34 local trailblazing women and the inspiring stories they’ve shared with us

Respectively, head barista at Amber Ember and owner of Waga Waga Den

Have you ever stopped and wondered where baristas go for their coffee? We have. After all, they spend countless hours brewing for others. So, whether it is an order of espresso, cappuccino, or even complex filter coffees, trust the bean maestros to sniff out a caffeine fix that can turn a frown upside down. But there's more to it than just picking a favourite joint. While we wait on a brew, Elizabeth Quek, head barista at Amber Ember, and Sam Chua, the accidental restaurateur who also owns Waga Waga Den, share about coffee culture, light-hearted encounters, and why people should care about drinking at local coffee shops.  

Why should people care about drinking at local coffee shops?

Elizabeth: This is such an important question. There are so many reasons but if I were to pick one, it would be for the sustainability of ethically sourced, quality coffee beans. Most local specialty coffee shops source their beans from roasters who liaise directly with cooperatives and farmers, which promotes fair trade practices, ensuring the farmers are being paid a fair price for their crops.

From the hand-picking of the coffee cherries to the time it is being served to our guests, each process is handled with much care and expertise. As such, supporting your local coffee shop ensures the sustainable cycle of coffee-growing industries from all over the world.

Sam: When you drink coffee at a local coffee shop, you are doing more than just getting a simple caffeine fix. You are in essence, supporting an entire supply chain that includes everyone from the barista to the cashier to the farmers that grow the coffee beans — so your cup of coffee actually contributes to their livelihood as well. You are also contributing to the cafe scene by supporting the craft of coffee-making and the baristas who’ve trained for years to select the best coffee beans and brew you a quality cup.

Take us at Waga Waga Den, for instance. We are trained to craft a cup that also expresses the best of a coffee bean’s quality. So whether you order an oat milk latte, an espresso, or a cold brew, know that we have taken the time to select the right coffee bean for the right brewing method of coffee.

Read the full interview here. 

Macaron-shaped baby faces, dumplings filled with miniature human heads and bodily organs nestled in a bun – welcome to the world of Qixuan Lim, better known as Qimmyshimmy. The Singaporean artist is known for her striking sculptures that are creepy, captivating, and cute all at once. Her three-dimensional artworks often see babies, food and sweets in a morbid combination of bodily organs and disjointed infant limbs. Qixuan crafts the 3D pieces during her free time at her home studio. Her miniature sculptures, which are described by many as "creepy-cute", create thought-provoking conversations between people. She loves to shock people with her signature sculptures that have a touch of macabre, and her openness to criticism and celebration of divided opinions highlight her mission to make art come alive. 

What do you find in challenging and provoking society by presenting artworks that make people feel uncomfortable?

Contrary to what many might think, I have never sought to challenge or provoke others with my work. It was only after my works gained traction online that I realised how polarising my works can be. I love this quote by Cezar A Cruz “Art should comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable.” People online are so quick to judge whatever they see online these days. Being uncomfortable about something isn’t always a bad thing, but I feel that it is more important to have these conversations with people who see things differently from you.

Read the full interview here. 

Owner of bakery Alouette

These days, it’s dalgona coffee one day and a feta pasta bake the very next. But not everything is quite as fleeting: home bakers – they’re here to stay, with some having even set up brick-and-mortar stores following their online success. Alouette, a tiny bakery along Arab Street, is one such quintessential tale. It all started with owner Rachel Cheung’s love for cooking healthy recipes for her family and friends. Now, the cosy store handles a drawn-out two-month waitlist for its bestselling garlic buns and truffle camembert focaccia – we reached out to Rachel to see what all the hype was about. 

How did you grow your online business into a physical store?

I’m super thankful for family support. Initially, my husband wanted me to focus on our kids – but that way, you kind of lose who you are? But no matter what, he knows that I’ve found my calling in life. I love baking. After trying, I got very obsessed. 

I’ve also been blessed because my customers are amazing. They’re the ones who give me inspiration for my products. For instance, our truffle cheesecake, right? One of my customers had bought a truffle ice cream for me – she said “this ice cream is so nice, why not try to make it?” I tried and bought an ice cream machine. But I didn’t have time to make it, so I thought, why not a truffle cheesecake? 

My customers have even offered to build a support system when my online ordering platform crashed – they were worried about nasty customers who would scold me. Some even offered to come back, to do the work to actually fulfil orders. 

Read the full interview here. 

