BEIJING--Hundreds of smiling beauties like Ren Chen, 16, pivoting gracefully on a pair of high heels, are being groomed by China to win hearts and minds at the Beijing Olympics.
Ren wants to show off her willowy grace in one of the most glamorous jobs of all -- presenting gold medals at victory ceremonies.
She is one of 26 teenage girls at a vocational high school in northern Beijing that trains flight attendants who are putting in extra hours to practice to be Olympic victory ceremony volunteers.
Standing still for hours in stilettos, perfecting posture by holding a piece of paper between the knees while balancing a book on the head and gripping chopsticks between the teeth, is all part of the learning process, says Ren.
"You have to bite the chopstick and show at least six-to-eight teeth to perfect your smile. Any less won't do," she said.
Only nine of the girls from Ren's school have met with preliminary approval from the Beijing Olympic organizing committee, including her.
It's a high profile job under the international TV spotlight and the Beijing Olympic organizing committee have set strict criteria about the appearance of the hostesses.
They must be slim, attractive and over 1.68 meters (five foot six inches) tall, 10 centimetres above average for Chinese women.
Those with round melon-shaped heads, big eyes and warm smiles, best fit Chinese ideas of female beauty and are more likely to get selected, said a school official who asked not to be named.
A Chinese newspaper caused a stir last year by reporting that women with big bottoms were ruled out.
New York-based Human Rights Watch said the Olympic organizing committee were discriminating by recruiting only young and attractive women.
But Liu Wenjun, a school vice principle, said discrimination was not an issue.
"It is true that they are all tall, with good figure and pretty faces," he said.
"But that is not discrimination against women. It is just what the post requires."
He said that while good looks were essential, the most important asset was not beauty but a good attitude and a sweet smile.
Beijing is seeking to present a positive image to the outside world during the Games and has urged citizens to be on their best behavior, encouraging them to smile and be polite and not to upset visitors by spitting, queue-jumping and dropping litter.
The city has also gone on a $40-billion spending spree to upgrade roads, railways and subway lines and to add a new airport terminal.
The 360 medal ceremony hostesses are part of the charm offensive for the August 8-24 Games.
"A smiling face is Beijing's best calling card for the Games," said Pan Jie, another vice principal at the school.
During a recent visit there, 24 students performed hostess duties for the media dressed in red jackets and matching skirts, black high-heel shoes and jaunty silk scarves.
Makeup was thin but impeccable and hair was kept short and bunched back in a sawn-off ponytail.
They were able to balance a magazine on their heads while walking with a tray perched on their right hands bearing two large bottles of water, meant to deputize for Olympic medals.
Despite the heels and skirts, they could stand, kneel or squat without upending either the tray or the magazine while looking stunning.
"It can be tiring but you just keep smiling," said Ren.
