Since getting convicted of tax evasion — the scandal basically destroyed her career — public sightings of Fan Bingbing, 39, have become few and far between.

Or could it be because people can no longer recognise her?

That's what some are saying after this recent photo of Bingbing shopping at a mall was posted online.

Netizens, who believe that the actress has lost a lot of weight because of how big her clothes look on her, wrote: “She’s unrecognisable. Her clothes are literally hanging off her. The problem is, she was already slim to begin with. Is her health okay?”

Netizens also think her face looked different, with some going as far as to call her, um, transformation “worrying” and “scary”.

It's because of this 'transformation' that netizens say the star was able to go shopping even without wearing a mask (like most big-name celebs do) and not be worried that she would get hounded in public.

The news seems to have gained Bingbing some sympathy from netizens, with one writing: “Compared to that actress who abandoned her kids, I don’t see why Bingbing is still blacklisted. She’s a great actress, why can’t we give her another chance?”

Photos: PBE Media