Twenty-one-year-old Han Yongxin is from Hubei. She has one older brother and one younger sister.

Yongxin had studied one year in high school before starting work in factories when she was eighteen. Currently, she works in Foxconn making iPhones.

Yongxin spends her wage on clothes and make-up. She rarely has enough money left at the end of each month to send any home.

Yongxin’s idol is her previous boss – a lady who set up her own clothes workshop after years of factory work.

Yongxin’s dream destination is Hong Kong and she loves Hong Kong fashion. Her dream is to become a fashion designer, and her biggest wish right now is to buy a smartphone.

Twenty-one-year-old Kang Jiali is from Henan. She has one older sister and one older brother.

Jiali came to live in the city with her parents at six, and they worked in a factory making computer monitors. When she was nineteen she finished high school and made stuffed toys in a factory. She quit after six months and is currently doing a computing course.

She spends all her money on fashion, and visits shopping malls with her friends every weekend.

Jiali’s idol is her older sister, who started on the factory floor but has had the drive and determination to climb the career ladder.

Jiali’s dream destination is Hong Kong. Her dream is to become a successful career woman. Her biggest wish right now is to complete her course and find an office job in factories.

Twenty-five-year-old He Meijiao is from Sichuan. She has two older brothers.

Meijiao finished junior school and started to work in the factories when she was sixteen. She currently works in a factory making shoes.

Meijiao spends her wages on clubbing, drinking with friends, and going out for meals. She sends money home every month to save up for her future.

Meijiao’s idols are the owners of her current factory. She admires their business and social skills. She admires all successful business people.

Meijiao’s dream destination is Taiwan as she heard that Taiwan has very special street food. Her dream is to run a photo shoot studio, and her biggest wish is to buy her parents nice things and provide them with a high standard of living.

Twenty-two-year-old Li Hongmei is from Yunan. She has two younger sisters.

Hongmei finished junior school and started to work in factories when she was sixteen. She currently works in a factory making Chinese brand mobiles.

Hongmei sends most of her money home. She wants to study English but worries that she is not good enough to complete the course.

Hongmei’s idol is her mother, who is working in a factory to support her family.

Hongmei’s dream destination is Hong Kong. She would like to go there with her family. She wants to run a pre-school in her hometown. Her biggest wish is to make good money so her sisters don’t have to quit school to work in factories.

Eighteen-year-old Lin Ya is from Guangxi. She has one older sister and one younger sister.

This year Lin Ya finished junior school and started to work in the same factory as her mother. They work in a clothes factory.

Lin Ya spends most of her wages on snacks and food. She loves supermarkets, where the endless choices of snacks foods from national and international brands tempt her everyday.

Lin Ya’s idol is her mother – a lady who works tirelessly to raise money for her family.

Lin Ya’s dream destination is Beijing, as she wants to see to the capital of China. Her biggest wish right now is to control her eating and lose some weight.

Twenty-four-year-old Tong Jimei is from Guizhou. She has one older sister and one younger sister.

Jimei finished junior school and started to work in factories when she was sixteen. She currently works in a factory making travel luggage.

Jimei spends her wages on shoes and clothes. She looks after her own savings and doesn’t send any money home.

Jimei’s idols are owners of the Chinese Maotai liquor factories in her hometown, who were once farmers but made their fortunes since the economic boom by producing the most exclusive beverages.

Jimei’s dream destination is Hangzhou – she wants to see the famous scenery. Her dream is to open a liquor factory one day and her biggest wish right now is to buy a smartphone.

Twenty-year-old Lu Qiaoying is from Fujian. She has one older sister and a brother who is the same age as her.

Qiaoying studied two years in junior school. She liked school but had to work in factories from the age of sixteen, so her brother can continue his studies. She now works in a factory making sofas.

Qiaoying loves cute and pretty clothes but she sent most of her money home to contribute to her brother’s school fees.

Qiaoying’s idol is a famous Chinese presenter who also built a media empire. Qiaoying thinks she is an amazing lady making headlines in a man’s world.

Qiaoying’s dream is to run a local shop back in her hometown, where she could be close to her family. Her biggest wish is for her brother to do well after completing his studies at a technical college.

Twenty-two-year-old Wang Guanying is from Yunnan. She has two younger brothers.

Guanying finished primary school and started to work in factories when she was fifteen. She just quit her job in Foxconn after 6 months making iPhones. She has worked very hard in factories for her brothers. Now she is looking for a job that is more interesting, even if it has a lower salary.

Guanying spends her wages on fashion and food. She sends money home every month to support her parents.

Guanying’s idol is her best friend, who quit her job and started to sell goods as a street vendor.

Guanying’s dream destination is Sanya (a Chinese tourist destination). She always sees it on TV. Her dream is to run a little business back home.

Twenty-five-year-old Xiao Hongyan is from Guizhou. She has one older sister and one older brother.

Hongyan finished junior school and started to work in the factories when she was sixteen. She currently works in a factory making small electrical appliances.

Hongyan spends her wages on taking makeup lessons.

Hongyan’s idol is her makeup teacher, who was once a factory girl but has become a professional.

Hongyan’s dream destination is Shanghai, for her, it is the capital of China’s fashion and makeup trendsetters. Her dream is to open her own makeup parlour one day, either in the city or back in her hometown. Her biggest wish right now is to buy an expensive makeup brush set.

Twenty-two-year-old Yuan Li is from Tibet. She has two older sisters and one older brother.

Yuan Li finished junior school and started to work in the factories when she was sixteen. Currently she works in a factory making sofas.

Yuan Li spends most of her wage on clothes and street dance classes. She doesn’t send any money home. Sometimes her parents have to send money to her to cover her expenses.

Yuan Li’s idol is her mother, who worked in factories before setting up her own business back home.

Yuan Li’s dream destination is Hong Kong, where she wants to try her luck in the film industry. Her dream is to become an actress, and her biggest wish right now is to get a new smartphone.

Twenty-year-old Yang Haiyan is from Guangxi. She has one younger sister.

Haiyan studied one year of high school and started to work in factories when she was eighteen. She currently works in a factory making shoes.

Haiyan spends all her time on the Internet. She saved most of her money and is studying a photo-editing course.

Haiyan’s idol is her friend, who left factory to work in photo editing in a photo shoot studio. Her friend inspired and encouraged her to attend photo-editing course.

Haiyan’s dream destination is Europe. She wants to run her own photo studio one day. Her biggest wish right now is to get a high quality smartphone.

Twenty-four-year-old Zhang Qianqian is from Jiangxi. She has one younger brother and one younger sister.

Qianqian finished high school and started to work in factories when she was seventeen. She currently works in a factory making jeans.

Qianqian spends her wages on food and clothes. She sends a small amount of money home every month, which her parents save up for her.

Qianqian’s idol is her aunt, who now runs nail bars after quitting her factory job seven years ago.

Qianqian’s dream destination is Tokyo, where she wants to see all the newest nail fashion. Her dream is to save enough money and open her own nail bar in the city. Her biggest wish right now is to do a nail art design course.