Entrepreneurship really does seem to be the buzzword these days.
From Singaporeans quitting high-flying corporate jobs to teenagers starting their own ventures, people of all walks of lives are taking the leap of faith.
More recently, even celebrities have expanded from their lives in showbiz to start entrepreneurial ventures of their own.
From hawker stalls to a skincare brand, here are six Singaporean celebrities who have decided to run their own businesses.
1. Ben Yeo: Singapore Chee Cheong Fun
Mediacorp actor and host Ben Yeo is no stranger to the F&B scene.
The 42-year-old used to run fried chicken chain Tenderfresh and eatery Hawkerman, but has since sold his shares in both establishments.
Earlier in August, he launched Singapore Chee Cheong Fun (SGCCF) online with heritage brand Kwong Woh Hing, and its steamed rice rolls have been selling like hot cakes.
SGCCF only offers one product: a Chee Cheong Fun set that goes for S$28.
Each set consists of 10 handmade rice rolls and five specially-selected condiments from Kwong Woh Hing.
Ben said in an interview with 8days that on the first day of launch, all 50 available sets of Chee Cheong Fun were snapped up within 15 minutes.
During their second day, they were sold out in a record eight minutes.
Ben recently collaborated with one-Michelin-starred Labyrinth restaurant’s chef-owner Han Li Guang to offer a limited-edition festive creation.
Priced at S$35, the new Smoky Chee Cheong Fun set comes with 10 rice rolls, and five bottles of condiments and toppings: char siew sauce, bacon oil, sambal chilli, toasted sesame seeds and you tiao puffs.
According to Ben, over 1,000 kits were snapped up in just a week.
2. Chew Chor Meng: 888 Mookata, The Famous Zhou And Famous Pao Fan
Veteran actor Chew Chor Meng is quite the entrepreneur, with multiple F&B businesses under his belt.
The 52-year-old co-owns 888 Mookata and porridge stall The Famous Zhou with fellow actor and DJ Dennis Chew.
Unfortunately for the duo, business was badly hit due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and they had to shutter The Famous Zhou outlet in Bedok as well as 888 Mookata’s Bukit Batok outlet.
They now run three 888 Mookata outlets and two porridge stalls.
Despite the challenges of Covid-19, Chor Meng recently opened a hawker “pao fan” concept named Famous Pao Fan with a longtime friend.
“Pao fan”, which directly translates to “submerged rice” in Mandarin, features steamed rice and toppings soaked in a broth.
Famous Pao Fan can be found at a street-level kopitiam at Sultan Plaza, and offers seven types of pao fan.
Prices start from a wallet-friendly S$4.50 for the Lala Pao Fan, and go up to S$16 for the signature lobster version.
3. Jeanette Aw: What The Fudge Brownies
Fans of Jeanette Aw would know that the actress is also an accomplished baker.
The 41-year-old has completed patisserie courses from the international cooking school Le Cordon Bleu, and spent 18 months in Bangkok and Tokyo completing her studies.
Besides sharing her recipes online, she also recently took orders for her Instagram-famous What The Fudge brownies.
The brownies were such a hit that she received over 1,000 orders in an hour.
However, she received some backlash from the public. Some home bakers were reportedly worried that the actress was threatening their livelihoods and being an unfair competitor.
Even though she has plans to set up her own dessert shop in future, she has since put her baking business on hold for now.
4. Chantalle Ng: Yuan Collagen Soup
Actress Chantalle Ng launched an online business selling collagen soup to celebrate her 25th birthday during the circuit breaker this year.
She co-runs the business with her friend Wong Min Ying, whose family runs the Asian Food Mall at Lucky Plaza.
Yuan Collagen sells premium collagen soup which has been double-boiled for over 10 hours in 500g or 1kg packs.
The Yuan Collagen recipe is passed down from Min Ying’s grandmother, and the soup is made from premium ingredients.
A 1kg pack of fish collagen broth goes for S$23.80, while the 1kg pack of chicken collagen broth is selling for S$25.
5. Joshua Tan: Zyu Skincare
Actor Joshua Tan is probably best known for his role in the Jack Neo movie Ah Boys to Men.
The 30-year-old recently started skincare brand Zyu together with his fiancée Zoen Tay.
Inspired by the Chinese character for pearl, Zyu aims to give customers glowing radiant skin via products that are formulated with natural and premium ingredients.
According to Her World magazine, the launch of their first product — the Antioxidant Night Mask — did so well that they broke even in about a month.
Now, the brand has three products which includes the Complexion Perfector SPF 50/PA ++++, a tinted sunblock and moisturiser, as well as the Revitalising Tonic.
6. Joanne Peh: The Dimple Loft
In 2018, actress Joanne Peh launched The Dimple Loft, a story-telling enrichment programme for children.
According to its website, it aims to “capture children’s imaginations and foster their love for story-telling through the filmic arts.”
During their sessions, students get to role play, sing, dance, make art, and learn about various subjects such as math, science, geography, history and more.
The Dimple Loft also runs workshops as well as Filmic Arts Camps during the school holidays.
Pursuing Other Passions
Despite having successful careers in showbiz, these Singaporean celebrities have decided to make their foray into the business world.
More celebrities are starting to forge new paths, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic when filming had to halt.
These artistes have perhaps also leveraged on their fame in the entertainment industry, as many of their products seem to be highly sought after by Singaporeans.
Featured Image Credit: Seth Lui / JCode / Miss Tam Chiak / Girl Style / Fly Entertainment
