In a floor-sweeping strapless red gown and with her freshly cropped hair slicked back, Tan Kheng Hua is the picture of sophistication. The gritty setting of Sin Huat Eating House-a coffee shop in Geylang loved by culinary luminaries-is an antithesis to her glamour. Yet there she sits, elegant and nonchalantly at ease on an orange plastic stool and with chopsticks in hand.
On set, Tan is a photographer's dream, effortlessly morphing into different characters, be it a cape-clad diva striking a pose at National Kitchen by Violet Oon or a cheeky audience member heckling an empty stage at the hallowed Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay. A quick glance at the test shots is all she needs to work her magic. "Let's go for the campiness," she suggests as her laughter and infectious energy fill the vast expanse of the theatre, even play-acting throwing kacang putih (nut snacks sold in paper cones) from a cone put together on the fly by the crew.
Away from the cameras, Tan is disarmingly grounded, chatting about her fondness for wearing slippers everywhere and her routine morning strolls to the kopitiam (a colloquial term for coffee shop). Her genuine interest in the crew's lives and her readiness to chauffeur us to the various photo shoot locations reveal a nurturing and maternal side; it is no wonder she is affectionately known as Mama Kheng on set.
Denne historien er fra December 2023-utgaven av Tatler Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra December 2023-utgaven av Tatler Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Mathew Leong
As the Norway-based Singaporean chef celebrates a milestone year both personally and professionally, he opens up about the toughest moments of his career and why failing is not an option
Asian Inspirations
Chef Ace Tan on his second restaurant, Asu-his love letter to regional Asian cuisine
State of the Arts
Arts nominated member of parliament Usha Chandradas discusses growing the creative economy by focusing on both supply and demand
Through a Curator's Lens
Circe Henestrosa, a fashion curator and the head of the School of Fashion at Lasalle College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore, merges her personal connection with artist Frida Kahlo with her extensive curatorial experience to explore intersecting themes of identity, disability and cultural heritage
Second Nature
Poet and educator Yong Shu Hoong brings fresh perspectives to the helm of the Singapore Writers Festival, from interdisciplinary perspectives to multilingual programmes
Wine Down
Nothing wraps up the day like a nice glass of vino. From flashy hedonistic escapades to geeky watering holes, these new wine bars promise celebrated viniferous pours that will please even the most discerning of oenophiles
A Legacy in Silhouettes
Kristina Blahnik, CEO of the designer shoe brand Manolo Blahnik and the niece of its legendary founder, shares her insights on preserving the house's heritage and introduces the new Manolo's Silhouettes campaign
To Have and to Hold
With its sumptuous textures, Loro Piana's elegant autumn/winter 2024 collection is a chic celebration of craft, quality and the universal appeal of tactility
Scent of Strength
Hermès unveils its first chypre perfume, Barénia―a captivating fragrance crafted by renowned perfumer Christine Nagel that embodies bold femininity and celebrates the brand's rich heritage
Nocturnal Revival
Nighttime skincare rituals will get a boost of supercharged restoration with La Mer's new Rejuvenating Night Cream