Yao rose to fame for her roles in television series
The Dream of Red Mansions (2010). In 2011, Yao starred in the romance drama
Naked Marriage. The TV drama became a national sensation, and Yao was given the title of "Nation's Girlfriend" by the Chinese media. The following year, Yao starred in the youth drama
Beijing Youth, about teens in Beijing struggling against the strict and traditional culture of their parents. The drama was well received among young Chinese mainland audiences. In 2013, Yao's fame continued to rise after she starred in two TV dramas,
New Dating Era and
Love Is Not Blind, which is adapted from a 2011 Chinese movie of the same name. She was named the Most Popular Actress by Youku. However, in 2014, her affair with actor
Wen Zhang was exposed. Her reputation was greatly damaged, and this temporarily halted her film career. ==Personal life==