Who is Zhen Zhen and why has she gone viral on TikTok?

If you’ve been on TikTok recently, chances are you’ve heard someone lip-syncing to a woman ranting about plastic bags or her half-day leave. That woman is none other than, Wan Cheng Tan—though most of us now know her by her famous moniker, Zhen Zhen.

Why is Zhen Zhen popular?

Zhen Zhen isn’t just another TikTok personality—she’s a cultural phenomenon. With livestreams of her family chaos, the mum-of-two has captured Singapore’s attention, sparking laughter, criticism, and endless scrolls. The question is: why are we so hooked, and how might it be shaping her life in return?

Zhen Zhen has become a familiar face (and voice) to Singaporeans online, thanks to her no-holds-barred livestreams where she rants about everything from her husband to her daily frustrations. What started as a personal outlet quickly evolved into full-blown internet fame. People began creating parodies of her clips, quoting her lines like catchphrases, and using her audios to add flavour to their own content.

One of her most viral moments? A video posted by none other than FIFA featuring Lionel Messi walking out to the sound of Zhen Zhen shouting, “Why are you running?” Yes, that Zhen Zhen audio.

The comments section blew up—with Singaporeans proudly staking their claim to the moment. One user even quipped, “We might not make it to the World Cup, but we have an audio that made it to FIFA.”

What’s remarkable is how Zhen Zhen’s raw, unfiltered voice has somehow brought people together. Her audios may sound like inside jokes, but they tap into something familiar and comforting for many of us. They feel real—and real is rare on the internet.

That said, behind the laughter and viral fame is a woman dealing with very real challenges. If you watch more than just the parodies, you’ll see that Zhen Zhen often talks openly about her personal life.

She’s a wife and mother, often expressing her struggles with being underappreciated, feeling overwhelmed, or simply navigating her day with a child in tow. She’s not just performing—she’s letting us in.

But as her fame grew, so did the pressure. Perhaps in a bid to reclaim her space and peace, Zhen Zhen recently privatised her TikTok account. It’s a reminder that even those who make us laugh the most sometimes need to take a step back.

Zhen Zhen may have gone viral for her dramatic rants and iconic one-liners, but it’s her raw, unfiltered realness that keeps people coming back—something polished influencers and scripted content just can’t replicate.