One model finds the perfect spot to flop down for a packed lunch. [Photo Provided to China Daily]

Many women in China in their 20s still live under the care of their parents. But models like Sun, who are always on the road for work, must take care of everything on their own. "Because I wear high heels all day, my legs often cramp at night. There's no effective way to eradicate it. So as long as I have time, I soak and massage my feet. My friends joke that I am behaving like an old man," Sun says.

In November 2006, during the Beijing Fashion Week, Sun slept less than 20 hours the entire week. The dress rehearsal for the show finished at 3 am each night and the next day's rehearsal began at 6:30 am.

"To save time, for several days I just slept in the theater. The corridor, restroom and stage were all my beds," she says.

Dang Jiani, 25, a veteran model from Beijing, agrees that the lifestyle is hard on a woman's body. "Models are not allowed to wear silk stockings, but sometimes the backstage is too cold and we use a shawl to keep warm when resting and waiting for next performance," she says.

"When we have the time for lunch, the boxed lunch is already cold. So we all have thermos cups. Besides, because we have to stand for so long while wearing high heels, almost all the models have varicose veins. A thick shawl, small cushion and thermos cup are three magic weapons in a model's suitcase for all four seasons," Dang says.

Dang's mother once came to an auto show and found her daughter backstage, sitting on the ground and eating a coldboxed lunch.

"She cried that time and since then she has never visited me at any of the auto fairs. But anytime she has a chance, she will make a bunch of dishes I like," Dang says.