Inside Star Awards 2025's fan zone, where the most diehard showed up 8 hours early
It would mean waiting for six hours, mind you – around the time that he estimated the post-event party would end.
He didn't have a ticket for the main show in The Theatre at Mediacorp, which was taking place after the red carpet, and staying late would mean an expensive cab ride home. But for the mere possibility of glimpsing the artistes as they left for the night? Why, it should be an easy call.
Earlier in the evening, I'd spotted him setting up a stool to prop his camera tripod, allowing him to film the entire red carpet show from the back of the crowd. He stood in the same spot for the whole hour, probably willing to be sooner burnt by the sweltering heat than miss personally capturing a second of the show … which he could watch live on his mobile device.
And yet, Overzealous Fan's mild hesitation to remain till the post-event party wrapped up rendered him less of a devotee than another I shall call Even More Overzealous Fan.
The latter scoffed when asked whether he was staying till midnight. He had shown up at 9am, even though the first segment began at 5pm, and there was no way he was leaving before he got what I reckon he came for: Some selfies and shoulder-rubbing.
'Yes of course I will stay! There are over 200 celebrities here! We must wait! It's worth it! How dare we not stay?' Even More Overzealous Fan declared in Mandarin, seemingly indignant that an alternative was suggested at all.
'There is no reward without hard work!'
CAMPING FOR CELEBRITIES
Forgive my apparent befuddlement. I understand strategising to score Taylor Swift tickets, hanging out at the airport to spot K-pop idols, and perhaps even queuing outside the Apple Store before a new iPhone drops.
To arrive at Star Awards eight hours ahead of time, though? I doubted there was a need to 'chope' or reserve one's spot when I was certain that supply would far exceed demand.
I ate my words at 4pm – an hour before the red carpet segment began – when I came face to face with around 200 fans happy to bake in the heat while awaiting their idols.
There was a dizzying array of fan clubs, including some of celebrities whose existence I was learning about for the first time that evening.
Among the more creative club names on display were Elvinology (Elvin Ng), The Beckers Team (Rebecca Lim), Carrieteristic (Carrie Wong), DesTheWay (Desmond Ng), Felicity (Felicia Chin) and The Juliet Club (Romeo Tan).
Then there were fan clubs whose coordinated signs and T-shirts simply showed their idol's name: Zoe Tay, Ya Hui, Yvonne Lim, Joanne Peh, Bonnie Loo, Lee Teng, Tyler Ten and Paige Chua, to name a few.
But like any interviewee, they were more than happy to talk about their passion. It just so happened this passion was a person, in this instance.
Olivia Lee, a first-time Star Awards attendee and new member of Elvinology, said she just discovered the fan club this year. The 38-year-old started watching Elvin Ng's shows eight years ago, and found him 'very natural'.
She has since met Ng twice in person, including once on a fan club outing to Melaka, and remembers him to be 'very gentlemanly' in how he spoke.
'When you interact with him, you can feel the warmth. He's very down-to-earth. You don't feel like he's a celebrity.'
If anything, it seems having no airs is why other fan clubs like their celebrity idols too. Some members of the Yverlasting Yvonne fan club – for Yvonne Lim, who else? – expressed similar reasons they were enamoured with the 48-year-old actress who took home the All-Time Favourite Artiste trophy on Sunday night.
Part-time administrative worker in her 60s Catherine Pang has always watched Lim's movies but only recently started being more invested in her career. Lim is 'very sincere' when interacting with fans online too, said Pang.
With her on Sunday was Tan Lay Tin, who has attended Star Awards five times as Lim's fan. The actress is 'very thoughtful' towards her fans, Tan said, recalling the time Lim bought her Milo when she wasn't feeling well, despite it being their first meeting.
And when I caught up with a small group from The Beckers Team, one of the fan club's longest-serving members Louisa Tan said she's lost count of the number of times she attended Star Awards as Rebecca Lim's fan.
Although the actress received the All-Time Favourite Artiste trophy in 2023 and wasn't up for any award on Sunday night, 'we just come support', said Tan, 28, who joined the fan club when she was in secondary school.
Lim is 'very easygoing', putting her 'whole heart' into fan interactions, Tan added. 'You won't feel like there's a gap between fans and her.'
Still, apart from the sporadic cheer whenever fan clubs heard their respective celebrity's names being announced, the red carpet reception felt considerably muted. Many seemed happier to watch the event livestream from their phones – as it was happening, yes, right in front of them.
That is, until nominee and eventual winner of the Best Rising Star award Tyler Ten showed up.
Judging by the deafening screams for this man who – despite his evidently strong fanbase – I wouldn't recognise if my life depended on it, I realised I was officially out of touch with this new generation of Mediacorp artistes.
I was no longer in primary school, when the daily 7pm and 9pm dramas on Channel 8 were my reward for finishing my homework; when I could depend on the one and only Ivy Lee to helm every show worth following; when local celebrity culture was revered, not ridiculed.
