Shandong art college says it won’t any accept applicants who have had plastic surgery

Also, hopefuls have been warned against wearing too much makeup

A Chinese art college has announced that any applicants who have had plastic surgery in the past will be banned from the school’s entrance exam this year, arguing that going under the knife leads to less expressive actors.

“Actors and presenters will draw the attention of millions of people. Micro plastic surgery is like binding a sandbag to your face, inevitably, it affects your subtle facial expressions, said Dong Liang, dean of the film and television school of the Shandong University of Art.

Of course, the reality is that actors are infamous for going under the knife to enhance or maintain their beauty, a necessary part of working in an industry that often prizes good looks over talent.

Plastic surgeries are just as common in China as in Hollywood. The face of superstar actress Fan Bingbing, in particular, has become the envy of many and the most popular template for plastic surgeons, who even offer procedures that are named after her.

One Chinese woman spent 8 years of going under the knife to look like Fan Bingbing

Though, there is still a stigma attached to such procedures. Back in 2015, popular fashion icon and renowned bad actress Angelababy went so far as to submit herself to a medical examination performed by a plastic surgery expert to confirm that her beauty was in fact all natural.

After the expert was done checking her eyes and mouth, Angelababy urged reporters who accompanied her to the office, “Quick, help me think where else!”

Evidently, it is this kind of “natural beauty” that the Shandong University of Art prizes above all else, even warning hopefuls against wearing too much makeup for their auditions.

“They have to rely on their natural beauty to stand out and focus on developing their professional skills. We won’t accept the heavy makeup even for covering scars. Professional quality and ability is also important,” Dong added, according to CGTN.

And apparently you must have all of these in spades if you want to gain entrance to the Shandong University of Art. The college reportedly has received some 9,000 applications for only 210 spots.

A few years ago, China’s official Xinhua news agency published a report about how plastic surgery clinics had suddenly become popular places for high school graduates to spend their summer break, looking to attain a new look before their fresh start at college — often by adding an extra fold to their eyelids.

[Images via CGTN]