Sonia Chew
Sonia Chew (born 28 December 1991) is a Singaporean host and radio presenter with 987FM. Sonia kickstarted her radio career in 2012 when she won the 987 Radio Star competition during which Rosalyn Lee was her mentor.[1] In 2019, she opened the restaurant-bar IZY FOOK.[2] As of May 2020, Sonia has 140,000 followers on Instagram.
Background
Early life & family
Sonia was born on 28 December 1991 as an only child to Carolina Wu[3] and a father who worked as a video producer.[4] In an interview with T Singapore, Sonia shared that she had a variety of childhood dream jobs ranging from being a Singapore Airlines air stewardess to a lawyer - none of which however, was a career in radio.[5]
Education
An alumnus of St Anthony's Canossian Secondary School, Sonia furthered her studies at Ngee Ann Polytechnic after scoring eight points for her GCE O Level examinations.[6] She entered the 987 Radio Star competition during her university years at Chapman University Singapore's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts.[7] Sonia completed her university education despite juggling a part-time radio gig in her final year of studies, graduating with a degree in Creative Producing.[8]
Early career - Financial news reporter
Before her career as a radio presenter, Sonia worked at CNBC where she reported on financial news.[9]
Personal advocacy
Sonia has championed several social causes. In 2018, she was a part of the Samaritans of Singapore’s (SOS) #ThroughTheNight social media campaign. The campaign was run alongside Suicide Prevention Week. As a part of the campaign, Sonia publicly revealed that she once faced anxiety and paranoia that had led to bouts of insomnia.[10] That same year, Sonia joined several local personalities for the #LifeBeyondGrades campaign. The campaign reminds Singaporean students and parents that future success is not solely determined by grades on a report card.[11]
Radio (2012 - present day)
987FM - Radio presenter
Sonia joined 987FM as a contracted radio presenter after winning the 987 Radio Star 2012 competition under the mentorship of Rosalyn Lee (Rozz).[12][13] As of August 2019, she co-hosts The Shock Circuit from 4 PM to 8 PM daily with Joakim Gomez. Before The Shock Circuit, Sonia hosted a weekday morning show called The Bright-Side from 6 AM to 10 AM.[14]
Businesses
IZY FOOK (2019) - Co-founder
IZY FOOK is a restaurant-bar modelled after a Japanese Izakaya. Sonia started up the restaurant-bar with the owners of Roast Paradise - a roast meat stall located at Old Airport Road Food Centre. The partnership was driven by a mission to protect Singapore's hawker culture while creating a "cool new hangout spot".[15] Among traditional bar bites, IZY FOOK also serves Singaporean hawker dishes such as Prawn Mee Pok and Salted Egg Chicken Wings.[16] IZY FOOK is Sonia's first venture into the food and beverage industry in Singapore.[17]
Hosting
Television & web series
Sonia was the host of the Toggle travel series Travel SSBD, a show where she had been sent overseas without a planned itinerary.[18] The fourteen-part series debuted on 26 August 2015 and won a bronze medal in the online entertainment category for the 2017 New York Festivals TV and Film Awards.[19] Apart from the award-winning series, Sonia has hosted a variety of television programmes and web shows since 2013.
