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UNICEF/China/2013/Wu Kaixiang

Ma Yili was appointed as Special Advocate for Breastfeeding and Early Child Development on 18 May, 2013.

She is one of China's most famous actresses and well known as a passionate supporter of breastfeeding mothers. Born in 1976, she started her acting career in 1996 and gained nation-wide popularity in 2007 when starring in the television series “Strive”.  Since then, she has collected more than 20 awards in recognition of her performing achievements in film and television.

After the birth of her daughter in 2008, Ma Yili breastfed her for 9 months.

A true believer in nature's super food for babies, she has penned series of blog articles and weibo tweets which attracted wide attention for sharing her own experience. With over 50 million combined fans of her Sina and Tencent micro-blogs, her advocacy is a source of encouragement for hundreds of thousands of breastfeeding mothers in China.

“Breastfeeding is a decision I took since I was a little girl, I was never swayed,” she wrote in one blog article.

“It is my honor to work with UNICEF (on this issue). Breastfeeding is such wonderful experience, each time, it is a perfect moment for a mother,” said Ma Yili during her UNICEF Special Advocate appointment ceremony.

She makes it a personal principle not to endorse or represent any artificial breastmilk substitutes.  “I would not feed any of those to my own daughter, certainly I will not endorse them publicly,” said Ma Yili at her appointment.

Ma Yili's first assignment as UNICEF Special Advocate is to support  the 10m2 of Love campaign promoting workplace and public building breastfeeding rooms in China, in order to raise awareness and support for breastfeeding mothers.