Cheryl Wee

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Cheryl Wee
Cheryl Wee.png
Born25 April 1987
EducationDegree in Psychology
Alma materVictoria Junior College, National University of Singapore
Spouse(s)Roy Fong (m. 2017)
ChildrenMarc (b. 2018), Emma (b. 2019)
Parent(s)Jean Yip, Mervin Wee

Cheryl Wee (born 25 April 1987) is an entrepreneur and a former actress, singer and beauty pageant queen. She is also Jean Yip’s eldest daughter. As of 2020, she runs the company, Cheryl W Wellness & Weight Management while occasionally helping to manage the Jean Yip conglomerate.[1] As of 1 June 2020, she has over 90,000 followers on Instagram.

Background

Early life & family

Cheryl was born to Melvin Wee and Jean Yip on 25 April 1987.[2] Her parents are the founders of the Jean Yip Group, a notable hair and beauty brand based in Singapore.[3][4] She has two younger siblings, Rachel Wee and Russell Wee.[5] Peranakan chef Baba Jolly Wee, who helped to revive Peranakan cuisine in Singapore, is Cheryl’s paternal grandfather.[6][7]

Education

Cheryl studied in the Arts stream at Victoria Junior College (VJC) where she was also a member of the school’s dance team.[8][9] It was during her time at VJC that she met her husband, Roy Fong.[10] After completing her GCE A-Level examinations, Cheryl moved to New York for dance, theatrical and singing lessons.[11] At the six-month mark, she expressed her desire to stay in New York and forego a university education. However, she eventually returned to Singapore at her mother's behest.[12] Cheryl then enrolled in the National University of Singapore (NUS) where she graduated with a Degree in Psychology.[13]

Beauty pageants (2009 - 2012)

Cheryl (left) was 24 years old when she represented Singapore at the 2012 Miss Chinese International pageant. Photo from source.

Cheryl's participation in beauty pageants has contributed to her recognition in the entertainment industry.[14] When Cheryl participated in her first pageant, her parents were unaware of it until the finals.[15] The following table lists the pageants that she has participated in over the years.

Year Beauty Pageant Titles won Refs.
2012 Miss Chinese International Pageant First Runner Up [16]
2011 Miss Singapore Beauty Pageant Miss Singapore Chinatown [17]
2010 Miss Tourism International Miss Fresh Face ` [18]
2009 Miss Singapore Universe Second Runner Up [19][20]
Miss Nice
Miss Natural

Following this, Cheryl became the face of the Jean Yip brand, having fronted numerous advertisements.

Other endeavours

Blogging (2012)

Cheryl embarked on a blogging journey in 2012. The first post on her blog is dated 12 March 2012.[21] The personal blog provided some insight into her life at the time. That said, the blog is no longer active as of 1 June 2020. Instead, Cheryl has been posting on a new website that promotes healthy living and her business endeavours.

Singing - Debut album (2012)

The album cover for One Fine Day (2012). Retrieved from source.

Cheryl released her debut album titled One Fine Day on 12 April 2012 under the record label, Music and Movement.[22][23] She had the help of her aunt Dawn Yip, a renowned singer from the 1990s, to produce the album.[24] The album’s 10 tracks are listed in the table below.[25]

One Fine Day (2012)
Track no. Song title
1 快乐无敌
2 我家在那里
3 再见勾勾
4 爱疯旅行
5 遇见
6 从今以后的每一天
7 关不掉的收音机
8 我是一只鱼
9 一首月亮的歌
10 知足

Acting career (2013 - 2016)

Cheryl sent an audition tape to Mediacorp in 2012 and proceeded to land several roles in Singaporean television shows over the years.[26] In 2014, she signed with Gin Star Entertainment, an artiste management agency based in Taiwan.[27]

Television

Cheryl pictured as Joyce Goh in Mata Mata: A New Generation (2015). Photo credit to Sani Bangi/ Channel 5.

