Beautiful Asian Warriors

 

Attractive Samurai

Who says Karate Kid is a boy?

Focus Japanese Warrior

Pretty Japanese Archer

Beautiful MMA Fighter

Chinese Kung Fu Master

Anyone wishes to train martial arts with her?

Siti Nurhaliza Puts Her Fame To Good Use

With over 7.9 million Instagram followers, the 41-year-old singer posted reviews of meals and snacks from small food vendors to keep their businesses afloat at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The initiative landed Siti on the 100 Digital Stars list which recognises celebrities from the Asia-Pacific region who wield powerful social media presences.

“Earlier this year, the singer posted food reviews of restaurants affected by Covid-19, hoping to boost their business among her eight million Instagram followers.

“In July, she released her 18th solo album ManifestaSITI 2020 and continues to run her successful halal-certified beauty brand SimplySiti, launched in 2009,” wrote Forbes Asia.

Siti continues to do food reviews on her Instagram Story to this day and keeps them available for viewing through a highlight album on her Instagram profile.

She told Berita Harian in May that she does the reviews free-of-charge and is always glad to hear how her shoutouts have helped vendors get by during these tough times.

“I am just a mediator and I do what I can to help out.

“I feel happy when I receive messages from vendors who said they were overwhelmed with orders (after I gave them a shoutout).

“We should lend a hand to each other during this difficult time,” Siti was quoted as saying.

Another Malaysian who appeared alongside Siti on the 100 Digital Stars list was entrepreneur and TV presenter Neelofa.

Forbes Asia wrote that the 31-year-old gained a largely positive response online in October after she decided to don the purdah, a long veil that covers a Muslim woman’s entire face except for her eyes.

Other notable figures on the list include K-pop stars BTS, Indonesian singer Agnez Mo, Australian actress Margot Robbie, and Thai singer Jannine Weigel.

Source: MSN

Gigi Lai Successful Career and Fabulous Lifestyle

Hong Kong actress Gigi Lai’s life is filled with resplendence. She attained success in a variety of endeavours, from being a famous Canto-pop and TVB star to the CEO of her own cosmetics company. And although she has since retired from the entertainment industry at the age of 49, the legacy of her 23-year-long career remains etched in the minds of many.

Now married to Hong Kong billionaire Patrick Ma Ting-kung, Lai is enjoying her family life as a mother of three. Of course, being a mum is a little different when you’re a star – after Lai gave birth to twin daughters in 2010, her husband celebrated the occasion by gifting her with a 19-metre yacht named Bonheur, which means happiness in French.

Lai first rose to prominence in the early 2000s after her role in the series The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber. Her other well-known works include family saga The Gem of Life, period drama War and Beauty and the Young and Dangerous film series.

Lai also has plenty of awards under her belt, with some of the most prominent ones being the Mainland Audience‘s Fave TVB Actress Award at the network’s 40th anniversary, and the best actress award for her role in War and Beauty in 2004.

In 2008, Lai married multimillionaire businessman Patrick Ma Ting-kung, whose family owns major Hong Kong media group the Oriental Press Group. Their wedding was held at a villa in Sydney, and her wedding gown and the series of evening dresses she wore were valued to collectively be worth more than half a million dollars.

Lai reportedly lives in Branksome Grande duplex in Hong Kong’s affluent Mid-Levels neighbourhood. She’s shared snippets of her daily life on social media, prompting netizens to call her luxurious home a veritable palace. In her videos, she showcased her spacious walk-in wardrobe, in-house gym and lavish bathroom. Every day she has breakfast while enjoying the spectacular view overlooking Victoria Harbour, too.

Lai’s other property investments include a house at The Beachfront in Repulse Bay and a flat at Tavistock II in Mid-Levels.

After initially leaving showbiz to take over her brother’s cosmetic company in 2007, she has overcome fierce industry competition to officially become the CEO and chairperson of successful medical beauty enterprise CosMax, listing it on the Hong Kong stock exchange in 2017.

Dubbed the “Goddess of Beauty” by the media, Lai maintains her youthful looks even now. She has shared tips on how she maintains her age-defying appearance on social media, revealing her skin care regimen and yoga exercise routine. She also recommended her diet plan that includes nourishing meals carefully prepared by her nutritionist and in-house chef.

Source: SCMP

Princess Ezurin Khyra

Some people were simply born to be in the spotlight, and the fabulous Ezurin Khyra is one of them.

The royal and former model has reached another milestone with the new season launch of Malaysian series The House, propelling her and her family to the status of reality stars. 

