Riding back to the spotlight

In 2012, she was invited to be a judge on the TV show Your Face Sounds Familiar, where participants are required to impersonate celebrities.

However, she later made the transition from being a judge to becoming a contestant and ultimately emerged as the champion.

"The stage has always held a special allure for me," Qu says.

"Sitting as a judge was not enough. I wanted to be onstage, entertaining the audience and engaging with them, which brings me great fulfillment."

Her longing for the stage is also the reason for her recent appearance in the show, Riding the Wind 2023, which gathers 30-to-50-something female celebrities to practice singing and dancing together and perform onstage in groups, displaying diverse feminine charms and fostering cohesion among women from different countries.

Through this experience, she not only tried her hand at rap and dance, which were new to her, but also developed her resilience in handling pressure and maintaining a positive mindset.

"What truly took me was the process of connecting and bonding with other remarkable women, where I experienced a beautiful exchange and growth of energy among us," she says.

As the eldest participant in the show, Qu sincerely shared her life philosophy with younger participants.

For instance, Li Shaminzi, a 30-year-old participant, expressed her reluctance to pause and the desire to constantly fill herself with work. She revealed a deep concern for criticism. Qu encouraged her to relax and try to explore her inner self.

"There may be a prevailing misconception about celebrities: that if they are not constantly in the public eye, they are perceived as being at a standstill. However, I don't think so," says Qu.

"I live my life with great enthusiasm, and it is also a form of personal growth."

Over the past three years, she has been living a simple life in Chiang Mai, Thailand. She spent her time playing tennis, camping in nature and exploring local markets to experience the folk culture and customs of the area.

During that period, she has also taken up learning musical instruments, driven by the hope of composing her own heartfelt melodies that can truly express her innermost thoughts and emotions.