Stephanie Sun. Photo by Thejymw. Wikimedia
Top 10 Amazing Facts about Stephanie Sun
After graduating from Nanyang Technological University with a degree in business studies, the super-talented singer-songwriter launched her career with Yan Zi in 2000. Her debut album was followed in 2000 by My Desired Happiness, which cemented her status as The One to Watch.
Stefanie won several Best Newcomer awards that year, and her first three albums sold 1.5 million copies by September 2001. Her World Young Woman Achiever (2001) was a hit in Singapore, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, and Malaysia. Of course, there are her National Day Parade theme songs, which almost every Singaporean can sing with gusto. She’s flamboyant and energetic.
1. Warner Bros. in Singapore signed her due to her exceptional talent
Warner Bros. Animation logo. Photo by Raúl Santos Cajo. Wikimedia
At a time when well-known international labels rarely signed local artists, Warner Music Group in Singapore decided to make an exception for Stefanie. Kathleen Tan, the company’s then-managing director, told The New Paper that “Stefanie Sun has sheer talent that money can’t buy.” “She would not be where she is today if I, as managing director, and my counterpart in Taiwan did not believe in that talent,” she adds. Stefanie also got her big break thanks to her mentors Lee Wei Song and Lee Si Song, who approached Warner Music Singapore for a recording contract in 1999.
2. In Taiwan, a man brandishing a gun interrupted her autograph session
A man allegedly stormed an autograph session in 2000 and attempted to hold Stefanie hostage with a gun. At the Sogo Department Store in Chungli, a town near Taipei, he rushed on stage, grabbed Stefanie, and fired a shot in the air. Security guards allegedly subdued the man, who was suspected of being mentally ill, and handed him over to police.
3. Stephanie’s first single was released in an unusual manner
Stefanie was no ordinary starlet, with a down-to-earth demeanor and a raw, fresh-faced girl-next-door appeal. The label decided to introduce her in a more creative way, by recording a sample of her song, Cloudy Sky, and having it played on music-related websites as well as Warner Music’s official homepage. Except for the singer’s name and the song title, little was revealed, and it was accompanied by the tagline, “There’s never been before a 22-year-old singer like this girl,” according to Kathleen Tan. The song was played nonstop and quickly went viral, piquing people’s interest. Everything else is history.
4. She married her Dutch-Indonesian husband in secret
Wedding bands. Photo by Deena Englard. Unsplash
Stefanie secretly registered her marriage to Dutch-Indonesian Nadim Van Der Ros, whom she had been dating for five years, in March 2011. He’s not in the entertainment industry; instead, he’s the founder of Be an Idea, a brand strategy consultancy that helps people have better conversations for positive change.
5. Stephanie Sun is extremely private when it comes to her children
Stefanie rarely shows her two children’s faces — a six-year-old boy and a girl born in July 2018. She prefers to keep that aspect of her life private. They always appear from the back, side, or with their faces hidden behind a cartoonish substitute or with something covering their faces.
Surprisingly, despite the fact that she is frequently seen out and about in town with her son, there are no photos of them on the internet. In an interview, she expressed her gratitude to those who respect her privacy.
6. She has an orchid named after her, as well as a wax statue
Dendrobium Stefanie Sun. Photo by Marcin Konsek. Wikimedia
Stefanie was the first local celebrity to have an orchid named after her, the Dendrobium Stefanie Sun, in 2006, as a testament to her star power and popularity.
She also has a wax figure of herself at Madame Tussauds Singapore, which depicts her signature look for her 2014 Kepler World Tour (aka the bright orange hair), as well as a black fringed singlet, leather leggings, Alexander Wang shoes, and a crystal-encrusted microphone. Stef was reportedly involved in the creative process, and the figurine took four months to complete and costs $300,000.
7. Stephanie Sun was named Her World Young Woman Achiever in 2001
Stephanie Sun. Photo by Thejymw. Wikimedia
At the age of 23, the local singing sensation was already a huge success in Taiwan, Beijing, and Hong Kong. She surpassed Kit Chan, Mavis Hee, and Tanya Chua to become the most successful local singer in less than two years. Among her many honors is the title of local Favorite Music Artiste at the first MTV Asia Awards.
Stefanie had a big year in 2001. She was nominated in six categories for the 12th Taiwan Golden Melody Awards, and she won three of them, including Best Newcomer (for Sun Yanzi album), Best Composer (for “The Happiness I Want”), and Best Composition (for “Dark Days” in Sun Yanzi album), beating out big names like Na Ying, Karen Mok, and Jay Chou.
Her World, Singapore’s largest women’s magazine, named her our Young Woman Achiever the same year. “You don’t need an award or status to have achieved something,” she says of defining accomplishments. I would consider myself successful if I had a balanced life, which included being satisfied with my job, having strong family ties, and having someone to love.”
8. She struggled with Mandarin
Mandarin and English meaning. Photo by MediaProduction. Unsplash
Stefanie appeared on Taiwanese host Jacky Wu’s popular variety show, Jacky Go Go Go, as a rookie looking to build a foundation in the entertainment industry. During his appearance, Stefanie had difficulty understanding his questions, prompting him to remark, “Why are the newcomers so stupid nowadays?”
According to Stefanie, that quick statement, which Jacky said was made in jest for entertainment value, was “a slap in the face.” Stefanie, on the other hand, saw this as a learning opportunity and redoubled her efforts to master her mother tongue.
9. Stephanie Sun has previously struggled with mental health issues
Mental Health. Photo by Total Shape. Unsplash
Celebrities are not immune to mental health issues. Stefanie Sun revealed this in a 2020 interview with Pin Prestige while supporting Beyond The Label, a movement led by the National Council of Social Service to combat mental health stigma.
She said that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to everyone’s mental health issues, but she didn’t want to let herself, her family, or the public down.
10. She’s an entrepreneur
During her year off in 2003, Stefanie founded her own talent management agency and production company, Make Music. According to the company’s website, Stefanie appears to be the only artist they manage.
Planning a trip to Paris ? Get ready !
These are Amazon’s best-selling travel products that you may need for coming to Paris.
Bookstore
- The best travel book : Rick Steves – Paris 2023 – Learn more here
- Fodor’s Paris 2024 – Learn more here
Travel Gear
- Venture Pal Lightweight Backpack – Learn more here
- Samsonite Winfield 2 28″ Luggage – Learn more here
- Swig Savvy’s Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle – Learn more here
Check Amazon’s best-seller list for the most popular travel accessories. We sometimes read this list just to find out what new travel products people are buying.