Arissa Cheo (Singapore Influencer)

Arissa Cheo (born 30 July 1982) is a Singaporean socialite and fashion entrepreneur.[1][2] As of 10 March 2020, her two Instagram accounts - @xarissaxcheox and @arissa.cheo - have more than 361,000 and 93,000 followers respectively. Arissa also has more than 25,000 followers on Facebook.

Arissa Cheo
Arissa Cheo profile.jpg
Born30 July 1982
EducationDegree(s) in Communications, Film and Television
Alma materUniversity of Southern California
Spouse(s)Vanness Wu (m. 2013, div. 2018)
RelativesElroy Cheo (brother), Hubert Cheo (brother)

Background

 
The Cheo family pictured in 2018. Photo from Instagram.

Early life & family

Arissa Cheo is the daughter of Pauline Cheo[3][4] and Cheo Tong Choon. Her father runs the Cheo family business - an edible oil refiner Mewah International - which was valued at over S$614 million in 2019.[5][6] As the first-born child, Arissa is the heiress to the million-dollar business.[7] She has two younger brothers; Elroy Cheo and Hubert Cheo.[8][9]


At the age of nineteen, Arissa pursued acting in Taiwan.[10][11] She took on supporting roles in the Taiwanese dramas Toast Boy’s Kiss II (2002)[12] and Sweet Lemon (2003) before pursuing her tertiary education in the United States of America.[13]

Education

Arissa attended Methodist Girls’ School.[14][15] In 2008, she graduated from the University of Southern California (USC)[16][17] where she was a major in Communications and a minor in Film and Television.[18]

Relationships

Marriage to Vanness Wu (2013)

 
Arissa and Vanness pictured in 2013. Photo from SAYS.

In 2013, Arissa Cheo married Taiwanese-American singer-actor Vanness Wu - a member of the Taiwanese boy band F4[19] who is also well-known for his leading role in the Taiwanese drama, Meteor Garden (2001). The couple had first met in California[20] and dated on-and-off for seven years.[21] After finalising their union in August 2013,[22] they hosted two wedding ceremonies in the United States[23] and Singapore.[24][20] The November 2013 ceremony took place at The Resort at Pelican Hill - a five-star hotel located at Newport Beach, California.[25][26] Their Singapore ceremony was held at St. Regis in January 2014.[27]

Marital problems

Even before their divorce was finalised, the couple had been living separately for three years.[28] Media outlets have speculated on the impending divorce since 2015 over their Instagram spats and Vanness' absence from Arissa's life.[29][30] Public signs of marital discord were already apparent a year into their marriage.[31] In late 2014, Arissa published an Instagram post accompanied by expletives in her caption. A user had commented on her vulgarity saying that:

"(swearing) Reflects very badly on your husband's faith".

Arissa had responded as such:

"what faith? Fake faith. Don't believe the hype. Wake up".[32]

It was then reported that Arissa and Vanness had unfollowed each other on Instagram sometime in 2015.[33]

Divorce (2018)

After five years of marriage, they filed for divorce in December 2018 and the divorce was finalised in February 2019.[34][35] It was reported that Arissa did not request for alimony from Vanness Wu.[36]

Entrepreneurship

Carte Blanche X (2009)

In 2009, Arissa and her cousin co-founded Carte Blanche X, an e-commerce store retailing indie fashion labels like Sass & bide and Wild Fox.[37][38][39] Carte Blanche X launched its in-house labels - Sacred Hearts X, Sacred Hearts Luxe and Sacred Hearts Gems - three years later.[40]

Arissa X (2016 - present day)

 
Arissa (pictured fourth from left) at the launch of her label's collaboration with REVÉ by RENÉ in 2017. Photo from REVÉ by RENÉ.

In 2016, Arissa kickstarted her fashion label - Arissa X - by launching her debut clothing collection at Singapore Fashion Week.[41][42][43] Arissa had been the designer of the garments.[44] Since then, Arissa's label has collaborated with various designers especially for its accessory collections. As of 9 March 2020, Arissa X has an online store that ships worldwide.