Emerging young artist

Bold, surreal, and unabashed. These three words perfectly capture rising artist Vanessa Liem's works, if you ask us. A Visual Arts graduate from the School of Arts, Singapore's (SOTA) International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP), Vanessa's star has been rising since 2019, when she won Gold in the prestigious UOB Painting of the Year, Emerging Category. In her second showcase at Cuturi Gallery, she takes us on a journey through heartbreak and loss, numbness and dissociation, the search for comfort, and ultimately – the reclamation of her mental health.

Your second solo exhibition is at Cuturi Gallery. What was the inspiration behind the series?

I think during this period I met a lot of people and developed relationships with different people – good and bad. Some broke apart and are traumatic, some simply drifted, and some remained. I also find myself meeting new people, like a cycle...developing a relationship with myself, who I am, my identity and stuff like that (especially when I graduated and ultimately became my own person). I think all of this affects and plays a part in our mental health, just trying to navigate life with different people and ourselves. The circuit breaker also played a big part, because I was forced to stay home where outside distractions were taken away from me and I had to face myself and whatever was happening in my head. 

Read the full interview here. 

Co-founders of Moom

There has never been a better time to get into the habit of staying healthy. Everyone has their own way of keeping well, but the key is consistency – which is what the personalised platform Moom is about. Started by two sisters, Mili and Maya Kale, Moom aims to transform women's health from one-size-fits-all to a more tailor-made approach. From expert-backed questionnaires and personalised recommendations to nifty daily sachets and delivered monthly to the doorstep, Moom is making self-care more convenient and accessible than ever. 

What would you say is Moom’s wellness culture?

Possible, not perfect. Enjoy your glass of wine, your chocolate, your french fries; just remember to also make time for your daily dose of vitamins and minerals, some kind of movement, and enough water! We don’t believe in extremes and think that wellness should be a daily experience and that your self-care rituals don’t need to make you feel like you need to change who you are – they work with what you got!

Healing starts from within. It seems like an obvious one, but understanding that everything starts with you and your needs. Be it physical, mental, or emotional, it is so important that you know how to appreciate yourself in its entirety and accordingly advocate for what you need.

Read the full interview here. 

Co-founders of sustainable lifestyle label Our Barehands

It's not every day that three so-called millennials leave behind conventional career paths to start a social enterprise. But that's what Chanel Go, Germaine Lye and Mitchell Zachariah Hong did two years ago when they embarked on Our Barehands, a lifestyle label that produces apparel and accessories in partnership with artisan communities around the region. Having worked on social projects around the region, the three were inspired by the traditional crafts, unseen skills and untold stories they witnessed – seeing the potential for them to bridge that with needed resources while providing Singaporeans with sustainable lifestyle alternatives. 

Work with dignity

The ideas of 'dignity' and 'collaboration' come to the fore when the co-founders talk about their work.

"It's a constant conversation," says Germaine. Starting from a needs assessment, Our Barehands figures out the best way to help – whether it's upskilling, design input, resource building or market access that the artisans need – ultimately working towards the point that the communities can use their skills to support themselves. 

As Germaine puts it, one of the most humbling things about working with artisan groups is learning to respect their needs and goals – and being careful not to impose personal ideals. 

"Coming from different worlds, our upbringing, our background and our ideals are different," she says. "It takes time and patience to understand where the artisan group is coming from and what they are trying to achieve, and if we can actually be of value."

Read the full interview here. 

The dream team behind the food quarterly Seasonings 

Food has the power to bring people and communities together. In Singapore, festivals and celebrations are the best times for families and close friends to gather – to show their love, to feel grateful and also to feed. Food connoisseur Pamelia Chia (of online platform Singapore Noodles and also the author of From Wet Market to Table) and local illustrator Hafizah Jainal have formed a formidable alliance to shed light on the festivals of Singapore through a new food quarterly quite validly called Seasonings. We catch up with the duo on the first issue and more. 

Tell us more about the platform Singapore Noodles.

Pam: Singapore Noodles is an online resource on Singaporean food that shares heritage recipes and conversations with food artisans to preserve and keep alive. I always felt that there is a lack of a gold-standard, trusted recipe resource when it comes to Singaporean recipes. When we want to make a good oyakodon or aglio olio, there are great blogs or online resources that we turn to, such as Just One Cookbook or Bon Appetit. I saw a gap – there was no equivalent for Singaporean recipes. Though there are YouTube channels that specialise in Singaporean cuisine, they tend to focus on the best hits or easy recipes and omit the traditional dishes that tend to be more laborious. 

Read the full interview here.