But I swear I felt nine again, the minute I saw OG legends Fann Wong, Christopher Lee, Zoe Tay and Li Nanxing walk the red carpet – and once more when most recipients of the All-Time Favourite Artiste award since 2004 gathered on stage to kick off the Star Awards main show.
Then I understood the diehard fans around me. Kind of.
I, too, held my own reverence for the celebrities whose works I loved. The subject of our affection may differ, but the essence of our admiration remains universal.
In the end, how different were modern Mediacorp celebrity fans, really, from Swifties, political party advocates, football supporters or even myself? Maybe not so, for the American writer Mark Twain once famously said: 'Fame is a vapour, popularity an accident; the only earthly certainty is oblivion.'
Maybe every fandom is, at its core, about seeking something greater than oneself to stave off such oblivion.
An hour before the show ended yesterday, I spotted fans who didn't manage to get tickets still milling around the theatre lobby. Among them was Even More Overzealous Fan from earlier, apparently keeping his promise to stay until midnight.
Another was 21-year-old Vincent Lim, an F&B worker who'd specifically requested a day off to attend Star Awards, he'd told me earlier in the evening. He wasn't there for any particular celebrity; he carried no signboard or elaborate gear, just excitement at finally attending the event he'd only ever watched on TV as a child.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
SG60 It's Giving Fest kicks off two-day celebration with local singers Lullaboy, Tasha Low and even a surprise song from Tyler Ten
With less than a month left till the nation's birthday, SG60 celebrations are in full swing across Singapore that you'd be spoilt for choice every weekend. At least this weekend, my choice was obvious. I was curious about the buzz around Mediacorp's Cloud 9 music festival, which had its inaugural run earlier this year. It kicked off its return on Saturday (Jul 12) with a free concert as part of It's Giving Fest, a youth-driven initiative organised by Over two days at *SCAPE, It's Giving Fest aims to spotlight the voices, dreams and aspirations of Singapore's youth while empowering them to take action in social and community initiatives. And in my experience as its target demographic, it lived up to its mission. Saturday's lineup for the Cloud 9 concert showcased a range of homegrown talents, including Lullaboy, Tasha Low, Alyph, Shye and Ben Hum. The evening opened with sets from local DJs Kohsh and Kiara, who delivered a mix of pulsing beats and remixes of pop classics, such as Ed Sheeran's Shape Of You and Carly Rae Jepsen's Call Me Maybe. No lacklustre audiences here, for sure. The crowd responded with enthusiasm, jumping, waving glow sticks and singing along – as youths do – setting the tone for the night. Personally, I found one highlight to be singer Lullaboy. Or at least his undeniable charisma. He surprised the audience by announcing his upcoming album, set to be released around Valentine's Day next year, before debuting a new track off the album I Didn't Like You But I Love You. And when he tossed his T-shirt merchandise into the adoring crowd, it sent fans into a frenzy. Another standout performance came from Singaporean actress and singer Tasha Low. Fresh off the Star Awards stage where she took home the Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes trophy, it was easy to see why. She performed her new single Everything You Wanted, before bringing out her surprise guest for a duet. Who knew Emerald Hill co-star Tyler Ten, who won Best Rising Star and Most Popular Rising Stars at the recent Star Awards, was a singer too? The duo performed the theme song from the drama series, as fans cheered for their on-stage chemistry, rooted in their on-screen partnership. Before leaving the stage, Low hinted that she and Ten would be collaborating again for an upcoming drama series, much to fans' delight. Earlier in the afternoon too, local busker Jeff Ng serenaded an outdoor crowd with popular songs, including a soulful rendition of Taylor Swift's Love Story and Bruno Mars' Just the Way You Are. It's Giving Fest on Saturday also spotlighted eight original short films and five songs created by youths around the theme "building our Singapore together". Under the SG60 Flex Your Passion Open Call and Mentorship Programme, these students from Institutes of Higher Learning were guided by film mentors such as He Shuming, Don Aravind, Tariq Mansor and Nicole Midori Woodford, as well as music mentors Shazza, Lullaboy and Shye. 'Events like these help us grow our confidence, especially when we see our work showcased to a wider audience. The entire community is here with us, and it feels great to see the support we get," shared Krisha, one of the creators behind the short film Lion Heart. Other highlights on Saturday included two cosplay runway shows - one organised by Pause for a Cause, Singapore's first cosplay volunteer community. The group uses cosplay to raise funds and bring joy to others, such as via hospital visits for children. The second was an independent showcase featuring a diverse cast of cosplayers, each bringing beloved characters to life with extensive detail in costumes and makeup. Said Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo: "This SG60 festival is a showcase and celebration of our youth's immense creativity, and desire to give back to the community. This is part of the government's effort to give our youths a stronger voice for their hopes and dreams, a platform to put their passion into action, and enable youths to take the lead in social and community action.' It's Giving Fest will continue on Sunday from 11am to 9.30pm at *SCAPE, including a fresh lineup for Mediacorp's Cloud 9 concert starting at 7pm. Attendees can look forward to performances by local singers like Benjamin Kheng, Shazza, Fariz Jabba and more. It's Giving Fest is organised by in partnership with SG Youth Plan and Mediacorp Cloud 9.
