To mark our 22nd birthday, we wandered through our archives and tracked down some of the people who have appeared on our pages through the years…
To mark our 22nd birthday, we wandered through our archives and tracked down some of the people who have appeared on our pages through the years…
THE CANOEIST
Annabelle Ng
36, CoachSG Manager, SportSG
Same woman, same studio setting, but this time there's a baby bump as the former Southeast Asian (SEA) Games canoeist is partway through her second trimester with her first child. “Since taking part in that 2012 photoshoot, I have competed in the 2013 and 2015 SEA Games,” says Annabelle. “I was teaching as well but I’ve left that vocation completely and now work at Sport Singapore in coach development.” Retired as a competitive paddler after the Olympic qualifiers in 2015, Annabelle still keeps up an active lifestyle. “I still try to take a canoe out leisurely sometimes but these days I’ve taken to swimming, jogging and going to the gym more,” she shares. “Now it’s all about bringing up the next generation of paddlers!”
2012
THE ACTRESS
Nurul Aini
37, Actress
The last time Lion Mums actress Nurul Aini took part in a photo shoot with us, she was a mother of two little children. “A lot has happened since then,” she says. “I filmed Lion Mums 2 and Lion Mums 3, I got pregnant again, had baby number three, moved to a new house and now I’ve got to lose weight.” A big advocate for taking care of oneself, Nurul also admits that time has been kind to her. “I’m very much proud of how far I’ve come over the past four years. I’ve been very blessed and I’m really happy where I am now,” says the celebrity mum. “I’m not that young anymore but I wanted to have another baby because in the past I’ve regretted not spending time with my children.
I won’t be taking on any projects until next year when Lion Mums 4 starts filming!”
2015
THE VISUAL ARTIST
Deanna Ng
43, Photographer & Educator
“I feel like it was such a long time ago even though it’s only been seven years,” exclaims Deanna, who was featured as one of the Arts & Media nominees at the Great Women Of Our Time awards in 2012. “The provision shop is no longer around and even the auntie who runs the stall has passed away from a heart attack since we shot there.” While Deanna is still photographing and teaching she didn’t have any idea life would lead her to pursue an arts residency in Iceland, or to hold an exhibition that focuses on adults living with autism. “I’m just trying to do what I love and trying to make a sustainable living doing it,” says Deanna of her projects. “It’s hard to be an artist in Singapore, but I’ve been lucky.”
2012
THE SMOOTH TALKER
Simon Lim
50, ONE FM 91.3 Deejay
“I remember I was told to smile more,” Simon recalls when asked about his 1998 photoshoot alongside his older sister Wendy, in a piece that explored fame and family ties. “I’ve always been more of a serious person so I guess that came through my expression on the day.” Sadly, Simon’s sister is no longer with us. “Wendy died in 2011 due to a rare, fatal condition. She suffered from leaking blood vessels and, unfortunately, passed on,” says the radio deejay. “Her death made me realise how short life is and was part of the reason I came back to radio, which has always been a love of mine.” Simon returned to the airwaves earlier this year and hosts Love Songs with Simon Lim on weekdays from 8 pm to 12 am.
1998
THE DRAMATIST
Pam Oei
47, Actress/Director/Producer
We saw her in nothing but a towel in 2003 but Pam has since bared her heart and soul on stage in productions like Dim Sum Dollies, Hotel and Fag Hag, her own one-woman cabaret. “If you asked me back then what the last thing I thought I would do in the future was, I would’ve said I never thought I’d be a mother,” reveals the actor who has one son with writer-director Ken Kwek. “I never thought I’d be a director either. That was a big push off the cliff by none other than theatre director Ivan Heng.” In the business for some 25 years, Pam says she’s still enjoying every day. “Performing has always come naturally to me and now I’m doing things on a much larger scale,” says Pam. “Next up, I’ll star in a Wild Rice production, Peter Pan in Serangoon Gardens, this November at their spanking new theatre in Funan Mall.”
2003
THE TECHNOCRATS
Race Wong, 36, and Rhonda Wong, 33
Co-Founders, Ohmyhome
Although it’s only been a relatively short two years since we first sat down with sisters Race and Rhonda Wong, the co-founders have reached milestone after milestone with their property start-up, Ohmyhome. “Honestly, these past two years have felt like five years. We’ve grown so much in that time,” says Race. “We’ve expanded to Malaysia, expanded our team, and expanded the home services on our platform. We’re not just covering HDBs anymore either, we’re also in the private market,” adds Rhonda. While their careers have flourished, their personal lives have too. “We’re both mummies now, too,” says Rhonda. “Juggling family and work has been a learning curve. People always say it’s the most amazing thing to have a kid and I didn’t even know what that meant until I became a mother.” Race agrees, saying, “Our kids are such a joy and our husbands are supportive so we’re going to keep reaching for our goals – at work, at home – and learning every day.”
2017
THE BEAUTY QUEEN
Charlyn Ding
38, Chief Om Goddess, Om & Away
Still youthful and ever so stylish, Charlyn was only 18 when she was crowned Miss Singapore World 2000. Four years later we featured her in a story on career aspirations where she revealed that she had her heart set on becoming an architect. “I’m not in architecture anymore, that much I can say,” laughs the former beauty queen. “Life has changed so much since then. I got married, have two beautiful children, did my Masters of Business Administration and started a few different businesses, which eventually led to where I am today.” These days, Charlyn can be found centering herself by teaching children's yoga and running her start-up, Om & Away, which offers bespoke wellness experiences and retreats for stressed-out urbanites.
2004
THE ATHLETE
Choo Ling Er
33, Triathlete
Ling Er has been busy since she was crowned the Sports, Health & Wellness winner at the Great Women Of Our Time 2016 awards. “This year will be the sixth time I’ll be joining the Kona Ironman World Championship,” says the triathlete. “Last year, I also broke the men’s Ironman Singapore record by seven minutes. I also won the overall female award at the Bintan half Ironman.” The athlete has gone from strength to strength despite her car accident in 2009 that saw her break both legs. “Fellow athlete May Ooi [another Great Women Of Our Time alumna] told me once to ‘Never put a roof over what I can do’ and ever since then I’ve been living by that motto,” reveals Ling Er. “It’s amazing what the human body can do when you don’t put limits on it. I’m still improving and I hope to break more records.”
2016
THE COMEDIAN & HIS MUSE
Hossan Leong
50, Entertainer, and his mother Mary Leong, 70s
It’s been more than two decades since we met Hossan and his lovely mum, Mary, for an in-depth look at their relationship. Yet both seem as though time has stood still. “I remember it was at the St Regis hotel and there was a piano in the room,” recalls Hossan of that photoshoot with The Weekly. “That was my first photoshoot with Hossan and nothing much has changed, to be honest,” chips in Mary, with a wink.
“I thank God for preserving us.” While their bond has stayed on the straight and narrow, Hossan’s career is ready for a detour - with his mum’s blessing. “I’m hanging up my mic but I’m not retiring, I still need to work hor,” says the entertainer who had his last stand-up show in August. “But you won’t be seeing the Singapore Boy the way you’ve been used to seeing him. I'll be directing and collaborating with others more.”
1998
PHOTOS: DARREN CHANG
ART DIRECTION: IVY CHOONG
STYLING: JEROME AWASTHI, ASSISTED BY JET ONG & LING CHEW
HAIR: ASH LOI/SONDER SALON USING REVLON PROFESSIONAL
MAKEUP: AUDREY WEE USING CHANEL
