On May 17, Chinese streaming platform Mango TV announced the full cast of the third season of Sisters Who Make Waves, a popular talent show featuring female celebrities over 30. The age-positive program is fêted by Chinese fans, who are incredibly excited for one VIP guest’s appearance in season three: Korean-American singer Jessica Jung.
The hashtag for the announcement amassed more than 130 million views on Weibo in just a few hours.
Boasting a massive following in China, with more than 6.6 million followers on her Weibo account, the 33-year-old singer, songwriter, and actress rose to fame as a former member of the K-pop group Girls’ Generation in the mid-2000s.
Over the past half-decade, Jung strengthened her position in the Chinese market by starring in the Chinese movie I Love That Crazy Little Thing (2016) and singing Mandarin songs.
While her talent for singing and acting has not faded, Jung has outgrown her idol image and is now recognized as a full-fledged entrepreneur. With a clothing and lifestyle brand, a restaurant in Seoul, and a book under her belt, her net worth in 2022 is estimated at 42.2 million USD.
Chinese netizens are over the moon about Jung’s participation in Sisters Who Make Waves. Many have expressed their support by creating fan-made posters and posting comments such as, “She can sing and dance; I’m so excited to see her on stage!”
A fan-made poster with a detailed list of Jessica Jung’s past achievements
The new season of the TV show will see return contestants like Taiwanese singer Annie Yi. The program will also feature newcomers — to keep things interesting, like ultra-popular Chinese Canadian actress and singer Kelly Yu Wenwen.
Seasons one and two of Sisters Who Make Waves took China by storm, thanks to its casting of older, established participants — a refreshing change and stark contrast from most Chinese talent shows, which only focus on young and largely unknown starlets. The series also challenges the stereotype of ‘leftover women’ by celebrating their talents and successes.
While an official release date has yet to be announced, the third season is rumored to be released as early as May 20.
This article was updated at 6:57 PM on May 17, 2022, to clarify that the cast list for season three of Sisters Who Make Waves was released today, May 17, not March 17, as previously stated.
All images via Weibo
