Entrepreneur icon swaps bright lights of entertainment industry for hushed halls of academia, finds it is not easy to shake off fame

She is one of the biggest names in China's entertainment industry, and spotting talent is her business.

But Yang Tianzhen is now putting her own skills to the test by studying for a master's degree in the United States.

The famous mainland talent agent and entrepreneur is studying global communication and public policy at the University of Southern California (USC).

Her switch from the bright lights of the entertainment industry to the hallowed halls of academia has captivated mainland social media and left some asking, just who is Yang Tianzhen.

In 1985, Yang Tianzhen graduated from the Communication University of China in Beijing. Photo: Baidu

Her first lesson at USC was finding that fame is difficult to shake off, even if you are thousands of miles away from home.