Beijing cashes in on folk-singing first lady Since her husband, Xi Jinping, became president in March, the 50-year-old People's Liberation Army singer has taken unprecedented steps into the limelight, seizing the headlines with her dress-sense and charm during presidential tours of Russia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. Captions heaped praise on Ms Peng's "handsome and elegant" accessories, "must-have" scarfs and "slightly nostalgic" skirts. Last November, in his inaugural speech as Communist Party chairman, Xi Jinping declared: "China needs to learn more about the world, and the world also needs to learn more about China." Since then, Ms Peng has emerged as a potentially powerful asset in Beijing's bid to sell China to the world. Ms Peng is also a major force at home, where she enjoys a huge fan-base built over a three-decade singing career. James Chau, a television presenter who has spent time with the first lady in Bali and Vienna, said he believed Ms Peng offered "that rare combination of being respected, being very, verv popular and also being loved." Now she had the "opportunity to completely blaze a new trail for what global first ladies mean," he argued. It's perfectly understandable why people would think of her in terms of a Jackie Kennedy or a Michelle Obama because that is the way they understand her role. [But] I think of her more in terms of Cherie Blair, Hillary Clinton or Samantha Cameron: very strong and accomplished women who have had their own parallel careers. Mr Chau said he believed women around the world would identify with Ms Peng's rise from humble roots to Chinese icon. She's the girl done good. And I think that everybody can relate to that. Everybody loves a winner. Chinese micro-bloggers appear to agree. "[Our] first lady is really something," one commented alongside the rediscovered photographs. Thumbs up! She was plain and modest when she was young. Now, she is very impressive," wrote another. We will always support you.