Love Your Age

How do you make each day count? The Singapore Women’s Weekly and Lancôme Advanced Génifique present three inspiring women who, with their seize-the-day mantra, live out their lives, proving that age is but a number.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel
How do you make each day count? The Singapore Women’s Weekly and Lancôme Advanced Génifique present three inspiring women who, with their seize-the-day mantra, live out their lives, proving that age is but a number.
Beatrice Chia-Richmond, 42 Actress, Creative Director, Theatre Director
Beatrice Chia-Richmond, 42 Actress, Creative Director, Theatre Director

You would assume that over two decades of being in the business, one would feel jaded, but that’s not the case for Beatrice, who finds fulfillment in her daily life. “[I wake up] every morning raring to start the day, working on projects I am so excited by, dreaming of places to travel to, surrounding myself with people who inspire me, being able to help my son with his homework, and generally running out of time for everything else!’.

With a career spanning 21 years in the entertainment industry, Beatrice has gone from being a theatre and TV actress, to directing theatre productions and national events like the opening and closing ceremonies of the 28th Southeast Asian Games and the National Day Parade in 2011 and 2016.

Her opportunity to transition from actress to director came when her mentor and friend Goh Boon Teck (Artistic Director of Toy Factory Productions) presented her a chance to direct a play. “I have not looked back since and I am happiest, artistically, in a rehearsal room.”

When sharing tips on how to make the most out of her life, Beatrice shares, “Light your own fire, surround yourself with people who inspire you and know that age is not a limit to anything.”
Dr Elaine Kim, 34 Doctor, Entrepreneur & Co-Founder of CRIB
Dr Elaine Kim, 34 Doctor, Entrepreneur & Co-Founder of CRIB

Doctor, mother-of-three, entrepreneur and cofounder of social enterprise CRIB… it’s hard not to feel like an underachiever when speaking to Dr Elaine Kim.

At only 34 years old, Elaine is an accomplished doctor in palliative care. While most of us would be content with having a stable career, Elaine is also an entrepreneur, setting up several businesses in Singapore and Hong Kong, including Trehaus Co-Work, Singapore’s first coworking space targeted at families with children.

As if these aren’t challenging enough, Elaine also co-founded CRIB (Creating Responsible and Innovative Businesses), a social enterprise which helps other women entrepreneurs by equipping them with skills, creating networking opportunities, and raising funds for various charities.

Elaine has gone beyond balancing career and family, succeeding in what most mothers struggle with at a young age. And her secret to juggling multiple roles? Prioritising is key, she says. “Choose your priority and act on it for a period of time. It can be taking time out for my family or focusing on my business at its crucial state.”

Elaine values support from family, business partners and mentors. “Surround yourself with people who make you a better person,” she says. “As long as you’re doing the right thing and you are doing something for the good of society, just plow on ahead.”
Lucinda Law, 40 Botanical Watercolour Artist & Teacher
Lucinda Law, 40 Botanical Watercolour Artist & Teacher

With a long list of achievements as a botanical watercolour artist with works commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Harper’s BAZAAR, you would’ve thought that Lucinda has done this for years; the truth is, she only started her studio WITHIN 14 months ago.

The turning point of her career came when she was 37 – she called off a decade-long relationship, and it was also the time when her 20-yearold cat died. Her then-employer offered her a six-month sabbatical and Lucinda took off for New Zealand for a personal break.

The trip turned out to be exactly what she needed. “I was constantly wooed by nature, which happened very serendipitously – I would be writing in my journal and a puff of dandelion seeds would surround me. It was all very romantic.”

When she returned to Singapore, she took the plunge, leaving her stable job as a Senior Lecturer and started her own studio collaborating with fellow nature lovers and teaching watercolour painting.

Her big break came when she was offered an opportunity to create artwork for Harper’s BAZAAR, and the rest as they say, is history. Lucinda believes that being able to align herself to her passions has given her a new lease on life, without letting age hold her back. And she finds it even more enriching when she sees it could impact others. “I see my role as showing people how beautiful nature can be, and it’s up to them to interpret what they should do with it.”
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