Recently, the "post-00s" female bodyguard Zhang Meimei was on fire, and she became the "most sassy female bodyguard" in the eyes of netizens. While the Internet received praise, questions such as "hyping themselves" and "girls are not suitable to be bodyguards" also followed. Zhang Meili said very frankly that the praise and doubts on the Internet will eventually be "calm and quiet", and she only wants to serve every customer well, with the ultimate goal of becoming "China's first female bodyguard".
In September this year, at the launch of the movie "Changjin Lake" in Huairou, Beijing, director Chen Kaige was followed by a girl with a ponytail. She is Zhang Meili, a professional female bodyguard from Zigong, Sichuan.
Zhang Meili, 21 years old this year, was born in a village in her hometown, her parents have been working outside for a long time, and it was her grandmother who pulled her up. "When I was a child, I had to help my grandmother do farm work, and my strength was a little bigger, and my friends called me 'Hercules.'" Zhang Meili said that she has loved to watch martial arts films since she was a child, and Jet Li's "Shaolin Temple" has given her the idea of learning martial arts as a young girl. Because her family is not wealthy, Zhang Meili did not receive professional martial arts training, and could only "get addicted" by imitating the moves and styles in martial arts films.
Female bodyguard Zhang Meili is conducting martial arts training. Courtesy of respondents
It was not until 2017, as a sports student, that Zhang Meili entered the Chengdu Institute of Physical Education to study sanda, and began to systematically learn martial arts.
After entering the university, Zhang Meili came into contact with the "niche and mysterious profession" of bodyguards for the first time in the process of finding a part-time job, and earned living expenses during college by working as a bodyguard. Zhang Meili said that through working part-time as a bodyguard during that time, she fell in love with the "feeling of protecting others" and decided to pursue this line of work in the future.
In June, after graduating from college, Zhang Meili spent two months finally convincing her parents to let her go to Beijing for professional bodyguard training. After enrolling in a security and defense training institution called "Tianjiao College" in Beijing, Zhang Meili found that among the trainees in the same period, they were basically "strong men" such as fitness instructors, veterans, and retired athletes, and she was the only woman in the training class of more than 30 people.
Female bodyguard Zhang Meili in the course of a mission. Courtesy of respondents
The calluses on the palms of my hands are worn off, the skin of my shoulders is worn out, I am tired and vomit... Because the training content is designed based on the physical endurance limit of men, this makes Zhang Meili at the beginning of training particularly uncomfortable.
"I promised my parents to gain a foothold in this industry within three years, and if I couldn't overcome this basic training, I really wouldn't have the face to go back to my hometown." After adapting to the high-intensity training of dozens of subjects such as fighting, fighting, special driving, and safety screening, Zhang Meili gradually "butterflyed" into a qualified female bodyguard. Because her ability was recognized by the instructors and students of the college, Zhang Meili was also hired as the instructor of the college after graduation.
Female bodyguard Zhang Meili is conducting "one-on-one get-on-off protection" training. Courtesy of respondents
After officially entering the bodyguard industry, Zhang Meili performed four security tasks, basically responsible for the security work of private enterprise bosses. During a mission, Zhang Meili, who was delicate in her mind, found that there was a monitoring device installed on the car during the safety inspection of the female boss's vehicle. This made the female boss afraid at the same time, but also highly appreciated Zhang Meimei's business ability.
Female bodyguard Zhang Meili conducts a security check on the vehicle. Courtesy of respondents
On 1 January 2010, the Regulations on the Administration of Security Services came into effect, and "private bodyguards" were only legalized thereafter.
Zhang Meili introduced that the current industry is dominated by men, and less than 10% of female practitioners. In response to the question that "girls are not suitable for bodyguards", Zhang Meili said that physical strength is the biggest threshold for women to be bodyguards, and delicate thinking is the natural advantage of women in this line. In addition, with the gradual popularization of the bodyguard industry, there are more customers who hire personal bodyguards, and when the customers are women, male bodyguards have many inconveniences at this time, and female bodyguards can play their gender advantages.
For the question on the Internet about her "annual income of one million", Zhang Meimei generously responded, "As a bodyguard and instructor's salary plus the income of self-media, the annual salary can indeed reach one million yuan." ”
Female bodyguard Zhang Meili is conducting physical training. Courtesy of respondents
On Zhang Meimei's social media account, it is basically her training videos and teaching videos of women's self-defense. "Bodyguards are defensive and cannot take the initiative to attack with weapons. Professional bodyguards use skill and wisdom to arm themselves and protect others, avoiding all possible dangers by anticipating. Zhang Meili said that she hopes to let more people know through these videos, "Bodyguards are not 'professional thugs', and bodyguards are not all men." ”
Source: China News Service