Year | Company | Character / Role | Television Programme | Refs. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Channel 5 | Host | National Science Challenge 2018 & 2017 | [20] |
Toggle Video | Host | TravelSSBD Special Edition | [21] | |
Channel 5 | Host | In My Backyard | [22] | |
Toggle Originals | Cast (Penny Wee) | Trendsetters | [23] | |
2017 | Toggle | Host | TravelSSBD Deluxe | [24] |
2016 | Toggle | Cast member | TGI...WTF (Thank God It’s...Wed, Thu, Fri) | [25] |
Toggle | Host | Travel Bravely | [26] | |
Okto | Host | Get Active SG | [27] | |
Toggle Originals | Cast (Mandy Ng) | A Selfie’s Tale | - | |
2015 | Channel 5 | Celebrity guest on Episode 12 | Body And Soul S3 | - |
Toggle | Host | Travel SSBD (Same Same, But Different) | - | |
2013 | Toggle | Host | 8 Days Shirtless Guy Search 2013 | - |
Events[28]
Year | Event | Organiser | Refs. |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | Let’s Celebrate 2019 | Mediacorp | [29] |
Fenty Beauty’s first anniversary at Sephora | Sephora | [30] | |
Montblanc’s 1858 collection launch event | Montblanc | [31] | |
MAC X SONIA Makeup Party | Mac cosmetics | [32] | |
WestGate Sephora opening | Sephora | [33] | |
2017 | Clarke Quay - A Wander Soireé: Countdown by the Quay | Clarke Quay | [34] |
Standard Chartered Marathon | Standard Chartered | [35] | |
2016 | Mediacorp New Campus Opening Red Carpet | Mediacorp | - |
Ion Orchard Mac cosmetics store opening | Mac Cosmetics | [36] | |
2015 | 2016 Countdown | Mediacorp | - |
Clarisonic Launch at Sephora | Sephora | - | |
Benefit It’s Real launch event at Red Dot Museum | Benefit Cosmetics | - | |
Puma Night Run 2015 | Puma | - | |
3CE launch event at Sephora featuring Park Sora | Sephora | - | |
Too Faced Lip Mafia event at Sephora featuring PearyPie | Sephora | - | |
Guess Girl Model Search 2015 | Guess | - | |
FURLA store opening at Marina Bay Sands | FURLA | - | |
Heineken Cities Festival 2015 | Heineken | - | |
National University Rag and Flag Day 2015 | National University Singapore | - | |
Skechers x Sistar launch event at Ion Orchard | Skechers | - | |
Sloggi Undercover Summer Pop Up Events at Robinsons Orchard | Sloggi | - | |
Adidas x Sole Superior launch event at Zouk Singapore | Adidas x Sole Superior | - | |
KPMG Halloween Bash 2015 at Zouk Singapore | KPMG Singapore | - | |
Timberland’s 42nd Anniversary Event 2015 | Timberland | - | |
2014 | Watson’s Media Product Launch 2014 | Watson | - |
Sephora Beauty Night Out 2014 | Sephora | - | |
Poh Heng Hello Kitty Collection Launch | Poh Heng | - | |
AAPE Streetball Jam 2014 | AAPE | - | |
Disney Tsum Tsum Collection Launch by I.T Singapore | I.T Singapore | - | |
Maison Martin Margiela (MM6) Collection Launch | MM6 Maison Margiela | - | |
Localicious Roadshows | MediacorpChannel 5 | - | |
2013 | Celio's Consumer Event | Celio | - |
OCBC Cycle Singapore | OCBC | - | |
8 Days Eat launch Clarke Quay roadshow | 8 Days | - | |
2012 | Race Me to the Stars | Mediacorp | - |
Standard Chartered Marathon | Standard Chartered | - |
References / Citations
- ↑ Kee, Lynette. "Rosalyn Lee and Sonia Chew Tell Us How They Adapt and Cope Under Pressure". The New York Times Style Magazine: Singapore. July 12, 2019. Accessed on 5 August 2019.
- ↑ Yip Jieying. "987FM DJ Sonia Chew Opens Mod Singaporean Izakaya Selling Atas Mee Pok". TODAY. June 14, 2019. Accessed on 5 August 2019.
- ↑ momma_chew. Instagram. Accessed on 12 May 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.instagram.com/momma_chew/
- ↑ Wong, Phin. "A history of resilience: Sonia Chew says do not underestimate millennials". CNA Luxury. Accessed on 12 May 2020.
- ↑ Kee, Lynette. "Rosalyn Lee and Sonia Chew Tell Us How They Adapt and Cope Under Pressure". The New York Times Style Magazine: Singapore. July 12, 2019. Accessed on 5 August 2019.
- ↑ Wong, Phin. "A history of resilience: Sonia Chew says do not underestimate millennials". CNA Luxury. Accessed on 12 May 2020.
- ↑ Tong, Elizabeth. “Beauty tips by 987FM DJ Sonia Chew”. Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore. March 16, 2018. Accessed on 8 May 2019.
- ↑ Kee, Lynette. "Rosalyn Lee and Sonia Chew Tell Us How They Adapt and Cope Under Pressure". The New York Times Style Magazine: Singapore. July 12, 2019. Accessed on 5 August 2019.
- ↑ “KOPI WITH SONIA CHEW”. Solidspace. September 10, 2016. Accessed on 8 May 2019.