CNA
11 hours ago
- CNA
Diversity and inclusivity among the 3,000 participants at the National Day Parade show
Around 3,000 participants are gearing up to celebrate Singapore's 60th birthday in this year's National Day Parade show. These youths, seniors and persons with disabilities are preparing to deliver messages of diversity and inclusivity, with props personalised to each performer.
Straits Times
19 hours ago
- Straits Times
Exhibition marking The Straits Times' 180th anniversary opens on July 12 at Jewel Changi
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The exhibition is equipped with interactive features that allow visitors to flip through thousands of front pages and participate in a Reporter-In-Training quest. SINGAPORE – An avid reader of the news, Mrs Wendy Yap took a bus on Saturday to Jewel Changi Airport, to be among the first at The Straits Times' 180th anniversary exhibition. The 57-year-old primary school mathematics teacher said she has the ST app, but still prefers the physical copy. 'It is my routine to read ST every morning. Once, the newspaper wasn't delivered to my home and I felt like something was off that day,' said Mrs Yap, who added that she feels a sense of pride when the newspaper is distributed to passengers on all Singapore-bound SIA flights. She especially likes the human-interest reports and enjoys trying food recommendations published in ST's Life! section. Mrs Yap highlighted two stories in particular: Mr Ricqo Rafiezuwan , who used to be a stateless unemployed youth, and is now a permanent resident and Mr Hsu Hu-Chin, who found his mother – a former SIA stewardess - after his story appeared in ST . 'I wanted to be at the exhibition to see more of the stories ST has covered over the years - different events in history and how the stories actually unfolded. 'I'm glad ST's articles has had an impact on people's lives,' she said, adding that she looks forward to reading profile features every weekend. The exhibition takes visitors through eras the nation has experienced. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Like Mrs Yap, several other visitors at the roving exhibition at South Gateway Garden at Jewel Changi Airport, said they were intrigued by the range of stories the publication has covered over the years. Ms Cheong Yin Ping , a r etired bank worker in her 60s , liked the interactive features, which she felt would do well in keeping the younger visitors engaged. Her favourite part was when she created her own front page. 'In this age, people usually need instantaneous response, since their attention spans are shorter,' said Mrs Cheong. Others like Mr Albert La i liked the interactive display comparing photographs of places in Singapore then and now, including landmarks like Clarke Quay, Bukit Batok Hill and the Padang. 'Because we forget the past sometimes, and now (this display) helps us to remember and see the changes,' added the 52-year-old sales executive . For J arred Loo , 17 , his favourite part of the exhibition was the comic-book style panels that showed how the newsroom transformed from producing print-only papers to multi-media news formats. The secondary school student said he has often reads ST, to expand his knowledge of current affairs. Visitors at an interactive section of the exhibition. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM Adult visitors were treated to a complimentary tote bag and notebook upon completing activities at three checkpoints, while children were presented with a specially designed sticker set. Titled Heartbeats and Headlines: 180 Years of Telling The Singapore Story , the roving exhibition organised by ST is equipped with interactive features that allow visitors to flip through thousands of front pages and participate in a Reporter-In-Training quest. Adult visitors were treated to a complimentary tote bag and notebook upon completing activities at three checkpoints, while children were presented with a specially designed sticker set. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM The exhibition takes visitors through eras the nation has experienced: war and occupation in 1942 , the beginning of Housing Board flats in 1960 , the nation's dramatic exit from Malaysia in 1965 , the very first MRT trains starting service in 1987 , as well as national football team Singapore's Lions' victory in the Malaysia Cup in 1994, which sparked the rise of the 'kallang roar'. It also showcases headlines that ST delivered when the world ushered in the millennium, ranging from the Singapore Airlines SQ006 crash in Taiwan in 2000 , the nation's largest manhunt for Mas Selamat Kastari who broke out of detention in 2008 , Singapore's first Olympic gold medal won by national swimmer Joseph Schooling in 2016 , the pandemic Covid-19 that brought the world to a standstill from 2020 to 2022 , to the present. The exhibition is held at Jewel Changi Airport from July 12 to 20, and will shift to Westgate from July 25 to Aug 3, before settling at Raffles City Shopping Centre from Aug 8 to 17. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM The exhibition also chronicles the evolution of ST from a newspaper of record to a multi-platform media outlet in today's digital age. One section displays readers' fondest memories of ST, and the lives of those transformed after being featured in its pages. The exhibition is held at Jewel Changi Airport from July 12 to 20 , and will shift to Westgate from July 25 to Aug 3 , before settling at Raffles City Shopping Centre from Aug 8 to 17 .
