An electronic cigarette and a method for controlling an electronic cigarette emitting light are provided, the electronic cigarette includes a microcontroller, a light emitting unit and a power supply unit; wherein the microcontroller is electrically connected to the power supply unit, the light emitting unit is electrically connected to the microcontroller and the power supply unit; the power supply unit is configured to supply power to the microcontroller and the light emitting unit; the microcontroller is configured to control the light emitting unit in different light emitting states, so as to indicate the different smoking states of the electronic cigarette; the different light emitting states of the light emitting unit includes: gradually brightening to a preset first brightness, gradually darkening from the preset first brightness to a preset second brightness and maintaining the second brightness within a preset period of time, and stopping emitting light.