As women look into the mirror, what they see is stars

In China the traditional perception of beauty has not traditionally included firm abdominal muscles, but that has changed in recent years with celebrities such as Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid, who are highly influential in the Chinese fashion world.

Pictures and stories of how social media stars improve their physical looks through sports have inspired Chinese women to pursue similar lifestyles, and the sportswear market, once dominated by men, has become broader. More and more women are now taking part in fitness and sports as part of their daily life.

FT Confidential Research, a Financial Times outfit, found that Chinese women are increasingly involved in sports. Last year about 90 percent of women said they took part in sports, compared with 82 percent in 2015, it said. The average spending on sports gear in China last year was 1,141 yuan ($170) for a Chinese woman, and 1,081 for a man.