19-8-2023 (BEIJING) The mysterious disappearance of rising Chinese Internet celebrity “Athena Liya” has sparked widespread concern and speculation among netizens. Known for her sweet and charming appearance, Athena Liya achieved the title of Miss World Macau runner-up in 2021. However, after embarking on a trip to Southeast Asia, she vanished without a trace. On August 19th, she surged to the second spot on the Weibo hot search list, further intensifying the public’s interest in her baffling disappearance.
According to online sources, Athena Liya has not made any updates since posting a video on April 23rd, leaving her whereabouts unknown for over three months. Various screenshots of conversations between Athena Liya and her best friend have circulated on the internet, suggesting that she had initially planned to accompany her friend, surnamed Li, on a trip to Southeast Asia. However, her friend allegedly canceled the trip at the last minute, leaving Athena Liya to venture alone into the unknown.
Following Athena’s disappearance, her friend Li became the target of public scrutiny and criticism. Additionally, netizens unearthed past allegations connecting Li and her mother to the controversial practice of “introducing” girls for entertainment purposes, causing further uproar. In response to the mounting accusations, Li later came forward to offer an explanation. She clarified that Athena Liya had visited the United Kingdom in March and stayed at her home for two weeks. During this time, Athena Liya introduced Li to a person named “Bin Ge” from Southeast Asia. In May, they had planned to travel abroad together due to Li’s low spirits. However, due to Bin Ge’s work commitments, the trip was postponed until June. On the day of departure, Li had to deal with an unexpected matter at home, resulting in a one-day delay. Li revealed that Athena Liya had called to confirm her safe arrival after landing and even mentioned her excursion to a casino. However, all attempts to contact her since then have been in vain.
Nevertheless, Li’s explanation did not quell the doubts and suspicions surrounding Athena Liya’s disappearance. In fact, a woman claiming to be a close friend of Athena Liya stepped forward to counter Li’s statements. According to the alleged friend, they had been unable to locate Athena Liya since June 22nd. Interestingly, on the same day, Li deactivated all her social media accounts. Despite eventually making contact with Li, she provided no information regarding the aforementioned clarification and instead demanded more concrete evidence proving that Athena Liya’s disappearance was unrelated to her.
Recent reports indicate that Athena Liya’s mobile phone has been switched off, adding to the growing concerns for her safety. Moreover, her family has reportedly paid a ransom of 800,000 Chinese yuan (approximately S$149,260 ), but Athena Liya remains missing, leaving loved ones fearing the worst.