The show, which has drawn comparisons to US series The Simple Life and isn’t unlike Korean series Hyori’s Homestay, has Khyra and her children trade in their luxury lifestyle to live in a small traditional house. Cameras capture their every move as they undertake daily chores, visit the market and make a home out of their temporary kampung village house.

Khyra’s claim to fame was her modelling career that splashed her across magazine covers and TV commercials from the 1990s onwards. Her youthfulness and contemporary style still manages to turn heads today. She’s also active on Instagram, offering her followers peeks at all the designer ensembles she wears and the fashion events she’s a regular at. She also has the contact list of a true A-lister; Kim Kardashian and Lionel Richie are among her friends.

Although they divorced two years ago, Khyra was once married to Negeri Sembilan royal Tunku Dato’ Yaacob Khyra of Malaysia. (The titles tunku or tengku are usually reserved for children of state rulers, and are somewhat equivalent to princes or princesses.) Her ex-husband is the executive chairman of MAA Group, a Malaysian investment holding company. Together, they share five children.

Before Covid-19, Khyra was often spotted jetting off from enviable destination to destination, from New York to Langkawi to Brazil. A number of those trips were dedicated to ensuring that her children got into ideal boarding schools abroad. She started having them visit these schools at a young age, and even flew back and forth to the UK to help them settle in.

Rumour of Irene Leaving Red Velvet Due To Bullying

K-pop girl group Red Velvet are facing an uncertain future with member Irene under pressure to leave the group due to a bullying scandal involving a stylist.

Debuting in 2014 and known for their stand-out musicality, the quintet have been inactive for most of 2020 since member Wendy was injured during a live performance last December. With Wendy recently returning to the industry following her recovery, Red Velvet were expected to release new music before the end of the year.

But earlier this month, member Irene was called out for verbally abusing a stylist during a photo shoot, resulting in other industry insiders taking to social media to share their experiences with the allegedly volatile singer.

Irene, who most recently released the mini-album Monster in June as a duo with fellow Red Velvet member Seulgi, apologised on social media after the incident and to the individual in person, but her reputation has been damaged and there are calls for her to leave the act.

"I sincerely apologise for hurting the stylist with my foolish attitude and indiscreet words and acts," she posted on Instagram. "As I looked back, I was ashamed of myself and once again felt how precious our staff members are. From now on, I will be more cautious to prevent another incident like this." She also reportedly met the stylist to apologise in person.

While the biggest stars can be brought down by even a brief meltdown, in K-pop it's rare for stories of stars' misbehaviour to emerge from the industry itself.

The growing controversy over Irene's actions comes as South Korea comes to terms with the phenomenon known as gapjil, or what former Agence France-Presse Seoul correspondent Hawon Jung describes as "abusing (or) bullying others using one's social hierarchy and power".

Jung, who is writing a book about the #MeToo movement in South Korea, believes that much of the anger towards Irene stems from the country's reckoning with gapjil.

"Regardless of the veracity of the claim against her, or the severity of this particular case, the public sees this as part of a pattern of abuse by those in the power that has become a big issue in the country in recent years," says Jung.

Red Velvet's reputation as a mainstay of the K-pop world now seems at risk. Known for hits such as Psycho, Dumb Dumb and Red Flavor, Red Velvet have become one of South Korea's biggest girl groups, with members not only focusing on music but also becoming popular television personalities and actors.

Apart from the calls for Irene to step out of the spotlight, Red Velvet's management company, SM Entertainment, recently announced the launch of upcoming girl group Aespa, which some see as an attempt to divert attention away from the growing controversy over Irene.

In South Korea, stars - especially members of boy bands and girl groups - are typically expected to maintain a wholesome image. Women in particular are held to a high standard, with female K-pop stars often taken to task for lesser controversies than male artists.

Men often find it easier to return to the industry after a scandal, even if they face legal consequences. For example, singer-actor Kim Hyun-joong has faced a string of legal issues since 2014, but released a new album this month.

"Even if (Irene) was a man, she would face (a) certain level of public outrage and calls for a boycott because any perceived gapjil can easily touch a raw nerve in South Korea - where many people have personal experiences of falling victim to gapjil in their daily lives," says Jung. "But the question is not about whether there will be public outrage, but how long the public anger will last, how intense it will be, and how much damage it will bring to one's career."

The Irene controversy has blown up in South Korean media, with one major business newspaper even running an article on how an app determined that Irene's physiognomy, or facial features, revealed an apparently aggressive and reckless personality.

But in the past, those very same facial features led to Irene being dubbed the "visual" of Red Velvet, the member whose appearance is considered one of her most important assets.

