5 Minutes with Stephanie Chai of Wedding Guide Asia

Born in New Zealand, raised in East Malaysia and then back to the land of the long white cloud for high school and university, this Eurasian girl has truly had an international upbringing. It was a summer break in Singapore that kick-started her modelling career with numerous editorial spreads. This got the ball rolling and 18-year old Steph was flying off to different parts of Asia to model whilst juggling her degree at the University of Auckland. Within the next few years, she had become a recognised name in the industry with over 50 ad campaigns and countless covers to boot. She later went on to hosting TV shows, interviewing the likes of Jimmy Choo and Asian stars such as Simon Yam. But the icing on the cake has to be her recent Hollywood cameo in the Hollywood film, Fair Game, in which she acted opposite one of her favourite stars, Naomi Watts.

In late 2009, this media darling of many dreams and talents launched a regional wedding portal, aptly named WeddingGuideAsia.com. With 300,000 (and counting) readers a year, WeddingGuideAsia.com is set to make its mark in the wedding industry. Their directory listing, entitled the Little White Book, features only the best wedding vendors from each city.

1. WHY DID YOU VENTURE INTO WEDDINGS?
Initially I was going to launch a women’s portal but when my best friend Elaine (Ho) got engaged, I realised there was a huge gap in the market for a wedding site that was simple, trustworthy and strong in content. As someone who loves to write and always wanted to run an online magazine, it was an easy decision to launch WeddingGuideAsia.com.

2. WHAT DRIVES (MOTIVATES) YOU?
Never start a business if money is your primary source of motivation! Any new venture involves a lot of time, sacrifice and passion! I had parents who pushed me a lot when young… if I got an ‘A’ they’d say, well how about an ‘A+’. So perhaps that’s why I always strive to be the best I can be. I think in all as an entrepreneur, you want to contribute to society. Whatever you do or create, has to in some way add to the betterment of the world. If not, what’s the point?

3. WHEN ARE YOU HAPPIEST?
Now! It was always my dream to run my own business and though I definitely work a lot harder nowadays, I’m very content waking up every morning and making things happen. As much as our friends, family and love life contribute to our happiness, it is true what they say – you have to be happy with who you are, first and foremost.

4. THE MISCONCEPTION ABOUT YOU.
That I’m a ‘typical’ model. I once had a guy remarked “Oh you read the Business Times?”. Haha. Funny thing is I was always in the top class at school and after a lifetime of never having my intelligence questioned, I found myself on the opposite side of the pendulum having to prove myself – purely because I was now a ‘model’.

Not such a bad thing at times, you get away with lots of things *wink*

5. SONGS WHICH REMIND YOU OF LOVE.
‘Jia Mian De Gao Bai’ by Jolin Tsai
Everybody Knows by John Legend
Just the Way You Are by Billy Joel

6. YOUR STYLE ICON.
Grace Kelly. Classic. You don’t have to dress like Kim Kardashian to turn a man’s head.

7. QUOTES YOU LIVE BY.
Here is my secret. It is very simple.
It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. – The Little Prince –

8. EPIC LOVE MOVIE.
THE NOTEBOOK!!!! I’ve watched it 7 times….

9. WHAT’S SEXY?
Confidence, humour and charm. Nothing is worse than a good looking guy who’s boring…

10. FAVOURITE FLOWER.
The orchid. Prettiest flowers in my mother’s garden when I was a child.

11. MUST HAVE PIECES FOR WEDDING IN 2011.
I like the trend for hair accessories. Try Sereni and Shentel. Great vintage hair pieces from Court and Plume and I love the Goldilocks range from our vendor More than Diamonds. I can picture a bride by the beach in a bohemian gown with golden flats, flowers in her hair and a Goldilocks necklace of her name in rose gold. Voila – the modern bride.

12. SUGGEST YOUR FAVOURITE PLACES TO DRESS UP, AND DRESS DOWN IN KUALA LUMPUR.
Eat at Plan B in Bangsar Village. And Changkat for drinks at night.

13. LOVE IS …..
AMAZING! Cherish it, respect it and be open to it. You never know when it comes knocking on your door *wink*

Though focused on making WeddingGuideAsia.com the top wedding portal in Asia, Stephanie maintains her profile as a regular at events and in magazines. Despite the glitz, she keeps her feet grounded with annual trips back to visit her family in New Zealand. She especially looks forward to a good ol’ muffin and latte with the girls.

“They just don’t make them the same in Asia!”