“Betel Nut Beauties”: Documenting the Provocative World of Roadside Vendors in Taiwan

Mong Shuan, who started selling betel nuts from a small stall in northern Taiwan at the age of 16, worked there for three years while earning around $670 per month. To meet sales targets and attract customers, she dressed provocatively to match her appearance with that of anime character Sailor Moon’s style. The phenomenon of “betel nut beauties,” or women who sell these products at brightly-lit roadside stalls across Taiwan, emerged in the late 1960s after a successful marketing campaign by Shuangdong Betel Nut Stand that featured its “Shuangdong Girls.” Photographer Constanze Han spent a month meeting betel nut beauties while driving between Taipei and Kaohsiung to document this intriguing trend. Although the women’s provocative attire might resemble prostitution, selling betel nuts is not widely linked with it in Taiwan. The photographer hopes her project can help dispel some of the stereotypes surrounding these women by showing that they are level-headed and responsible. Han’s previous inspirations come from Susan Meiselas’ photo series “Carnival Strippers,” which portrays women working long hours in striptease shows at carnivals across New England. By getting to know her subjects, Han was able to capture small moments that reveal the mundane nature of this job before taking their photographs. Although betel nut usage is declining sharply due to its addictive properties and association with oral cancer, concerns about exploitation still exist in Taiwan as local governments regulate sellers’ dress codes for promoting sexualization. Han hopes her photos will open people up to a different idea of or curiosity about Taiwan without too much judgment while documenting an aspect that may eventually cease to exist.