Shanghai: American singer Katy Perry has reportedly been banned from China over a dress and cannot perform at Victoria's Secret show here.

The singer was said to be appearing at the fashion show which will take place on Monday.

According to sources, Perry initially thought she would be able to gain access to the country but Chinese authorities rejected her visa application after discovering she wore a sunflower dress during a performance in Taipei in 2015, reports mirror.co.uk.

Her outfit caused widespread outrage because the sunflower had been adopted the year before by anti-China protesters. She also waved the Taiwanese flag during the concert.

The fashion show has been held all over the world, but this will be its first time in China.

Perry isn't the only one who is having problems entering the country, as model Gigi Hadid has also had to pull out.

Hadid posted online: "I'm so bummed I won't be able to make it to China this year. Love my VS family and will be with all my girls in spirit!"

Sources say that the 22-year-old, who dates singer Zayn Malik, was denied a visa because of an Instagram video in February, in which she squinted her eyes to resemble a Buddha cookie.