Xi Jinping's wife was more powerful than him when they met. Here's how she helped his rise

Long before marrying China's most powerful man, Peng Liyuan already knew what kind of husband she was after. When asked if her husband Xi Jinping - who was still far away from the pinnacle of China's leadership - met her requirement, Peng didn't hesitate. After Xi was elected the Chinese Communist Party's leader in 2012 and appointed as China's president in the following year, Peng became the country's first lady. Before Xi became president in 2012, Peng, one of the most beloved singers in China, was much more famous than her husband. Professor Guo said over the years, Xi has become "One of the most unpopular world leaders in the West", and Peng was vital in softening his image. In China, Peng has been addressed as "Mama Peng", while Xi was called "Xi Dada", which could mean either "Papa Xi" or "Uncle Xi". "[And] that term demonstrates her role in the Chinese people's perspective," said Dr Ming Xie from West Texas A&M University. With Xi now clinching an historic third term, Professor Guo expected Peng would continue to play a crucial role in promoting her husband over the next five years.