A young and beautiful influencer has been kidnapped after her best friend allegedly lured her into the Philippines.
Athena Liya, a famous online persona in her native China, has worried her millions of fans who noticed she has been off the radar for months.
Online rumours began to spread as the 23-year-old beauty has reportedly stopped posting since April.
Many claimed the dark-haired stunner’s best friend tricked her into travelling across Southeast Asia and was involved in her abduction.
Others believe Athena – who was said to be the daughter of a wealthy family – might have been kidnapped in exchange for ransom.
Yang Jingwei, Chairman of the Chaoren Community Service Centre, confirmed the girl has been kidnapped and her last known whereabouts are in the Philippines, according to local media.
Yang also reportedly disputed the claims of her being beaten up by someone. He added that the idea of being abducted for ransom is unlikely, as the girl comes from an ordinary working family.
Yang assured local authorities are actively searching for Athena.
However, to ensure the young woman’s personal safety, the chamber has decided not to disclose any further details at the moment.
Apart from being a popular social media figure, Athena is also known for dazzling beauty pageants with her looks.
In 2021, the influencer was voted among the top three choices competing to participate in the Miss World competition.
The investigation is currently ongoing.