Cheryl's breakthrough came when she played a lead role in Mata Mata Season 1 (2013). She was not in the cast for Mata Mata Season 2 (2014) having been signed to Gin Star Entertainment at the time. However, she returned for the last season of the show. [28]

Year Channel Television Programme Character/ Role Refs.
2015 Channel 5 Mata Mata: A New Generation Joyce Goh [29]
Channel 8 Journey: Our Homeland Wang Fangfang [30]
2014 The Caregivers Liu Xue Wen [31]
2013 Channel 5 Mata Mata Season 1 Elizabeth Goh [32]

Movies

Cheryl made her silver screen debut in 2016 where she was the leading actress in My Love Sinema (2016). 

Year Movie title Character/ Role Refs.
2016 My Love Sinema Wei [33]

Business

Cheryl W Wellness & Weight Management (2016 - present) - Founder

Cheryl had been struggling with weight and body image issues since as early as 2013. This was partly due to the high beauty standards of the entertainment industry. Swinging between the extremes of starving herself and overeating,[34] she sought help from a psychologist and a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD).[35][36] In an interview with L'Officiel that was published in 2017, Cheryl says:

“At one point, all I was eating was three cups of oatmeal, which was just 300 calories a day. I was 42kg but still thought I was fat!”.[37]

She founded Cheryl W Wellness & Weight Management in late 2016 intending to help others who face similar concerns.[38] Cheryl gradually overcame her diagnosis when she was pregnant with her first-born, Marc.[39][40] As of May 2020, the brand has five physical locations in Singapore.[41] Cheryl also won the Pulsar Category at the Woman Entrepreneur Awards in 2018 for her business venture.[42]

Personal life

Cheryl and Roy pictured in March 2020 with their son, Marc, and their daughter, Emma. Photo from Instagram.

Roy Fong is Cheryl’s first love. They had been schoolmates in VJC and were introduced to each other through a mutual friend.[43] Their first date was at Siglap’s Cafe Cartel after a Chinese examination.[44] Cheryl and Roy stayed as friends for a year before deciding to pursue a relationship.

Proposal (2016)

Roy proposed to Cheryl at the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest on 12 January 2016.[45] He had previously asked Cheryl’s parents for her hand in marriage when she had been away filming a movie.[46] At her parent's blessing and suggestion, Roy proposed during a family holiday in Kyoto, Japan. He came up with an elaborate proposal which included hiring a string quartet and being the driver for Cheryl’s rickshaw.[47]

Marriage to Roy Fong (2017)

The couple tied the knot in 2017 after one-and-a-half years of planning and held a celebration that lasted a weekend.[48] They held an elaborate traditional tea ceremony two weekends before the celebration dinners.[49] Being devout Catholics, the couple said their vows at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd before their wedding celebrations.[50] The wedding was held at The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore.[51] Cheryl's aunt, Dawn Yip, had booked the venue a few years in advance for her birthday celebrations but graciously gave the venue to the newlyweds.[52] Cheryl’s wedding was described by local media outlets as “a romantic and dream-like affair”, given the fairytale-like decorations adorning at the venue. Approximately 1,200 guests attended the couple's wedding over two nights.[53]

Pregnancy & children

Due to Cheryl’s inconsistent eating habits at the time, she did not have a regular menstrual cycle.[54] Thus, her pregnancy came as a surprise. Cheryl gave birth to a baby boy on 26 April 2018, a day after her 31st birthday.[55] Roy and Cheryl named their son Marc Feng Jun Xiang to embody their hope that he will “soar high and be an explorer who’s curious to learn things”.[56] Marc is also named after a Saint in Catholicism, symbolising the couple’s gratitude to God for a child. About two days before Rachel Wee's wedding, the couple discovered that Cheryl was expecting a second child.[57] Unfortunately, her second pregnancy was not as smooth as the first. Despite the bouts of extreme morning sickness and spotting,[58] Cheryl gave birth to a healthy daughter named Emma on 9 September 2019.[59]