Musician and visual artist behind the multidisciplinary project Wallflowers

On an island so small, it's easy to think we've seen just about everything it has to offer. Wallflowers: The Sights and Sounds of Singapore wants to change your mind on that. This bootstrapping group of young artists – including local musician Cheng Jin An and visual artist Elisa Liu – are all about making the ordinary, extraordinary. Like a local – and more artistic – Avengers, they've put their myriad talents together to film and record the everyday sights and sounds of Singapore that are often overlooked. With their lens, boom microphone, painting brush and some production pizzaz, the team's short documentary snippets and soundtracks from our beloved neighbourhoods will make you see this little red dot anew.

Singaporeans are mighty proud of their neighbourhoods

“When we posted on Reddit, a lot of people reflected that they’ve been living in Toa Payoh their whole lives and they felt like our video was a great reflection of the place they live in. They started to share their feelings for their neighbourhood,” said Jin An.

Maybe, we just need to slow down and appreciate it. “I think our lives are just too fast-paced... And with phones, people tend to be looking at it and not observing their surroundings.”

Elisa adds, "Even if for a moment, you think "wow, the birdsong is very nice", then that would be great.”

Co-founders of Chellamey Books

While English interactive books for children flood the market, the ones in Tamil are few and far between. For young Tamil parents who are eager to enrich their kids’ education at home, this lack is a source of frustration and anxiety. Enter Chellamey Books, started by childhood friends Usha and Razmiah. This newly launched publisher bridges the gap with Tamil-language interactive books for children. Co-founded by childhood friends and young mothers Usha and Razmiah, here you’ll find books with all the cool bells and whistles – tabs to pull, flaps to lift, textures to explore, and even QR codes that lead you to digital translations and transliterations. 

What drove the decision to launch Chellamey Books?

Usha: There is a big fear of losing touch with Tamil. Razmiah and I are both good at writing Tamil, but you would never catch us speaking it. It’s later on that we realised how beautiful the language is, and how much of our culture and tradition is tied to the language. There are so many things you say in Tamil that can never be captured in English, so just the fact that we could lose all that if our children don’t appreciate the language really drove me.

Razmiah: Same – it took me 18 years of my life to love the Mother Tongue that I had. It was only when I took Tamil literature that I started really enjoying Tamil plays and poetry and appreciating its beauty. I don’t want my children to wait 18 years to learn to love their own Mother Tongue – I want to give them opportunities at a young age to realise that damn, this language is really beautiful.

Read the full interview here. 

Singer-songwriter

Growing up is hard to do, especially when it's happening in the limelight. Handling it with grace and finesse is none other than 19-year-old singer and producer Shye-Anne Brown, who began her rise to local pop darling at the tender age of 16. Since then, she's gone on to release a debut album, win multiple music awards, and perform on the national stage. With the release of her sophomore album hello TRINITY, Shye redefining herself – and the local music scene along with it. 

Now, your latest album hello TRINITY is about being "lost and found". What was the emotional journey like for you from the first to second album?

I think the first album was more coming-of-age. It was about finding my own identity as a teenager, with my own insecurities and pressures. days to morning glory is sort of the baby of hello TRINITY. There's a growth from that album to this one – from when you first become a teenager to your last year as a teenager. So, this album is about how I finally found myself. I'm finally confident and comfortable in my own skin, and I do think the songs themselves come across a little more confident compared to days to morning glory. That was a bit more mellow and shy, like I was still unsure of the unknown. hello TRINITY is a bit more assertive and like... 'Hello!', yeah. 

Read the full interview here. 

The team behind local candle brand Carrom 

Manasa, Aditi and Lathika, along with their friend Adithya, are the dream team behind new local candle brand Carrom. Kept apart from family in India by travel restrictions during the pandemic, the four were inspired to start a candle brand with scents inspired by home. Since launch, the team have touched the hearts of the diaspora community in Singapore with their nostalgic fragrances – and are expanding their impact through collaborations with small businesses in India as well as boutiques in Singapore.

Scent memory 

Manasa, Aditi, Adithya and Lathika launched Carrom in July this year as a sort of collective remembrance. "Carrom was born out of the pandemic and feeling distant from home," says Aditi over a video call interview. "All of us have strong ties with our extended families and we're now living quite far away from them. Starting Carrom was a way for us to feel close to them."

Carrom's first release consisted of hand-poured soy wax candles in powerful and distinctive fragrances. The candles – Alamari, Beeda, Lalbagh, Malgova and Thillana – each bring up rich memories of South Asia for the four friends.

As you can imagine, the candles have been well-received among the Indian diaspora community in Singapore who have an immediate emotional connection to Carrom's fragrances. But what was surprising and flattering for the founders was the warm reception they've received among those who may not be so familiar with Indian culture. 

"Having others outside the community reading about the background to our scents, how we came up with them, and relating to that has been really special to see," shares Aditi. 

