The campaign photo shows Lay lifting up his shirt to flaunt his physique. Another image features him rocking a Calvin Klein logo T-shirt with a denim jacket and jeans.

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Calvin Klein’s iconic global campaigns have defined American fashion for decades, convincing consumers that wearing a pair of jeans is a timeless statement. It has banked on the megawatt power of celebrity marketing: A$AP Rocky, Kendall Jenner, Shawn Mendes, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Beth Ditto, Billie Eilish, the entire Kardashian clan and Frank Ocean have all posed for Calvin Klein.

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Lay is no stranger to Calvin Klein, having been named as the brand’s first Chinese global ambassador in 2019. To honour his recent body of work (pun intended), here are five things you should know about Lay and why he has become a cultural icon not just in South Korea and China, but across the globe.

Lay has not one, but three Madame Tussauds wax figures in his honour

Lay became the first idol and artist born in the 90s to have three distinct Madame Tussaud wax figures displayed in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong.

As if that achievement was not enough, he was the first musician and producer to have his own exhibition hall at Madame Tussauds Beijing.

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Jackie Chan taught him how to drive

Lay starred in Kung Fu Yoga in 2017, landing the opportunity to work with veteran actor Jackie Chan.

Soompi quoted Lay saying, “I couldn’t even dream of making a mistake when I was filming with Jackie Chan.” Lay added that Chan helped his co-actors with their scenes and warmed up the atmosphere on set. Aside from that, Jackie taught him a practical life lesson: how to drive.

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Lay puts his fame and influence to good use

It’s easy to get consumed by fame and power, but Lay, who ranked 20th on the Forbes China Celebrity 100 list, stands out with his strong sense of social responsibility. He has established his own charity and foundation and established the Zhang Yixing Arts Scholarship at his alma mater, Hunan Masters College Middle School.

Lay is an established author

Lay’s 2015 autobiography, Standing Firm at 24, was an ode to his 24th birthday and chronicled the best 24 moments of his life. It broke online sales records, selling 68,537 copies in the first 24 minutes of presales.

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He’s the first Chinese artist to enter the iTunes top 60

If there’s one thing impressive about Lay, it’s that he works well with his Exo members, but also stands out as a multitalented artist.

In 2016, his first EP, “Lose Control”, which included tracks What U Need? and Lose Control, topped the Gaon Album Chart and took the fourth spot on Billboard’s US World Albums Chart. This EP made him the first Chinese artist to enter the iTunes top 60.

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