Meet the girl bodyguard

Twenty-five-year-old Xiao Mo is slim and petite, with small hands to match. Dressed in a mini skirt, her black eyeliner and colorful nails are an unintended disguise for Xiao's job as a bodyguard. The Shandong native belongs to an elite team of female bodyguards employed by the Tianjiao Special Guard/Security Consultant company. A major in sports helped Xiao overcome a war-inspired training program that saw bottles smashed on her head and damaged one of her ears. Unlike other girls, Xiao didn't cry.

How did you become a bodyguard?

I studied at Beijing Sport University from 2003. The company would look for recruits at the university and that's how I got my first job. The professional training was provided by them. With background interests of sports and wrestling, I joined a three month program.

How hard was your training?

It was quite tough and painful. We started at 6 am and had to train until dusk. Sometimes they'd wake us in the middle of the night for surprise drills. There was lots of running and crawling on the beach, alongside martial arts and wrestling. Other times we had to sustain heavy loads for hours until our body cracked.

But the worst was the "fight circle" and the exercises in the water. We had to lie on the floor and simply endure five or six people in a circle kicking and hitting us for at least three minutes. On another occasion, we had to make handstands in the sea and hold our breath for as long as possible; that's how I got the injury in my ear, because of the pressure.

About five out of 10 quit the training program.

What was your first assignment?

It was to protect a man who was a spokesperson for the staff of a big corporation. He was involved in talks to solve a disagreement between the company and its employees and he was supposed to receive and transfer several chunks of money. I integrated a team of three female bodyguards and we followed that man for five months.

Did you ever fear for your life in the line of duty?

A coworker and I were protecting a female CEO when a couple of thieves tried to steal her bag in a shopping mall. One of the thugs had a knife and my colleague got stabbed in the hand. That was the most dangerous situation so far.

Do you carry a gun when you are working?

It's not like in the movies; I don't know how to fire a weapon. We used rubber guns during training and real guns are illegal in China.

Are female bodyguards in high demand?

I believe so. We are less conspicuous and more meticulous than male bodyguards and we're often hired to protect children and old people. Many celebrities and rich people often prefer to be surrounded by female bodyguards.

How much do you make as a bodyguard?

The average monthly salary is about 5,000 yuan ($791), but it is adjusted according to the assignment and to our experience.

Are you looked down on by your male colleagues?

Not really. We train with the male bodyguards. I did a three month training program before I got my first mission, whereas some of my male colleagues had to endure a six month program to bulk up.

What do your family and friends say about your job?

My parents don't approve, since they think it is dangerous. Most of my friends are ok with it.

If you were not a bodyguard, what other job would you like to have?

I've always been a bit of a tomboy: I have short hair, always fight back whenever goaded and don't usually cry. I learned to play the piano for a while and I quite liked it, but I was never skilled enough because my hands are too small.