Read the full interview here. 

Co-founder and director of Yoga Movement 

Homegrown lifestyle boutique Yoga Movement (YM) has been quite the powerhouse on the local fitness scene. The brand recently opened its seventh and eighth studios at the charming Serangoon Gardens and the buzzy Tanjong Pagar.  The woman behind the brand is none other than Alicia Pan. She wears many hats – as co-founder and director of the brand, veteran yoga teacher, and also mother of two. Alicia has left an indelible mark on YM, stamping her love of good music, good food, and good vibes in every aspect of how the label has grown – and she doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon.

Let’s talk about you – has your approach to wellness changed during the pandemic? What’s your must-do wellness ritual?

If there is anything that I can point to, it is the fact that I have definitely been a little bit kinder to myself with regards to my expectations of myself, both mentally as well as physically, during the pandemic. I used to be quite stringent with the need to push myself physically daily even with the heavy responsibility of the business and two kids. These days, while I continue to stay focused and motivated, I have accepted and acknowledged that there will be bad days and that it is okay to be sad or unhappy when the need arises. A five to 10-minute ‘clearing’ session with myself before I go to bed every night is something that I try to do so that I know that I can wake up aligned and feeling purposeful the next day.

Read the full interview here. 

Singer-songwriter

Shy, dreamy, frank, slyly funny – this cover song singer turned performer at the Gardens by the Bay and Mediacorp National Day Concert is slowly but surely stepping into the limelight – and her own. Kitty Purrnaz started out making covers of songs like Magnets by Disclosure and Stitches by Shawn Mendes on YouTube, before venturing into the world of music production with demos on Soundcloud. Perhaps it's too soon to call her a star, but something is definitely in the making, considering that her debut single 'cry' has garnered more than 600,000 streams on Spotify and picked up a couple of awards, including Best Indie Alternative Single of The Year at the Youth Music Awards 2021.

It seems that you're a pretty shy person. What is it like being thrust into the limelight?

My passion lies in the production side of things, like songwriting, music production, and sound engineering, but because I sing my songs I guess it’s expected that I perform them live. I just didn’t expect it to come really fast. But it's actually helped me get out of my comfort zone, and I don’t really view it as like ‘oh, now that I’ve performed at the National Day concert I’m a big star’. I’m still just the same as everyone – I still go to school, and I still take the MRT. As long as people still treat me the same…I don’t really want to be treated like I’m so important or superior.

Read the full interview here. 

Longtime skateboarder and sports ambassador at Decathlon 

Skateboarding is enjoying a resurgence here in Singapore, and now that it has made it to the Olympics, we expect that the sport will only go more mainstream. But long-time skateboarder Nurul Asyiqin (Qin) can attest that it wasn't always to easy. Seen as noisy trespassers and often having cops on their tail, skateboarders have always been cool – but not exactly welcome. As sport ambassador and resident skateboarder at Decathlon, Qin (along with colleagues like Khairul Azree), is trying to shift mindsets towards the sport. We catch up with her about what she loves about skateboarding, how she's helping to change perceptions towards it, and her favourite skateboarding hangouts in the city. 

Was it intimidating for you when you first started out in what seems to be a male-dominated sport?

Qin: For me, definitely. Guys tend to progress faster than girls, somehow. I think us ladies are more afraid to break our bones or whatever, but guys are unstoppable. Putting that aside, having guy skate friends has influenced me to be more tough. Even if I fall, I get back up. I try my best to keep up with them, and it makes you a stronger skater and person.

I'm glad there are more girls around now though. Everytime I see them around, I acknowledge them and tell them, "you can do this". It feels nice to see a female skater, because there weren't many back then. And we didn't even get to meet all the time, because I'm in the West and the others in the East or North. Now there are skater girls everywhere, and I'm glad – it's a good sport. 

Read the full interview here. 

Founder of batik label Baju by Oniatta

Batik is an ancient – and highly developed – art form where dye-resistant wax is used to create delicate patterns and designs on a piece of fabric. It requires a high level of technique, skill and also artistry which often goes unappreciated. Founder of local batik label Baju by Oniatta and store owner Oniatta Effendi is changing that narrative with her boutique Galeri Tokokita at Kampong Gelam where batik trading first started in Singapore.

How did your passion for batik start?

“I have always been wearing it and I'm drawn to batik – until it became quite an obsession. My love for batik grew deeper as I travelled more to Indonesia and got to know about the art and the makers. There was a sense of intrigue that got me talking to the makers for hours and listening to their stories, sometimes while they were working. I would buy batik from them because I genuinely liked the art and I think that's where I realised that I wanted to share these stories about them and about the batik motifs to a wider audience.”

