Bella Yao

Bella Yao, also known as Yao Beina, was a Chinese singer and songwriter who rose to fame after winning the championship of pop singing in the CCTV National Young Singer Contest in 2008. She was also known for her participation in The Voice of China Season 2 and her rendition of the Mandarin version of Let It Go from Disney's Frozen. She recorded many soundtracks and theme songs for movies and TV shows, such as Empresses in the Palace, Painted Skin: The Resurrection, and Back to 1942. She was born to a family of musicians in Wuhan, China on September 26, 1981. She started learning piano at the age of four and debuted as a singer at a local television when she was nine. She attended the Affiliated High School of Wuhan Conservatory of Music and later graduated from China Conservatory of Music. She joined the Song and Dance Ensemble of the Political Department of the People's Liberation Army Navy in 2005 and performed at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics closing ceremony. She released her debut extended play, Too Late, in 2009 after her military discharge. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 and underwent mastectomy, chemotherapy and cosmetic treatments. She had a recurrence of the cancer in 2014 and passed away on January 16, 2015 at the age of 33. According to her wish, her corneas were donated to four recipients. She was widely praised for her bravery, generosity and optimism in the face of her illness. She hoped that her story and her songs could bring hope and strength to those suffering from breast cancer.