The art of impersonation has existed for years, with many of the best being able to turn their resemblance to a star into a money-making career.
One Chinese man recently gained attention for impersonating an unexpected American celebrity and athlete — Kobe Bryant.
In 2020, American basketball player and NBA legend Kobe Bryant passed away following a helicopter accident. Bryant’s long-career and success-filled career spanning two decades resulted in the athlete having a massive fanbase worldwide.
This includes China, where Bryant visited yearly to greet fans.
This is likely how 21-year-old influencer Ma Jinghui was able to amass a huge following after trying to impersonate the basketball legend. Ma initially began as a video game streamer and had a few thousand followers when someone pointed out his resemblance.
After that, Ma shaved his head and began streaming while wearing a Lakers jersey. For these streams, Ma apparently uses make-up to make his skin appear darker (something that could be considered blackface) and speaks with a basketball in hand.
Videos on his account show Ma in his impersonation outfit playing basketball, and in more recent clips, it appears he has toned down or stopped using makeup. Ma, a basketball fan, is one of the thousands that idolized Bryant.
His impersonation was successful, as he gained over 500 thousand followers and made 80,000 yuan (11,050 USD) in less than two weeks.
Following complaints about his physique, Ma reportedly began a fitness regime, showing he plans to continue this impersonation for the foreseeable future.
I hope to earn more money, buy a car for my dad and get my sister a new phone.
— Ma Jinghui
This is certainly one way to show admiration for a beloved star!