Collaboration with Tocco Toscano (2019)

Arissa X and the fashion label, Tocco Toscano collaborated on a leather goods collection in 2019.[45][46] Together, the two brands designed and launched "The Essentials" Collection - a series of bags designed to cater to the modern professional woman. The collection features a bag-in-bag concept, consisting of four versatile products.[47]

Collaboration with MOMO’S MARCH (2017)

Arissa X collaborated with the jewellery brand, MOMO’S MARCH to launch a jewellery collection in October 2017.[48] Arissa X announced the jewellery collaboration on Facebook, mentioning that the collaboration combines MOMO'S MARCH'S aesthetic of "harmonious collisions" and Arissa X's "irreverent rock n' roll psyche".[49]

Collaboration with REVÉ by RENÉ (2017)

In 2017, Arissa X collaborated with the eyewear brand, REVÉ by RENÉ. The eyewear collection was launched at the Singapore Fashion Week 2017.[50][51][52]

References / Citations

  1. 8 Things You Should Know About Arissa Cheo”. The Singapore Women’s Weekly. June 20, 2018. Accessed on 9 March 2020.
  2. Fam, Jonathan. “Heiress & Instagram Star Arissa Cheo on Love, Life & Labels”. 8 Days. June 21, 2018. Accessed on 9 March 2020.
  3. xarissaxcheox. Instagram. December 14, 2018. Accessed on 11 March 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.instagram.com/p/BrWVxD-nIkz/?hl=en
  4. paulinecheo. Instagram. Accessed on 11 March 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.instagram.com/paulinecheo/?hl=en
  5. #49 Cheo Tong Choon & family”. Forbes. Accessed on 10 March 2020.
  6. Khoo, Natalie. “Rich Heirs on Instagram: Arissa Cheo, entrepreneur and heiress to Mewah International”. Firstclasse. November 19, 2018. Accessed on 10 March 2020.
  7. Fam, Jonathan. “Heiress & Instagram Star Arissa Cheo on Love, Life & Labels”. 8 Days. June 21, 2018. Accessed on 9 March 2020.
  8. Loh, Keng Fatt. “Singaporean Elroy Cheo dating former Korean girl group member”. The Straits Times. May 10, 2019. Accessed on 9 March 2020.
  9. On social media: Elroy Cheo dating Mandopop artist”. The Straits Times. May 11, 2019. Accessed on 9 March 2020.
  10. “It’s me and you against the world, baby”. The New Paper. April 20, 2010. Accessed on 10 March 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  11. Fam, Jonathan. “Heiress & Instagram Star Arissa Cheo on Love, Life & Labels”. 8 Days. June 21, 2018. Accessed on 10 March 2020.
  12. Toast Boy’s Kiss II: The Ability of Love (2002)”. chinesemedia360. Accessed on 10 March 2020.
  13. Vanness Wu tweets of solidarity with girlfriend”. SPCNET. April 12, 2010. Accessed on 10 March 2020.
  14. Fam, Jonathan. “Heiress & Instagram Star Arissa Cheo on Love, Life & Labels”. 8 Days. June 21, 2018. Accessed on 9 March 2020.
  15. Lai, Christine. “Our Girl Crush: Things To Know About Arissa Cheo”. GirlStyle. July 31, 2018. Accessed on 10 March 2020.
  16. 8 Things You Should Know About Arissa Cheo”. The Singapore Women’s Weekly. June 20, 2018. Accessed on 9 March 2020.
  17. Lai, Christine. “Our Girl Crush: Things To Know About Arissa Cheo”. GirlStyle. July 31, 2018. Accessed on 10 March 2020.
  18. Living the Dream: Arissa Cheo”. Prestige. November 13, 2019. Accessed on 10 March 2020.
  19. "F4’s Wu weds S’pore love [ARTICLE + ILLUSTRATION]". The News Paper. November 9, 2013. Accessed on 12 March 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  20. 20.0 20.1 Suhana Ab. "When Heaven Meets Earth". Prestige. April 4, 2014. Accessed on 12 March 2020.
  21. Vanness Wu, Arissa Cheo finalise divorce”. 8 Days. December 27, 2019. Accessed on 9 March 2020.
  22. "Vanness Wu to wed Singaporean designer [ARTICLE + ILLUSTRATION]". The Straits Times. August 15, 2013. Accessed on 12 March 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  23. "F4’s Wu weds S’pore love [ARTICLE + ILLUSTRATION]". The New Paper. November 9, 2013. Accessed on 12 March 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  24. "Jerry only F4 boy at Vanness’ wedding [ARTICLE + ILLUSTRATION]". The Straits Times. January 8, 2014. Accessed on 12 March 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  25. "VANNESS SENDS WEDDING INVITATIONS". The Straits Times. November 9, 2013. Accessed on 12 March 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  26. "The Resort at Pelican Hill". Pelican Hill. Accessed on 12 March 2020.
