Li Sixuan, a 28-year-old woman from Shenzhen and former regional winner of the Miss Universe China pageant, has been sentenced to 240 days in prison after using forged academic documents to fraudulently enroll in a graduate program at the University of Hong Kong (HKU).
On May 8, 2025, the Shatin Magistrates’ Court convicted Li Sixuan of two offenses: obtaining services by deception and possession of false documents. Acting Chief Magistrate Cheng Chi-hang noted that her actions reflected sustained dishonesty.
Li had claimed to hold a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from Columbia University in the United States and presented a fake graduation certificate stating she had graduated with distinction. In reality, she had never attended Columbia. Her actual academic background was from Wuhan College, a private institution in mainland China.
Discovery followed a university-wide audit
HKU launched a comprehensive review of student records in 2024 following a broader scandal involving falsified degrees. During the audit, Li Sixuan’s records raised red flags. Columbia University confirmed that she had never been a student there.
The university emailed her in June 2024 requesting clarification, but she refused to attend any meetings with officials. On July 20, 2024, she was stopped by immigration officers on campus and later arrested at Lok Ma Chau. A search of her residence uncovered a fake HKU graduation certificate stating she had graduated on June 12 with distinction. However, the actual ceremony had been held on June 11, and her legitimate academic standing would have resulted in only a basic pass.
No other students were directly affected
Prosecutors noted that HKU’s Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics program had 95 available seats that year, with only 93 students admitted. As Li Sixuan’s fraudulent enrollment did not deprive any other applicant of a spot, the court did not impose additional penalties.
Li was initially charged with making a false statement to obtain an entry permit, and later faced two more charges: obtaining services by deception and possession of false documents. She ultimately pleaded guilty to all charges.
Continued appearances despite scandal
Li rose to public prominence when she won the Shenzhen division during the Miss Universe China Greater Bay Area finals on July 4, 2024. In interviews, she introduced herself as an HKU student majoring in Applied Linguistics and said she was “honored to win the Shenzhen City Championship.”
Even after her arrest and during court proceedings, she continued to appear at public events, including serving as a guest at the 2025 Miss Asia Greater Bay Area finals.
Mainland agency linked to the case
During the investigation, Li Sixuan told police she had paid 380,000 yuan [US$52,700] to a mainland agency known as “Academic Empire” to handle her application and forge the necessary documents. The agency, officially registered as Hefei Academic Education Consulting Co., Ltd., has admitted in civil court to repeatedly fabricating applicants’ credentials — including falsified work experience and overseas education histories — to help them gain admission to universities in Hong Kong and abroad.
Despite its involvement in multiple cases, the agency has not yet faced any criminal prosecution.
Translated by Chua BC
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