PERSPECTIVE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQBMeMK6Fs0 Before I had the pleasure of meeting a stand-up comedian, I too had the misconception that they would be witty and lively creators both on and off stage. However, during my initial encounter with Sica, she spoke with a candid and cautious demeanor, much quieter than I had anticipated. It became evident that she takes some time to warm up. But when it came time for her to perform her stand-up comedy at the end of the interview, her energy suddenly exploded, revealing a completely different side of her as a performer. This shattered my preconceived notion that stand-up comedians are constantly cracking jokes, both on and off stage. Despite being a stand-up comedian, Sica leads a typical Hong Kong lifestyle, much like the majority of people...

Marriage begins with hope, an ideal, aiming for lifelong joy. But sometimes, divorce emerges as a necessary path to happiness in its own right. In a society where the sanctity of marriage faces the reality of frequent divorces, it's the exceptional marriages that make headlines. However, divorce has shed much of its stigma, viewed less as a failure and more as a redirection towards a better life. Today, we’re joined by Sia Cooper. The dynamo behind “Diary of a Fit Mommy” and a personal fitness coach known as the “Bad Mom”, not for neglect but for bucking traditional parenting norms. She’s faced her fair share of criticism online, jokingly saying, “If I got a dollar every time I was called a ‘bad mom,’ I’d be very rich by now!”  Her million-plus followers know her for in...

I understand that life has various facets, so I've chosen not to be a full-time stay-at-home mom.I also want to enrich other areas of my life. For this interview, we met at Stanley Main Beach in Hong Kong. The beach was a bit messy after a Typhoon No. 10. Hayley rushed over in flip-flops, apologizing, “Sorry I’m late. My kid bumped his head right before I was about to leave, and threw a little tantrum about me going out.” Taking care of a child under one year of age means every outing is a challenge. Throughout the conversation, Hayley, a new mom, often talks about her son. Even the reason behind her dreams and ambitions is to set a good example for him. Hayley wears many hats : she’s a mom, a university student, an amateur wingfoil surfer, a member of the Hong Kong Sports ...

Do you ever feel that the beverages we consume from childhood to adulthood are mostly provided by big brands? Whether it's lemon tea, chocolate milk, fresh milk, or fruit juice, the options available are so limited that you can almost name them all. Despite the lack of variety, how many people have actually considered creating a drink that truly represents Hong Kong? The story of Taboocha began in 2014 when sisters Lisa and Patricia started experimenting with the wild world of kombucha as their go-to home remedy for health fix-ups.  Lisa was suffering from poor digestion and her friend taught her how to make kombucha. It was a realization that they could help others with the same case as hers. At about the same time, they adopted a tricolored mongrel puppy, now famously and ...

Athletes have the ability to establish their own brands, and it is often perceived by the general public as a step towards commercialization and investment. However, the creation of American track and field athlete Allyson Felix's personal brand, Saysh, was actually born out of a tragic personal experience. Ever since winning the silver medal in the 200-meter race at the 2004 Athens Olympics, Allyson has gone on to achieve an impressive record of 7 gold, 3 silver, and 1 bronze medal in women's track and field events at subsequent Olympics. Despite her remarkable accomplishments, many believed that her career as a professional athlete would be smooth sailing.  However, in 2019, when Allyson became pregnant, her sponsor Nike significantly reduced her endorsement fees, offerin...

Ever since the autobiographical documentary Beckham premiered on Netflix in early October, the frenzy surrounding the Beckhams hasn’t subsided. This couple, emblematic of pop culture, has undeniably ignited a wave of discussions on social media. The gossip within the celebrity circle never ceases to entertain, with the public always seeking to unravel the traces of their glamorous lives under the spotlight. Consequently, a plethora of online articles have focused on Beckham’s football career, the couple’s acquaintance, and Beckham’s past affairs. While Beckham is undeniably a masterpiece, the accomplishments of VB (Victoria Beckham) are seldom mentioned. Nowadays, VB has emerged as a renowned fashion designer and a trendsetter. It’s unfair to merely associate her name with a successful ma...

Between June and October of this year, the NordArt 2023, currently Europe's largest annual contemporary art exhibition, took place in Büdelsdorf, Germany. One name that stood out amidst this creative extravaganza was that of Kayee C., a Hong Kong photographer. Kayee is a portrait photographer renowned for a distinctive approach – she often casts herself as the central figure in her work. While the expectation might be profound revelations like “my art is a reflection of self” or “I meld personal emotions with characters”, her journey started with a simple yet practical reason. She began her photographic voyage in 2015, falling deeply in love with portrait photography. Yet inspiration doesn't always align with model availability. Learning the ropes through self-study, she avoided wa...

In 2004, Sylvia Chang achieved a cinematic milestone with her directorial masterpiece, 20 30 40. This remarkable romantic comedy stands as the singular Chinese-language film selected for competition at the 2004 Berlin International Film Festival. The film masterfully weaves together the distinct yet interconnected stories of three women, each at a different stage of life: Li Hsin-chieh in her twenties, Sylvia Chang herself in her forties, and Renée Liu in her thirties. Through these characters, 20 30 40 eloquently portrays the various struggles and transformations experienced by women across different generations. Now, nearly two decades after its release, 20 30 40 retains its status as a cinematic classic, especially within the realm of women’s cinema. Sylvia Chang’s dual role as dire...