A big hit

The girls and the business behind them came to the foreground after Yan Fengjiao, a TV contestant, became an overnight sensation after her sexy photos were exposed on the Internet.

Yan, 21, with innocent appearance and sweet smile, became famous in April after her appearance on a TV dating show, If You are the One, or Feichengwurao on Jiangsu Satellite TV.

However, the young woman found herself in the eye of a storm after a set of photos showing her in just underwear began circulating on the Internet two months ago.

Yan later told the media that she was forced to take those pictures. However, the Global Times learned that nude models are plentiful across the country.

"Anyone can be a nude model since this circle doesn't set high requirements for us. You can be 20, or 30, and you can be a school graduate like me, even if you were once a street girl," Jiajia, a 20-something girl who has been a nude model for nearly a year, told the Global Times.

She said that some models got gigs from agencies while others are self-employed and find work through the Internet.

Most nude models live in big cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

"Some models earn 3,000 yuan ($443) or less a month, but some make a monthly income over 10,000 yuan or even more," Jiajia said.

Besides money, instant fame lures some girls into removing their clothes.

SmartCell, a Shanghai-based online games developer, invited Yan to promote one of its new games.

The woman left the TV show in May after the scandal.

However, the models have to face a shaky reality - the job provides no stable income and the underground business lacks proper administration.