SHE STARTED AS HALF OF MUNAH HIRZI
Most recently, the 35-year-old was selected to be part of the cast of Hotel, a new play by local theatre company Wild Rice. The monthlong theatrical event, which ends on July 8, is described as “an immersive, multi-generational epic (that) explores the notions of empire, nationhood, migration, and identity against the backdrop of a shrinking world”. She had previously starred in White Rabbit Red Rabbit (2016), a play by Iranian playwright Nassim Soleimanpour that revolves around the theme of individual and personal freedom.
Besides her work in the arts and entertainment industries, Munah is an ambassador for Dementia Singapore. She also speaks openly (and sometimes with a touch of humour) about important issues such as mental health on CNA’s Talking Point and Instagram (@munahbagharib).
a local duo that drew hundreds of thousands of viewers to their Youtube channel for their outspokenness and humour. Since retiring from the video-sharing platform in 2018 to pursue her personal and professional goals, Munah Bagharib has graced our TV screens as a presenter and actor, and starred in a number of theatre productions.
SPEAKING HER MIND
Right away, Munah comes across as warm, friendly and bubbly. She is cheerful, chatty, and candid as she tells us about her carefree youth and growing up in Tampines with her parents, sisters and brother.
But Munah wasn't always this outspoken. As a child, she says that she was more "guarded", rarely sharing her thoughts and feelings with anyone.
"I had two sisters, but they were much older, and until my little brother came along, I had to find ways to entertain myself, so I was used to being on my own a lot," she explains.
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Esta historia es de la edición July 2023 de Her World Singapore.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
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TREASURE ISLAND
When plans to demolish the Merlion Tower on Sentosa were announced in 2019, some Singaporeans were sad to see one of the island's most iconic attractions go. After all, the quirky creature – with the head of a lion and the body of a fish – had been a significant part of their memories of Sentosa.The 37m-tall, 12-storey structure, completed in 1996 and designed by Australian sculptor James Martin, was a focal point for laser light shows and projections that transformed its ivory facade into a vibrant display of colours.The Merlion Tower was a popular attraction for families. Singaporean couple Anand and Vrunda Patel would often take their children there for outings. Vrunda, now 50, fondly recalls climbing the structure and admiring the views of Sentosa from the Merlion's mouth. “Outside the Merlion, there was a beautiful step garden with flowing water. I used to love walking there,” she shares.Years later, the statue, covered in dirt and grime, required a refresh. The demolition was not only part of a larger vision to connect Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) in the north to the three beaches (Palawan, Tanjong and Siloso) on the island's south, it was also the start of a massive rebranding project to transform Sentosa from a recreational family destination to a premier lifestyle attraction.Today, Sentosa Sensoryscape stands in its place. Set within a lush landscape, the 30,000 sqm attraction features a 350m-long connector that leads visitors to six sensory gardens – where they can explore the gardens’ massive vessel-like sculptures, observe the various flora and fauna inhabiting the space, and interact with Instagrammable light displays through an augmented reality app after nightfall.“To attract younger visitors, our additional focus is on creating more authentic and immersive experiences, recognising that this demographic seeks deeper, more engaging interactions with the places they visit,” says Thien Kwee Eng, CEO, Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC).Just as Sensoryscape is designed to create an otherworldly atmosphere after dark, the Sentosa Night Mode campaign, launched in August, aims to introduce the island as a day-to-night destination for both locals and tourists, who would typically only make day trips to Sentosa. In addition to more nightlife events – such as the recent Waterbomb Festival, which saw about 10,000 revellers partying to a live K-pop line-up – the initiative includes extended operating hours at key attractions, along with street performances and dining promotions.It’s a move that has boosted visitorship to the island, with total numbers reaching 16 million this year.“This is a 20 per cent increase in the number of visitors as compared to the same period last year,” reveals Kwee Eng.
TAKING THE LEAP
It’s 10 am on a Monday, and Gan Guoyi, 40, walks into Jigger & Pony with a set of dry-cleaned clothes – a picture of calm amid the aftermath of last night’s chaos. The Singapore bar recently secured a spot in the Top 5 of The World’s 50 Best Bars 2024 list, announced in Madrid on Oct 23. To celebrate, she threw a three-night promotion from Nov 10, where customers enjoyed five premium cocktails for just $5 each at select bars like Gibson, Live Twice, Sugarhall, Como Pony Jakarta, and Jigger & Pony.Naturally, the event was a hit, and Guoyi, who was manning the guest list at Sugarhall, only managed a few hours of sleep the night before. Still, she arrives promptly to our photo shoot without complaints.
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