A woman who had failed in more than 1,000 job interviews because of her appearance recently underwent successful plastic surgery, Chinese language media reported.

Zhang Jing, 25, has become the focus of media attention since she told her story to media July 23. Failing to graduate from junior middle school, Zhang had been looking for a job since 1993. However, she believed she had not been able to find work because of her appearance. After her story was exposed, several companies offered her positions and she finally took a job as a nurse at a center for the elderly.

A Tianjin hospital offered to provide Zhang with free plastic surgery. Wanting to change her life, Zhang accepted the offer and the first stage of the surgery was performed Monday.

The operation went even smoother than expected, said a doctor surnamed Gong. The first stage of the surgery would beautify Zhang's eyes while the second stage would reshape her eyebrows and erase the wrinkles on her forehead, Gong said.

Zhang said she was very happy with the surgery.

"All I want is a normal life and no more strange looks from other people," she said.

The surgery would be completed within two months, Gong said.

(Shenzhen Daily September 25, 2003)