LayarHijau – Li Yitong once again drew public attention after revealing in her latest livestream that her upcoming drama, The Vanishing Beauty (美人余), will showcase more than 200 different costume looks. “This drama will have over two hundred costume styles. You’ve only seen a small part so far,” Li said with a smile during the livestream. She emphasized that she reads all fan comments and feedback about her character’s appearance. “There will be many more versions of Yu Meng with completely different styles. Let’s film quickly and air it soon!” she said excitedly—without mentioning the plagiarism controversy at all.
Li Yitong’s remarks immediately sparked online discussion, as several behind-the-scenes photos that circulated earlier had been compared to visuals from Love’s Ambition (许我耀眼), starring Zhao Lusi. Many Weibo users pointed out striking visual similarities between some of Yu Meng’s costumes (Li Yitong’s character in The Vanishing Beauty) and outfits seen in Love’s Ambition. “This look of Mei Yu is almost identical to one from Love’s Ambition, as if it’s meant to ride on that show’s popularity,” one netizen commented. On the other hand, Li Yitong’s supporters argued that costume decisions fall under the responsibility of the stylist and production team—not the actress herself.
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The Vanishing Beauty follows the story of Yu Meng (played by Li Yitong), an only child from the Yangtze River Delta and a popular lifestyle blogger admired as a “lucky woman” by everyone around her. But on her fifth wedding anniversary, her seemingly perfect life collapses: her marriage begins to fall apart, and she faces a series of crises including exploitation and financial drain by her husband’s family. This dramatic setup has placed the show’s visual presentation and fashion choices under the spotlight—making costume similarities an especially sensitive topic when similar looks appear in other productions.
Previously, LayarHijau discussed in a separate article how Chinese drama industry insiders view the growing wave of “costume plagiarism” accusations. Lawyer Zhang Qihuai of Blue Penguin Law Firm explained that such claims are difficult to prove legally, since copyright law lacks a precise definition of “costume plagiarism.” Protection only applies to designs that meet originality standards and demonstrate unique creative expression. Many common fashion elements—such as basic suit cuts, simple dress silhouettes, or popular fringe styles—fall into the public domain and cannot be exclusively claimed. Producer Yu Jia added that stylistic similarities often emerge due to commercial pressure: once a certain look becomes popular, many other productions copy it for safety. Screenwriter Li Ran cited another factor—the fast-paced production cycles of digital dramas—which push creative teams to prioritize quantity over innovation, gradually eroding visual originality.
As for The Vanishing Beauty itself, Li Yitong plays Yu Meng, a modern family character filled with personal conflict, social pressure, and complex relationship dynamics. Other main cast members include Chang Hua Sen as Jiao Xu, Esther Wang as Lu Hui, and Zeng Meng Xue as Liu Zi.
The supporting cast features Cheng Hong Xin as Harry, Zhou Da Wei as Kang Long, and Huo Qing as Yu Jian Guo. The series is set for around 28 episodes and framed as an urban family drama highlighting emotional conflict and women’s search for identity in a modern city.
