the future of China's entertainment industry, Professor Vickers was optimistic.

"China should be able to succeed, given that there is so much talent in the country," Professor Vickers said to CGTN.