Beyonce started a trend with her track Single Ladies back in 2008. The world has since embraced singlehood, China has even started a day in its honour. This year, the day is celebrated on November 11.

It's believed that the day originated in the 1990s as a revolt against Valentine's Day.

A group of "unattached" university students in China declared 11/11 a symbolic date to celebrate being single.

It's also known as Bachelors' Day because of China's gender imbalance.

The country's one-child policy - which it recently said it will bring to an end - along with the cultural and economic pressures for that child to be a son, has led to a male surplus.

According to the Daily Telegraph, official Chinese data showed in 2011 that there were 20million more men than women under the age of 30 in the country.

It is estimated that by 2030, one in four Chinese men in their late 30s will never have married.

Chinese online giant Alibaba then spotted the commercial opportunity in Singles Day back in 2009 and launched "Double 11" deals just as online shopping was starting to explode.

In that first year, consumers spent around �5-million (about R92-million) and 27 merchants offered discounts.

By 2011 - which was dubbed the "Singles Day of the Century" because it was 11.11.11 - more than £500-million was spent across Alibaba's platform during the day.

Now the day has become one of the planet's top 24-hour, super-sale dates along with Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

It has spread in popularity worldwide and has become synonymous with singles parties and online shopping indulgence.

Locally, Zola Nene - who is a chef, stylist and author - has become an ambassador for the TFG group, promoting the day and how to spoil yourself.