- ↑ “Send an SOS via social media: #ThroughTheNight campaign to reach out to at-risk youth”. Today Online. September 11, 2018. Accessed on 8 May 2019.
- ↑ Tan, Celine. “Would You Share Your PSLE Score On Social Media? These Celebs Did”. Today Online. September 15, 2018. Accessed on 8 May 2019.
- ↑ "Chapman Singapore Senior Wins "Radio Star of the Year". Chapman University, Dodge College of Film and Media Arts. October 3, 2012. Accessed on 5 August 2019.
- ↑ Kee, Lynette. "Rosalyn Lee and Sonia Chew Tell Us How They Adapt and Cope Under Pressure". The New York Times Style Magazine: Singapore. July 12, 2019. Accessed on 5 August 2019.
- ↑ 987FM. Facebook. February 25, 2015. Accessed on 5 August 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/987fm/photos/a.10150633551112029/10152740980372029/?type=1&theater
- ↑ Lim, Chantelle. "Singaporean Izakaya IZY FOOK (一起福) Takes Food To A Whole New Experience". STYLEGUIDE. June 20, 2019. Accessed on 5 August 2019.
- ↑ Yip Jieying. "987FM DJ Sonia Chew Opens Mod Singaporean Izakaya Selling Atas Mee Pok". TODAY. June 14, 2019. Accessed on 5 August 2019.
- ↑ Lim, Chantelle. "Singaporean Izakaya IZY FOOK (一起福) Takes Food To A Whole New Experience". STYLEGUIDE. June 20, 2019. Accessed on 5 August 2019.
- ↑ “Travel SSBD”. Toggle. Accessed on 8 May 2019.
- ↑ "Mediacorp bags 12 awards at New York Festivals Awards". Channel News Asia. May 3, 2017. Accessed on 6 August 2019.
- ↑ “National Science Challenge 2018”. Toggle. Accessed on 8 May 2019.
- ↑ “Travel SSBD Special Edition Episode 1”. Toggle. Accessed on 8 May 2019.
- ↑ “In My Backyard”. Toggle. Accessed on 8 May 2019.
- ↑ “Trendsetters”. Toggle. Accessed on 8 May 2019.
- ↑ “Travel SSBD deluxe”. Toggle. Accessed on 8 May 2019.
- ↑ “TGI...WTF (Thank God It’s...Wed, Thu, Fri”. Toggle. Accessed on 8 May 2019.
- ↑ “Travel SSBD Travel Bravely”. Toggle. Accessed on 8 May 2019.
- ↑ “Get Active Singapore”. Toggle. Accessed on 8 May 2019.
- ↑ “Sonia Chew”. Toggle. Accessed on 8 May 2019. Retrieved from: https://celebs.toggle.sg/en/celebs/the-celebrities/female/sonia-chew-6145870
- ↑ “Marina Bay Singapore Countdown 2019 - Let’s Celebrate 2019”. Eventfinda. Accessed on 8 May 2019.
- ↑ Chew, Sonia. “Chillin with my boo…”. Facebook. October 1, 2018. Accessed on 8 May 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/SoniaChew987/photos/a.601754083199187/2275997685774810/?type=3&theater
- ↑ Chew, Sonia. “Had a killaaaa time…”. Facebook. June 25, 2018. Accessed on 8 May 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/SoniaChew987/photos/pcb.2089933957714518/2089933821047865/?type=3&theater
- ↑ Chew, Sonia. “What an incredible turn out…”. Facebook. May 21, 2018. Accessed on 8 May 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/SoniaChew987/videos/2035953079779273/
- ↑ Chew, Sonia. “I always have the most..”. Facebook. January 30, 2018. Accessed on 8 May 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/SoniaChew987/photos/pcb.1882415711799678/1882415165133066/?type=3&theater
- ↑ "CLARKE QUAY - A WANDER SOIRÉE: COUNTDOWN BY THE QUAY". Mynewsdesk. November 23, 2017. Accessed on 17 October 2019.
- ↑ Chew, Sonia. “When else would you get…”. Facebook. December 3, 2017. Accessed on 8 May 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/SoniaChew987/photos/a.601754083199187/1805889682785615/?type=3&theater
- ↑ Chew, Sonia. “INSANE crowd at #MACIon’s…”. Facebook. December 16, 2016. Accessed on 8 May 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/SoniaChew987/videos/1303271939714061/