Jung links the backlash against Irene to the lack of dominant women in South Korean workplaces. According to the research for her book, 70 per cent of South Korea's listed companies do not have a single woman in their boardrooms. Societal pressures result in many women being unable to find work or having to accept sexual harassment in the workplace, while being unable to progress in their careers if they want to have families.

For now, Jung believes it's hard to say whether the Irene controversy will spell the end for Red Velvet or whether she will be given another chance.

"I don't know how this will play out, or how it will affect (Irene's) career, but for me, the whole media brouhaha about her perceived gapjil seems to indicate that the media apply far more unforgiving moral standards to female stars than male stars - like they have always done," says Jung.

This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.

Source: SCMP

Faezah Elai Bashed Online

Malaysian actress Faezah Elai has come under fire for saying people who travel are “more experienced” than people with a Master’s or PhD degree.

Faezah, whose full name is Noor Faezah Md Elai, made the statement during an interview on musician Zarul Umbrella’s YouTube channel where she spoke about her former career as a flight attendant.

“I’ve heard a saying that if you are educated with a Master’s or PhD degree but you haven’t travelled, you can’t compare your level of experience with someone who’s seen the world.

“The experience I had as a cabin crew member made me understand people better attitude-wise, so I can handle people well,” said Faezah during the interview.

The comment sparked anger in some Malaysian social media users who interpreted the 38-year-old’s words as an insult towards university degree-holders.

One Instagram user lashed out at Faezah by demeaning her former profession, claiming that flight attendants “only serve food and wash toilets.”

“Do you think it’s so easy to get a Master’s or PhD?

“On the plane, flight attendants like you only serve food and wash the toilets,” wrote the user.

Faezah then posted a screenshot of the comment and defended herself against the user’s criticism.

“In my video interview, I said that people who might only have SPM-level education but travel a lot especially solo travelling are more open and wiser than those who have a Master’s or PhD but have not travelled at all.

“Not everyone can study and get a degree and the reason isn’t always due to money, because some people just can’t sit down and read books all the time.

“Other people learn better by meeting other people and getting to know different cultures and religions,” wrote Faezah.

She added that she was not discouraging people from getting a university education and was lucky enough to graduate with a degree herself.

Faezah also gave some advice to the people who bashed her by telling them to stay humble and respect other people’s professions.

“If having a degree turns you into an arrogant, uncivilised person, you can stay ignorant,” she wrote to one user.

Source: MSN

Beautiful and Young Chinese Billionaire

Two decades into the 21st century, the realm of the super-rich is no longer monopolized by men, and 

even the ranks of billionaire women are getting younger

.

Take 28-year-old Xie Qirun – also known as Theresa Tse – ranked among the 10 richest women in China in 2019. While part of her immense affluence can be attributed to her prestigious family, she also graduated from an Ivy League school and has since proven her abilities in business.

Below, we take a look at the rich heiress’ lifestyle, from her family and education, to her achievements and involvement in the arts.

Xie’s family is not only incredibly wealthy but also has an illustrious history. The Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group), founded in Thailand in 1921, is one of the world’s biggest multinational conglomerates today, controlling more than 400 companies in over 20 countries.

Xie’s grand-uncle, Dhanin Chearavanont, is senior chairman of the CP Group and was once the richest man in Thailand. In 2017, the Chearavanont family was ranked by Forbes Asia as Asia’s fourth-wealthiest family with a total net worth of US$36.6 billion. Xie’s father’s, Xie Zhengmin, is a multi-billionaire, as is her uncle, Xi Guomin.

In 2015, Xie graduated from the prestigious Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree in economics. However, she is not satisfied.

In an interview with Nebular in 2018, she said, “I regret not studying for a second degree. After working, I realised there is too much to learn. The pharmaceutical industry is very technically demanding. Thinking back, it would have helped my job a lot if I had studied for a technically focused degree.”

At the tender age of 23, she inherited her father’s position and became the chairperson of Chinese Biological Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd.

Despite initial doubts about her abilities, young age and relative lack of experience, she achieved US$1.87 billion in sales in the six months after taking over the company. Within five years, she had successfully increased the company’s market value from US$5 billion to over US$18 billion.

Source: SCMP

Elva Hsiao Clears Her Name Against Rumour Of Being HIV-Positive

Taiwanese singer Elva Hsiao won a suit against a Chinese internet user for spreading the rumour that she was HIV-positive.

A Beijing court ruled that an internet user, surnamed Ho, had defamed the 41-year-old entertainer and sentenced the guilty party to publish an apology for 10 days.