  27. "Serenade surprise [ARTICLE + ILLUSTRATION]". The New Paper. January 14, 2014. Accessed on 12 March 2020. Retrieved from NewspaperSG.
  28. Van Ness Wu and Singapore socialite Arissa Cheo divorce after ‘hurt and pain’”. The Straits Times. June 20, 2018. Accessed on 9 March 2020.
  29. "Is it the end for Vanness Wu and Arissa Cheo?". 8 Days. July 31, 2015. Accessed on 12 March 2020.
  30. "Vanness Wu says he wasn’t being fierce to questions on his marriage". 8 Days. Jul 10, 2015. Accessed on 12 March 2020.
  31. Van Ness Wu and Arissa Cheo snipe at each other on Instagram”. AsiaOne. January 3, 2015. Accessed on 11 March 2020.
  32. Is Vanness Wu and Arissa Cheo’s marriage on the rocks?”. 8 Days. December 31, 2014. Accessed on 11 March 2020.
  33. "Vanness Wu shoots back at divorce rumours". 8 Days. July 31, 2015. Accessed on 12 March 2020.
  34. Van Ness Wu and Singapore socialite Arissa Cheo divorce after ‘hurt and pain’”. The Straits Times. June 20, 2018. Accessed on 9 March 2020.
  35. Vanness Wu, Arissa Cheo finalise divorce”. 8 Days. December 27, 2019. Accessed on 9 March 2020.
  36. Hidayah Idris. “Arissa Cheo Won’t Be Getting Alimony From Vanness”. CLEO. February 22, 2019. Accessed on 9 March 2020.
  37. Khoo, Natalie. “Rich Heirs on Instagram: Arissa Cheo, entrepreneur and heiress to Mewah International”. Firstclasse. November 19, 2018. Accessed on 10 March 2020.
  38. Fam, Jonathan. “Heiress & Instagram Star Arissa Cheo on Love, Life & Labels”. 8 Days. June 21, 2018. Accessed on 9 March 2020.
  39. Living the Dream: Arissa Cheo”. Prestige. November 13, 2019. Accessed on 10 March 2020.
  40. Sacred Hearts X. “About”. Facebook. Accessed on 9 March 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/pg/sacredheartsx/about/?ref=page_internal
  41. 8 Things You Should Know About Arissa Cheo”. The Singapore Women’s Weekly. June 20, 2018. Accessed on 9 March 2020.
  42. Hernandez, Chino R. “13 Of Singapore’s Real Crazy Rich Asian”. Lifestyle Asia. August 10, 2018. Accessed on 10 March 2020.
  43. Lim, Kellie. “Arissa Cheo Shares What’s In Her New Tocco Toscano ARISSA X Bag”. ELLE. July 25, 2019. Accessed on 10 March 2020.
  44. Her World Singapore. “Arissa Cheo talks about fashion, her ideal vacation and beauty essentials”. YouTube. October 31, 2016. Accessed on 10 March 2020.
  45. Lim, Kellie. “Arissa Cheo Shares What’s In Her New Tocco Toscano ARISSA X Bag”. ELLE. July 25, 2019. Accessed on 10 March 2020.
  46. Neo, Josiah. “Tocco Toscano X Arissa Cheo, Will Smith’s first fashion campaign, and more fashion news”. Lifestyle Asia. July 26, 2019. Accessed on 10 March 2020.
  47. CLEO Singapore. “Arissa Cheo On her Tocco Toscano Collab As Well As The One Time She Broke A $10,000 Chanel Bag”. YouTube. September 13, 2019. Accessed on 10 March 2020.
  48. CLEO Singapore. “Arissa Cheo launches ARISSA X REVÉ by RENÉ and ARISSA X MOMO’S MARCH I CLEO Singapore”. YouTube. November 10, 2017. Accessed on 10 March 2020.
  49. ARISSA X. Facebook. October 24, 2017. Accessed on 11 March 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/ArissaC.X/posts/meet-the-designer-christina-lu-and-check-out-momos-march-arissa-x-momos-marchmon/2100735583506682/
  50. CLEO Singapore. “Arissa Cheo launches ARISSA X REVÉ by RENÉ and ARISSA X MOMO’S MARCH I CLEO Singapore”. YouTube. November 10, 2017. Accessed on 10 March 2020.
  51. ARISSA X REVÉ by RENÉ Collaboration Launch”. REVÉ by RENÉ. December 30, 2017. Accessed on 11 March 2020.
  52. Rogers, Genevieve. “Singapore It Girl Arissa Cheo Launches ARISSA X REVÉ By RENÉ And ARISSA X MOMO’S MARCH”. CLEO. November 7, 2017. Accessed on 11 March 2020.