4 Jul 2025

The growing trend of fantasy dates

From Afternoons, 1:25 pm on 4 July 2025

There's a surprising trend gaining popularity in China, young women are hiring female cosplayers to play dream men.

Cosplay is short for costume play - where people dress up in costumes and take on the persona of a fictional character.

Jesse asks RNZ's digital journalist Yiting Lin why so many women are turning to "fantasy dates".

The 'fantasy date' trend Chinese women are embracing | RNZ News

10 (screen name) is on a cosplay commission date in Beijing with Chou Yu (screen name), who is cosplaying Zayne from Love and Deep Space.

Photo: Supplied