"
data-timestamp-html=""
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2016-11-18T03:09:42Z"
data-video-section="style"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/fashion/2016/11/17/china-80-year-old-model-cnn-style.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="china 80 year old model cnn style"
data-first-publish-slug="china 80 year old model cnn style"
data-video-tags="arts and entertainment,asia,china,east asia,fashion design,fashion models,population and demographics,senior citizens,society,fashion shows,fashion week"
data-details="">
"
data-timestamp-html=""
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2016-11-18T03:09:42Z"
data-video-section="style"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/fashion/2016/11/17/china-80-year-old-model-cnn-style.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="china 80 year old model cnn style"
data-first-publish-slug="china 80 year old model cnn style"
data-video-tags="arts and entertainment,asia,china,east asia,fashion design,fashion models,population and demographics,senior citizens,society,fashion shows,fashion week"
data-details="">
"
data-timestamp-html=""
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2018-04-13T11:40:04Z"
data-video-section="style"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/arts/2018/04/13/masters-of-experience-ocean-sound-studio-giske-style-orig.cnn"
data-branding-key="masters-of-experience"
data-video-slug="masters of experience ocean sound studio giske style orig"
data-first-publish-slug="masters of experience ocean sound studio giske style orig"
data-video-tags="arts and entertainment,business and industry sectors,business, economy and trade,environment and natural resources,europe,islands and reefs,landforms and ecosystems,media industry,music,music industry,north america,northern europe,northwestern united states,norway,united states"
data-details="">
"
data-timestamp-html=""
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2020-08-20T20:28:21Z"
data-video-section="style"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/arts/2020/08/20/tyler-mitchell-amanpour-art-photography.cnn"
data-branding-key="amanpour"
data-video-slug="Tyler Mitchell Amanpour Art Photography"
data-first-publish-slug="Tyler Mitchell Amanpour Art Photography"
data-video-tags="african americans,arts and entertainment,books and reading,demographic groups,leisure and lifestyle,minority and ethnic groups,photography,population and demographics,society,visual arts"
data-details="">
"
data-timestamp-html=""
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2020-10-27T07:20:38Z"
data-video-section="style"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/arts/2020/10/26/leslie-hutch-hutchinson-musician-black-british-history-lon-orig.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="leslie hutch hutchinson musician black british history lon orig"
data-first-publish-slug="leslie hutch hutchinson musician black british history lon orig"
data-video-tags="continents and regions,discrimination,europe,northern europe,racism and racial discrimination,societal issues,society,united kingdom"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Remembering 'Hutch:' The Black cabaret star Britain forgot
"
data-timestamp-html=""
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2020-09-26T06:42:35Z"
data-video-section="style"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/arts/2020/09/23/georg-friedrich-prince-of-prussia-hohenzollern-castle-tv-orig.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="Georg Friedrich Prince of Prussia Hohenzollern Castle tv orig"
data-first-publish-slug="Georg Friedrich Prince of Prussia Hohenzollern Castle tv orig"
data-video-tags="continents and regions,europe,germany,western europe,anthropology and archeology,conflicts and wars,history and historical discoveries,humanities and social sciences,unrest, conflicts and war,world war ii"
data-details="">
"
data-timestamp-html=""
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2020-05-23T08:54:14Z"
data-video-section="style"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/arts/2020/05/22/christo-interview-new-york-arc-de-triomphe-lon-orig.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="christo interview new york arc de triomphe lon orig"
data-first-publish-slug="christo interview new york arc de triomphe lon orig"
data-video-tags="arts and entertainment,celebrities,christo,continents and regions,europe,france,paris,visual arts,western europe"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Christo: 'I am an artist who is totally irrational'
"
data-timestamp-html=""
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2020-04-20T10:54:04Z"
data-video-section="style"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/arts/2020/04/20/royal-ballet-opera-house-lockdown-style-orig.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="royal ballet opera house lockdown style orig"
data-first-publish-slug="royal ballet opera house lockdown style orig"
data-video-tags="arts and entertainment,ballet,dancers and dancing,music and dance"
data-details="">
"
data-timestamp-html=""
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2018-02-07T08:32:36Z"
data-video-section="style"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/arts/2018/01/29/david-hockney-nick-glass-style-orig.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="david hockney nick glass style orig"
data-first-publish-slug="david hockney nick glass style orig"
data-video-tags="arts and entertainment,business and industry sectors,business, economy and trade,celebrities,celebrity and pop culture,david hockney,domestic alerts,domestic-entertainment,iab-business and finance,iab-entertainment industry,iab-industries,iab-media industry,iab-pop culture,international alerts,international-entertainment,media industry,movie and video industry"
data-details="">
"
data-timestamp-html=""
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2019-03-25T04:14:13Z"
data-video-section="style"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/arts/2019/03/25/kaws-holiday-hong-kong-arts.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="kaws holiday hong kong arts"
data-first-publish-slug="kaws holiday hong kong arts"
data-video-tags="asia,china,continents and regions,east asia,hong kong,arts and entertainment,sculpture,visual arts"
data-details="">
"
data-timestamp-html=""
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2019-03-14T13:02:04Z"
data-video-section="style"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/arts/2019/03/11/yinka-shonibare-artist-profile-avant-garde-africa-lon-orig.cnn"
data-branding-key="africa-avant-garde"
