Song Jia wore SHAO AW26 to an evening that would bring a remarkable chapter in her career full circle. Her portrayal of Zhang Guimei in She and Her Girls had already earned her Magnolia and Golden Eagle awards. On October 9, at the 35th Flying Apsaras Awards in Yantai, Shandong, she received Outstanding Actress, becoming the first actress in mainland China to win all three major television acting honors for the same role.
Behind the three trophies was one performance, and behind that performance was a teacher whose everyday determination had given Song a great deal to understand. Zhang Guimei is the founder and principal of Huaping Girls’ High School in Yunnan, China’s first tuition-free high school for girls, established to help girls from disadvantaged rural families continue their education.
Bringing Zhang Guimei to the Screen
The work began at Huaping Girls’ High School in Yunnan. Song spent three months there preparing for the role, observing the routines and environment that shaped Zhang’s life. She lost approximately 16.5 lbs and appeared without makeup, bringing her physical appearance closer to the principal’s.
But the character took shape through more than physical resemblance. Song focused on Zhang’s directness, her stubborn determination and the exhaustion of continuing to work through years of physical strain. Those qualities allowed the audience to see the person within the public figure: a principal with students to look after, problems to solve and little time to spare.
The performance gave space to ordinary gestures and interactions. Zhang herself later described Song as “an actress for the people,” a response that connected the work on screen to the life it portrayed.
The SHAO AW26 Look
For the ceremony, Song paired the White Tailored Tuxedo Shirt with the Black Trompe L’Oeil Blazer with Satin Vest Overlay. The combination carries the familiarity of black-and-white eveningwear, with its character becoming clearer in the construction.
The blazer appears to layer a satin vest over matte wool tailoring. In fact, the two are built into a single garment. The satin introduces a subtle sheen against the wool body, giving the black silhouette depth while keeping its outline clean.
Underneath, the Italian cotton twill shirt brings crisp definition through vertical pleated front panels, a sharp point collar, a clean button placket and tailored cuffs. The collar and pleated front draw on the tradition of tuxedo shirting worn for formal occasions, giving the look a sense of ceremony appropriate to the awards. The pairing reflects SHAO’s approach to tailoring: familiar formal pieces, reconsidered through material and detail.
SHAO AW26 Runway Photo Look 8
One Role, Three Awards
The recognition had unfolded over two years. Song first received Best Actress at the 30th Magnolia Awards in 2025, followed by Best Actress at the 33rd Golden Eagle Awards in 2026. The Flying Apsaras award, also known as the Feitian award, completed the sequence.
Together, the honors span government recognition, professional jury assessment and audience participation. Different evaluation processes had returned to the same portrayal, acknowledging the performance from across China’s television industry.
A Shared Honor
When Song accepted the award, her attention returned to Zhang Guimei. Becoming emotional, she dedicated the honor to the teacher and extended her tribute to educators and workers across professions. She also thanked the audiences who had supported her work.
The evening completed a historic achievement, but her speech kept the person behind the role at its center. Wearing SHAO AW26, Song accepted her third honor for the performance and shared its meaning with the teacher whose life had inspired it.
