How mainstream media kept falling for a fake image of Xi Jinping's daughter

An image purporting to show Xi Mingze , the reclusive daughter of Chinese President Xi Jinping, walking a red carpet at a UN fashion event has circulated widely online, even appearing in reputable outlets like Newsweek and The Times. At first glance, the story seemed plausible. However, a detailed investigation by X user @echetus revealed the photo was a case of mistaken identity. The resulting inquiry exposed sloppy media verification and the dangers of blindly trusting image agencies. Here’s how the story unravelled—and what it says about journalism in the digital age.


Xi Mingze’s fake image that fooled everyone
The photograph was taken at the 2018 “Fashion 4 Development” First Lady’s Luncheon in New York, a high-profile UN-backed event attended by diplomats’ spouses. Getty and Alamy published the image, claiming the younger woman was Xi Mingze and the older was Peng Liyuan. With no verified adult images of Xi Mingze in public circulation, the photo seemed plausible. Mainstream media outlets used it without deeper verification, trusting the provided metadata.


Why the image looked credible
Xi Mingze is deliberately shielded from public view. Her name in Chinese, returns no search results on major platforms in China due to strict state censorship. No verified adult photos of her exist. So when a rare, polished image surfaced—apparently showing her next to someone resembling her mother—it passed as credible, especially with well-known sources attaching names to faces. This illusion of authenticity led many to accept it at face value.


The red flags and the investigation
An X user @echetus, a stakeholder consultant, decided to examine the image more closely. While initial identification seemed sound, the woman labeled as Peng Liyuan clearly didn’t match known photos of the First Lady. Similar ethnicity and hairstyle aside, the differences in facial structure were apparent. Further research led @echetus to a Shutterstock listing from the same event, where the women were identified differently. The older woman was actually Noelle Kwok, a U.S. State Department official and decorated public servant.


The real identity behind “Xi Mingze”
Shutterstock identified the younger woman not as Xi Mingze, but as Fi (Catherine) Chen. While the name “Fi” is uncommon in Pinyin, it’s likely a nickname or a Westernized form. Little is publicly known about her, but importantly, there is no indication of any link to Xi Jinping’s family. The case was one of mistaken identity, may be unintentional, but significant.


How the misidentification happened
The likely cause was initial metadata confusion . It’s not uncommon for early errors in naming or tagging to propagate through syndication networks. Photo agencies and publishers often rely on metadata provided at the time of image upload, especially during fast-paced events. In this case, a mistake appears to have been copied across platforms without deliberate intent. As @echetus noted, this also reflects the deeper challenge of implicit bias, where individuals of the same ethnicity may be mistaken for one another based on superficial traits.


The consequences of misidentification
This incident shows how quickly a narrative can gain traction when visual proof appears to support it. Even major outlets can unknowingly reinforce misinformation when operating on metadata alone. Without cross-checking or consulting event organizers, an image of two unrelated women was seen worldwide as evidence of Xi Jinping’s daughter making a rare public appearance.


The diligent investigation, the narrative was corrected before it spread further. It’s a reminder that images, even those from reliable sources, require independent verification. This case touches on broader issues: algorithmic metadata errors, assumptions rooted in appearance, and the fragility of trust in the media ecosystem. Xi Mingze remains a figure shrouded in intentional privacy—and for now, the world must rely on facts, not false sightings.