data-video-slug="yinka shonibare artist profile avant garde africa lon orig"
data-first-publish-slug="yinka shonibare artist profile avant garde africa lon orig"
data-video-tags="arts and entertainment,immigration,immigration, citizenship and displacement,international relations and national security,misc people,visual arts,yinka shonibare"
data-details="">
"
data-timestamp-html=""
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2018-04-26T11:21:31Z"
data-video-section="style"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/arts/2018/04/26/korea-demilitarized-zone-art-lon-orig-td.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="korea demilitarized zone art lon orig td"
data-first-publish-slug="korea demilitarized zone art lon orig td"
data-video-tags="international relations,international relations and national security,treaties and agreements,unrest, conflicts and war"
data-details="">
"
data-timestamp-html=""
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2017-01-27T04:56:41Z"
data-video-section="style"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/arts/2017/01/27/art-of-the-lion-dance.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="art of the lion dance"
data-first-publish-slug="art of the lion dance"
data-video-tags="animals,arts and entertainment,chinese new year,dancers and dancing,holidays and observances,life forms,lions,mammals"
data-details="">
"
data-timestamp-html=""
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2016-12-02T10:25:55Z"
data-video-section="style"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/arts/2016/11/25/masters-at-work-alicia-keys.cnn"
data-branding-key="masters-at-work"
data-video-slug="masters at work alicia keys"
data-first-publish-slug="masters at work alicia keys"
data-video-tags="alicia keys,arts and entertainment,awards and prizes,business and industry sectors,business, economy and trade,celebrities,entertainment and arts awards,grammy awards,media industry,music,music awards,music industry"
data-details="">
"
data-timestamp-html=""
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2016-09-22T17:13:31Z"
data-video-section="style"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/arts/2016/09/13/pixel-ben-lowy-ms.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="Pixel Ben Lowy MS"
data-first-publish-slug="Pixel Ben Lowy MS"
data-video-tags="unrest, conflicts and war,syria conflict,business, economy and trade,business and industry sectors,media industry,journalism and news media,photojournalism,africa,iraq,libya,magazines,middle east,middle east and north africa,mobile and cellular telephones,mobile technology,northern africa,publishing industry,technology"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Benjamin Lowy: On documenting war with a cell phone
"
data-timestamp-html=""
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2016-09-22T17:35:21Z"
data-video-section="style"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/arts/2016/09/13/pixel-vincent-laforet-ms.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="Pixel Vincent Laforet MS"
data-first-publish-slug="Pixel Vincent Laforet MS"
data-video-tags="arts and entertainment,business and industry sectors,business, economy and trade,journalism and news media,media industry,photography,photojournalism,visual arts,england,europe,las vegas,london,nevada,north america,northern europe,southwestern united states,united kingdom,united states"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
What do London and Las Vegas look like from the sky?
A toned, 80-year-old grandpa has become one of China's hottest fashion models
The actor rose to fame after his first runway appearance at China Fashion Week in 2015
See jaws drop as the octogenarian struts through Beijing's historic alleyways in video above
Beijing, ChinaCNN
—
He’s tall, muscular and, despite being 80 years old, is an in-demand fashion model.
Wang Deshun shot to fame following a 30-second, bare-chested runway appearance during China Fashion Week in 2015.
It was the first time Wang had ever walked a runway and his flowing white beard certainly turned heads.
He became an overnight Internet sensation in China, with some dubbing him “China’s Hottest Grandpa” and “Old Fresh Meat.”
“Old Fresh Meat” is a play on words for the popular Chinese phrase “Little Fresh Meat,” used to describe attractive, young TV stars.
Wang Dashun walks the runway at China Fashion Week in 2015
Courtesy Quan Yajun
Chance discovery
As one of China’s top fashion designers, Hu Sheguang never had a grandfather in his mind when planning his catwalk for China Fashion Week 2015.
But that all changed when he saw a photo of Wang in QQ Wang’s mobile phone, the musician composing tracks for his show.
“Who is this old man, looking so energetic?” Hu asked.
“That is my father,” said the composer. Wang Deshun was quickly introduced to the designer and gladly took up a catwalk invitation. The rest is history.
An actor by trade, Wang Deshun was born in the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang in 1936 and started working in pantomime.
He eventually moved into martial arts films, and has appeared in a number of Hollywood movies, including the “Forbidden Kingdom.”
He first started going to the gym when he was 50, aiming to keep his body in shape for his acting career.
Seven years later, with a sculpted, lithe body, Wang created a performance called “living sculpture.” While used to attention, he is still a little taken aback by the extent his fame has grown so late in his career.
“People are surprised that an old man like me can have such good muscles,” Wang tells CNN.
And don’t expect him to be slowing down any time soon.
“Every day, for 30 years now, I have never stopped training,” he says, noting that he almost never misses his rigorous daily swimming routine.
Milan Fashion Week plans
In Wang’s eye, age isn’t an obstacle.
At 65, he learned to ride a horse in just a month for a role. At 78, he learned how to ride a motorbike.
The octogenarian has a different way of evaluating age.
Wang's nickname is "Old Fresh Meat" on Chinese social media platforms
Courtesy Quan Yajun
“As long as you dare to do things you have never done before, your heart is still young,” he says, adding that he believes people should think again when they tell themselves that it is too late to do something.
“That might just be your excuse for giving up.”
In a society where most people retire between 50 and 60 years of age, Wang Deshun is an anomaly, and plans to work as long as he is alive. Next year, he’ll walk one of the runways at Milan Fashion Week.
“I don’t have a plan,” Wang says. “I have always done whatever comes to my mind, and I will simply forge ahead.”