References/ Citations

  1. Actress-entrepreneur Cheryl Wee on staying trim – in a healthy and sustainable way”. CNA Lifestyle. December 2, 2019. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  2. weecheryl. Instagram. April 25, 2018. Accessed on 28 May 2020. Retrieved from: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh-tF59Aqel/
  3. Loh, Genevieve Sarah. “'We don't live for ourselves': Motherhood helped Cheryl Wee fight eating disorders”. CNA Luxury. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  4. Chen-Cordeiro, Daphne and Lee, Elizabeth. “Meet The Tatler Scions: Angelina Tan, Meaghan See And Rachel Wee”. Asia Tatler. May 8, 2019. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  5. GROOMED BY FAITH”. Catholic Family. May 30, 2016. Accessed on 27 May 2020.
  6. Lee, Venessa. “Pioneer Peranakan chef Jolly Wee has been cooking since age 10”. The Straits Times. June 15, 2015. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  7. Singapore Food Blogger of the Month: Cheryl Wee, Singer, Actress, and Beauty Queen”. Rubbish Eat Rubbish Grow. June 11, 2016. Accessed on 27 May 2020.
  8. Goh, Joanna. “Cheryl Wee marries first love”. 8Days. July 1, 2017. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  9. Tan, Felicia. “Full Interview: Cheryl Wee Reveals More About Her Wedding, Fiance And More!”. Her World. April 20, 2017. Accessed on 27 May 2020.
  10. Wee, Cheryl. “About Cheryl Wee”. I Love Children. July 10, 2019. Accessed on 27 May 2020.
  11. Wee-Slater, Marianne. “Young Love: Introducing Cheryl Wee and Roy Fong, Society's New It Couple”. Asia Tatler. February 10, 2017. Accessed on 27 May 2020.
  12. Quek, Eunice. “Jean forced daughter to return to studies”. AsiaOne. March 10, 2010. Accessed on 28 May 2020.
  13. Chua, Charlene. “She misses win by just one vote”. AsiaOne. January 23, 2012. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  14. Woman of the Month | Episode 1 | Cheryl Wee”. Cheryl W. March 10, 2020. Accessed on 27 May 2020.
  15. Lee, Michelle. “#10YearChallenge: The Celebrity Couples’ Throwback Photos That’ll Make You Go Awww”. Her World. January 17, 2019. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  16. Homegrown Pageant Queen Cheryl Wee Reigns Again”. Her World. January 31, 2012. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  17. Miss Singapore Beauty Pageant. “The Miss Singapore Beauty Pageant 2011 was…”. Facebook. August 28, 2011. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  18. Chua, Charlene. “She misses win by just one vote”. AsiaOne. January 23, 2012. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  19. Lee, Matthew. “Miss Singapore Universe 2009, reduced to just one dinner show?”. Youth.sg. May 13, 2009. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  20. "Cheryl 黄馨慧”. Facebook. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  21. Toby's Estate”. Cheryl Wee. March 12, 2012. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  22. Chong, Seow Wei. “A Drink With... Cheryl Wee”. Asia Tatler. December 16, 2016. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  23. Zen, Bianca. “Interview with Music and Movement's Artiste, Cheryl Wee [Videos & Pics]”. My Fat Pocket. November 9, 2012. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  24. 《晴天》 One Fine Day”. Cheryl Wee. April 12, 2012. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  25. 黄馨慧* ‎– 晴天”. Discogs. Accessed on 28 May 2020.
  26. Chua, Charlene. “She misses win by just one vote”. AsiaOne. January 23, 2012. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  27. Ng, Gwendolyn. “Singaporeans in Taiwan looking for their big break in showbiz”. The Straits Times. December 11, 2014. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  28. Tan, Tammi. “Cheryl Wee: from self-starved starlet to empowered entrepreneur”. 8Days. June 26, 2015. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  29. Abdul Rahman, Noor Ashikin. “Cheryl Wee romances two Ah Boys on the big screen”. The New Paper. November 26, 2015. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  30. “Cast of 《信约:我们的家园》 "The Journey: Our Homeland"”. Amore Ocean Blog. February 4, 2015. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  31. "The Caregivers Missy 先生". Mediacorp. Accessed on 1 June 2020.
