The US first lady’s unwavering support for her husband has captured the imagination of social media users who look past politics and scandal.

By China’s conventional standards, women are expected to be supportive of their husbands and to focus on raising children. But Melania Trump’s streaks of independence also appeal to Chinese fans, as does her ascent from small-town Slovenian roots to the top of the world’s social ladder.

The two-time first lady is winning thousands of female fans in the authoritarian country —  where women must strike a balance between modern and traditional — for her stoic loyalty to her husband