The court also ordered Ho to pay Hsiao 80,000 Yuan (RM49,000) for mental anguish reported China Times.

The defamatory statement was posted in May last year where Ho claimed he had gotten confirmation from Hsiao’s manager.

Hsiao had announced in 2017 that she was taking a temporary break from her career due to stress.

She had previously dismissed rumours that she had suspended her showbiz career due to active treatment for HIV. 

In 2012, Hsiao had reportedly rejected 1MDB-linked financier Jho Low’s proposal that was said to have cost a whopping RM6.6 million. 

Source: MSN

10 Million Views In 52 Minutes

K-pop girl group Blackpink has broken the record for fastest Korean female act to achieve over 10 million views on YouTube with their music video for  Lovesick Girls.

Members Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, and Rosé surpassed the 10 million views mark in just 52 minutes after their music video was posted at 12pm today. 

They previously held the same record for their song Ice Cream featuring Selena Gomez, which amassed 10 million views in two hours and 55 minutes.

Blackpink has been enjoying massive success following the release of their much-anticipated record The Album today.

The quartet currently holds the number one spot on the US iTunes singles and albums charts, making them the second Korean girl group to do so after Loona.

The Album includes six new tracks from Blackpink, including the song Bet You Wanna featuring American rapper Cardi B.

Source: MSN

Parasite's Park So-dam In New Netflix Drama

Park So-dam, who played the smart, cunning little sister Jessica in Parasite’s Kim family, is back on the small screen with a new drama, Record of Youth – which debuted domestically on TVN on September 7. 

Before breaking into mainstream success, Park was rejected at least 17 times in auditions – so she turned to indie films instead.

In an interview with Dramabeans, Park revealed how she had starred in at least 15 independent films while in school. Notable titles include Ingtoogi: The Battle of Internet Trolls, a Korean Academy of Film Arts feature, and Steel Cold Winter, which premiered at the Busan International Film Festival.

In an interview with Dramabeans, Park shared: “I saw the musical Grease as a freshman in high school. The actors looked so happy. That’s when I started thinking that maybe I would like to become a musical actor.”

Although dedicated to becoming an actress, Park never thought she would star in films or dramas. “Whenever I applied, actresses were expected to have large eyes and faces that automatically made people think, ‘she’s pretty’,” Park is quoted as saying on Soompi. “After I started acting, I didn’t think that I liked my face because it was pretty, but because it was unique. I can at least confidently say that no one can copy my face, even with plastic surgery.”

Parasite wasn’t Park’s first blockbuster, and she had already won plenty of major acting awards before gaining recognition in Bong Joon-ho’s Oscar-winner.

Two years after her debut, she starred in her first commercial film, The Silenced, which won her a best supporting actress gong at the Busan Film Critics Awards.

Park bagged another major role in film The Priests, where she delivered what many believe to be one of her best performances. In the same Dramabeans interview, Park shared that she earned her role through auditions against 2,000 other hopefuls. “The director who saw me at the second round of auditions said, ‘this girl has a unique aura’,” she said. Park went on to win a PaekSang Arts Award for best new actress.

In Record of Youth, Park So-dam’s character Ahn Jung-ha is a make-up artist who believes in striving to reach her goals and achieve her dreams to please herself rather than others. In a Soompi report, Park gushed about her latest role: “Ahn Jung-ha has a defined goal in life, she knows exactly what she wants to do, and she never stops in her efforts to achieve her dreams.”

Source: SCMP

Mulan Supports Hong Kong Police

Disney's live-action remake of the animated film Mulan is facing calls for a boycott, after its star voiced support for Hong Kong's police force.

Chinese actress Liu Yifei, a naturalised US citizen, reposted a viral pro-police comment on Chinese social media platform Weibo.

The territory has been convulsed by sometimes violent pro-democracy protests over the past 10 weeks.

Ms Liu had shared a Weibo post from the government-run Beijing newspaper People's Daily that read (in Chinese): "I also support Hong Kong police. You can beat me up now."

The post adds in English: "What a shame for Hong Kong."

The quote referred to what are said to be the words of a reporter for the state newspaper Global Times, who was attacked by protesters at Hong Kong's airport earlier this week after being accused of being an undercover police agent.

Ms Liu shared the post and echoed the comment by saying: "I also support Hong Kong police."

She received widespread support on the platform, which is subject to censorship.

But on Twitter, which is banned in China, the hashtag #BoycottMulan began gaining traction.

Twitter users accused the actress of supporting police brutality, and also pointed to the freedoms she enjoys as an American citizen.

Source: BBC