Sonia & Joakim Take 8 Days... & Katong... & Singapore...

They’re young enough to know how to pose up a storm on Instagram, smart enough to squeeze themselves onto the cover of this magazine before we go digital-only, cool enough to know that traditions matter and fun enough not to take it all too seriously. 987 jocks SONIA CHEW and JOAKIM GOMEZ are in da house. Actually, make that on da steps of da house…

- Celine Tan

This story really started when we received this WhatsApp message from Sonia Chew in June: “Hey Celine! Have smth I wanted to chat w you about. Lemme know when you’re free? :)”

What was so important/urgent that we had to talk on the phone? (Do Millennials still actually do that?) We were intrigued. We called back, and the conversation went something like this. Sonia: “Eh you know that Joakim really wants to be on the cover of 8 DAYS, right? So I thought, since we’re the first radio partners to host the NDP together, and also it’s his 30th birthday… if there’s anything you can do… (Guffaws)” Us: “Ohhh… hmmm…..”

There were now a few things to consider: 1. There are only, like, six 8 DAYS covers left (for those of you who still don’t know, we are going fully digital after September). 2. Do we want to give one of these six precious covers to Sonia and Joakim? 3. Why does Joakim want to be on the cover of 8 DAYS so badly? 4. Is Sonia a really, really good friend/work girlfriend or what? (And no, he didn’t know she was going to ask us, and no, it’s not because the 26-year-old herself die-die wants to be on the cover, too, although that would be a wonderful side effect, no? If you remember, she was on our Swimsuit Issue cover last year.)