  32. Abdul Rahman, Noor Ashikin. “Cheryl Wee's the love of two Ah Boys”. Asia One. November 17, 2015. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  33. My Love Sinema 放映爱 (PG)”. Golden Village. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  34. Cheryl Wee: Pregnancy saved me from my eating disorder”. Young Parents. July 17, 2019. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  35. Loh, Genevieve Sarah. “'We don't live for ourselves': Motherhood helped Cheryl Wee fight eating disorders”. CNA Luxury. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  36. Sim, Sherlyn. “Cheryl Wee's pregnancy saved her from eating disorder”. The New Paper. July 16, 2018. Accessed on 27 May 2020.
  37. Tay, Grace. “In the Spotlight: Cheryl Wee”. L’Officel. September 6, 2017. Accessed on 27 May 2020.
  38. Brand Story”. Cheryl W. Wellness and Weight Management. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  39. “My Baby Saved Me””. Thomson Medical. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  40. Tan, Celine. “"This Baby Saved My Life", Says Seven-Months-Pregnant Cheryl Wee”. 8Days. January 30, 2018. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  41. Contact information”. Cheryl W. Wellness and Weight Management. Accessed on 27 May 2020.
  42. STEPPING OUT”. Woman Entrepreneur Awards. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  43. Ong, Cheryl. “Cheryl Wee Is Marrying Man Who Was Asked To Be A Priest 5 Times”. 8Days. February 16, 2017. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  44. This is Love: Roy Fong and Cheryl Wee”. Nestia. February 12, 2020. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  45. Lim, Lionnel. “This is Love: Roy Fong and Cheryl Wee”. Prestige Online. February 12, 2020. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  46. Tan, Tansey. “CHERYL WEE AND ROY FONG’S EXQUISITE, WHIMSICAL WEDDING AT THE RITZ CARLTON, MILLENIA SINGAPORE”. Singapore Brides. October 2017. Accessed on 27 May 2020.
  47. Lim, Lionnel. “This is Love: Roy Fong and Cheryl Wee”. Prestige Online. February 12, 2020. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  48. Goh, Joanna. “Cheryl Wee marries first love”. 8Days. July 1, 2017. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  49. Ong, Cheryl. “7 Lessons From Cheryl Wee’s Lavish Wedding Tea Ceremony”. Her World. June 29, 2017. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  50. Freshfrom Kenneth. “Roy and Cheryl | Cathedral of the Good Shepherd”. YouTube. September 2, 2017. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  51. Koh, Cassandra. “Cheryl Wee & Roy Fong’s Whimsical Wedding Banquet At The Ritz-Carlton”. Her World. July 4, 2017. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  52. Tan, Felicia. “Full Interview: Cheryl Wee Reveals More About Her Wedding, Fiance And More!”. Her World. April 20, 2017. Accessed on 1 June 2020.
  53. Goh, Joanna. “Cheryl Wee marries first love”. 8Days. July 1, 2017. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  54. Lee, Yang Yi. “Celeb mum-to-be Cheryl Wee: My pregnancy freed me from the jail in my head”. Smart Parents. March 20, 2018. Accessed on 29 May 2020.
  55. Lee, Wei Lin. “Cheryl Wee, Roy Fong welcome baby girl to the family”. 8Days. December 27, 2019. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  56. Tan, Tammi. “Cheryl Wee welcomes son one day after 31st birthday”. 8Days. April 26, 2018. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  57. Cute! This is how Cheryl Wee announces that she is expecting Baby No. 2”. Young Parents. April 26, 2019. Accessed on 27 May 2020.
  58. Tan, Tammi. “Cheryl Wee “had a bit of a scare” during second pregnancy”. 8Days. April 23, 2019. Accessed on 21 May 2020.
  59. Jaya. “Jean Yip's daughter Cheryl Wee gives birth to baby No. 2”. The Asian Parent. September 10, 2019. Accessed on 1 June 2020. Retrieved from Asia One.