[Creelaleps]

Diva Ayi Jihu Swaps Dishes For Stage

A 25-year-old waitress from Cambridge has become a singing sensation in China, selling 100m records to make her one of the world's biggest-selling artists.



Ayi is launching her UK career at the end of September

Ayi Jihu is known as the Chinese Madonna for the raunchy R&B numbers that have made her such a hit in her homeland. The dishy diva gave up her £4-an-hour job in the family restaurant The Ugly Duckling in order to chase her dream of a career as a singer.



The singer with her family at the Cambridge restaurant

The strategy clearly worked for the girl who was born in a rural village in Sichuan and came to Britain when she was 13. Her success, promoter Steve Eagle E says, is based on timing beauty and talent - and her enthusiasm for R&B and Hip Hop - with her big break coming from her appearance as an extra in a music video for rapper Fugitive.

AYI JIHU CHINESE MADONNA

She was subsequently signed up to a record deal and then flown out to China. Ayi readily admits her music career is a great deal better than her work as a dishwasher in the restaurant. "Washing up was such hard work. I had to work every weekend to get some pocket money.



Ayi Jihu as a child in China with her grandmother and little brother

"I was very glad when I was old enough to be a waitress.
"I used to sing and dance for the customers. It's all I ever wanted to do."