It’s been nearly 14 years since local actress and 2007 Star Search alumnus Ya Hui first appeared on our TV screens. Needless to say, she’s come a long way in the past decade. Since landing her acting contract in 2007, the hardworking actress has been toiling tirelessly at her craft, starring in an average of three dramas a year.
Ya Hui’s journey to where she is now wasn’t always easy. But she says staying true to herself got her here. And as she turns 34 this month, let’s celebrate the times Ya Hui (aka self-love advocate) showed us how to beat self-doubt and insecurity.
Back in 2020, the “A Quest to Heal” star candidly revealed to Lianhe Wanbao that she wasn’t always happy with the way she looks and was particularly insecure about her double eyelids.
In 2014, she actually visited a cosmetic surgeon in South Korea with the intention of going under the knife but eventually changed her mind after she was told that she didn’t need it. Prior to the interview with the evening daily, Ya Hui took to Instagram to share a makeup-free selfie marking her 3,000th post on the platform where she opened up about her thoughts on the pursuit of beauty.
“Everyone is seeking perfection. But what is perfection? Big eyes, double eyelids, sharp nose, pouty lips, V-shape face? There’s no definite answer to that.”Just be confident of who you are. Because we are unique individuals. Don’t be a clone. Be YOU. And. This is me. With #nomakeup and #nofilter,” she wrote.
Ya Hui told the publication that she wanted to encourage her fans to love themselves just the way they are through her post. She added that her confidence in her looks diminished since making her debut as a finalist in Star Search 2007. “My eyes have always troubled me. When I was filming in the past, I would rub my eyes to make my double eyelids more obvious. Everyone said that you should have big eyes, it must be expressive, and it’s best to have double eyelids…About six years ago, she finally made the decision to travel to Seoul and get some work done. But during a consultation with the cosmetic surgeon, he told her: “You are beautiful the way you are. You don’t need cosmetic surgery.”
And she walked out of the clinic pleased with her decision not to get any work done. “I was fortunate to have met a benefactor, and I became more confident after that. My double eyelids also slowly became more prominent,” she said. Now, she embraces being different. She explains how we all have things that make us physically different to other people — and that’s okay!
“A lot of people have said my cheeks are fat, and others have suggested getting botox injections, but I’ve already been in the business for so long and I have my supporters. Aunties and uncles love watching my shows and the audience have accepted my looks.”Though I’m not perfect, I’m not that bad either. I’ll just be myself, there’s no need to change. If I get work done and look like someone else, then no one will recognise me,” she shared. Preach, girl!
Celebrities like Ya Hui constantly face the brunt of harsh criticisms — whether it’s issues of body confidence, rumours, or negative feedback. In her acceptance speech for the “Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes” award at the recent Star Awards, Ya Hui charmingly stood her ground and said, “We can’t expect everyone to like us. We can, however, be the best versions of ourselves. We are all special and unique in our own ways.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves.
When it comes to show business, some things just aren’t meant to be. Unfortunately, Ya Hui had to learn this the hard way when she lost the leading role in the drama series “Gonna Make It” to fellow actress Julie Tan, even though she had more acting experience. When asked if she felt snubbed when she was passed over for the role, Ya Hui told Toggle that even though she didn’t land the part of Su Xiao Xiao, her role as Zhang Wen Ya “opened doors to new opportunities”.
The doe-eyed beauty has a very simple self-love rule: be yourself. “I’ve tried changing my personal image. People always told me that I look very ‘xiao mei mei’ (little girl). A few years ago, to prove that I can look more mature, I wore work clothes like an OL and even a watch for a more formal look. Then I went through another phase when I tried to look cool and I didn’t smile in pictures. But fail lah! Forget it. I’ll just be myself. At the end of the day, if you’re confident and feel comfortable with yourself, you don’t have to care what others say about you,” Ya Hui told 8 Days in 2017.
(Read also “How Kind Are You Really Being To Yourself?“)
When it comes to her acting career, Ya Hui is just as comfortable in her own skin. Rather than chasing accolades, fame and recognition, the “118” star is focused on the intangible rewards of acting.
“My biggest dream is to move audiences with my acting, I want them to feel the emotions and be able to understand what is going through my character’s mind. That’s the most important thing for me as an actress,” she told Asiaone in 2016.
“We will do things to the best of our abilities. There will be people who like my acting, there will be people who don’t. What’s most important is that I’m true to myself and I’ve put in my utmost effort. I’ll have no regrets,” she added.