Yue-Sai, first lady of style

"I don't think of myself as a celebrity...Happiness is not about fame, it's in doing what you love and, in the process, people appreciate you for it."

Since 1989, Yue-Sai has concentrated on her businesses in China. But she says doing business is never easy, especially in China's developing business environment.

Yue-Sai married an American businessman in the 1990s but she has since divorced and now lives alone. This does, however, give her the freedom and time to lavish on her businesses.

"I appreciate the freedom very much. Children are forever, and even, sometimes, husbands," she laughs mischievously.

Kan owes her enormous fame and subsequent brand success to a large dose of luck and her attitude to 'celebrity' suggests that she knows this better than anyone.

Beneath the glamorous exterior she has struggled to get away from mere celebrity and build something more long lasting. At first this took the form of business, but she has bigger ambitions for branding.

"If a brand is successful, it doesn't relate to you as a person anymore. For example Christian Dior has been dead for years, but the brand lives on. That's the difference between a celebrity and a brand. That's my dream."

She reflects on her own fame. "I don't think of myself as a celebrity, but as a businesswoman who happens to be very famous. I know so many celebrities who are miserable. Happiness is not about fame, it's in doing what you love, and in the process people appreciate you for it."