Read the full interview here.

Award-winning actress

Siti Khalijah Zainal is a familiar face in Singapore's theatre scene. The Young Artist Award-winning actress broke into the scene in 2003, and has flexed her acting chops in various well-received plays including Gemuk Girls, How Did the Cat Get So Fat, Nadirah, Off Centre, as well as Model Citizens, which is set to be restaged at The Necessary Stage Black Box from March 24 to April 4.

What are your plans for the future?

“I keep thinking about how I started out (without any formal theatre training), and I would like to find these 'diamonds in the rough'. They're usually not given a chance because of how they perform academically or where they come from in terms of family background. I would like to give them hope and a space to explore because children from these backgrounds have talent and the biggest hearts.”

Read the full interview here.

Popstar, model and athlete

For almost a decade, the 20-year-old stunner has been on the cover of fashion magazines, posed for numerous brands, and is even en route to becoming the next face of Tik Tok with her viral-worthy videos. And if you haven’t clocked yet, she’s also the daughter of Singaporean football star Fandi Ahmad and South African model Wendy Jacobs. Recently, she has dropped her debut pop-R&B single Timeframe.

When was the first time you realised you wanted to be a musician? 

“I feel like it has always been something that I was passionate about. So when I was just about to turn 19, something told me to just try hopping into my very first studio to record a song and see how it goes. And from then on, I found the fun and loved the creativity in music.”

Read the full interview here.

Founder of thrift shop Threadlightly

Tucked away in a maze of shops in Queensway Shopping Centre, Threadlightly stocks pre-loved items, vintage-inspired pieces, and reworked t-shirts and bags. What’s special about this place is perhaps its community focus. 22-year-old Rin Azhar started it with the express desire to give back. Set aside the fact that thrifting itself is a sustainable practice – at Threadlightly, a portion of proceeds are donated to a different organisation every month.

On opening Threadlightly

“The idea of the store is to have a community-centred space, so being able to cater to people who want to be a part of the sustainable fashion chain is really important to me. I wanted to be able to do something related to fashion, and also be able to give back.”

Read the full interview here.

Author and humanitarian aid worker

Not all heroes wear capes – some take on the role of an aid worker and help people affected by man-made and natural disasters with food, support, resources, and more. And that’s what Linda Steinbock has been doing for about 10 years now. She has worked in disaster zones all over the world, and pours her energy into research on how children are affected by crises, including the coronavirus outbreak which is reflected in her children’s book Lockdown Hair.

What are some challenges you faced as a humanitarian aid worker?

“The Rohingya Refugee Crisis made the most significant mark on my life. The work pressure, responsibility and long hours were challenging enough. But I chose to lead my team with vulnerability and engage with children wholeheartedly. I heard their stories of survival and was compelled to amplify their voices. 

When the pandemic took hold of the world, I recognised my need and others' desire for safety, security, and hope for a bright future. I believe that in talking about hard things in an approachable way, Lockdown Hair will hopefully create an opportunity for children and their parents to explore their emotional response to a crisis.”

Read the full interview here.

Founders of activewear brand Sparks

New brand on the block Sparks recently launched in November last year as an activewear label that champions the active lifestyle while being invested in giving back to the community in Singapore and abroad including Myanmar, Nepal and Hong Kong. The label offers quality kits made from the soft and cotton-like Luxe-rib material and sustainable Tencel sans the hefty price tag, with a part of the proceeds donated to selected charities.

What sets Sparks apart from other local activewear brands? 

“We are not only promoting being active but also a lifestyle where self-care meets caring for the planet, so when you wear Sparks, you are not just wearing it for the quality and design but also to show that you care about making a difference with your conscious choices. We believe that everyone can make a difference, which is why we were quite set on keeping at a certain price that is accessible for everyone.”

Read the full interview here.

Transgender artist

Those who frequent independent galleries and art showcases have probably heard of Marla Bendini. A proud transgender artist, she delves into all forms of art-making – from painting to singing and playing the guzheng on streets and even pole dancing. Marla also co-founded Sisters in Solidarity (SIS), a group that aims to counter discrimination against transgender persons in Singapore.

What are the challenges you’ve faced as a transgender artist and creative in Singapore?

“I felt like I was always going to be punished or at a disadvantage for just being me. And then I decided, screw this. I have to start celebrating myself. Even though it’s painful, even though it’s difficult, even though I might say or do the wrong things. But it is my mistake for me to make.”

Read the full interview here.

Author, entrepreneur and GE2020 candidate (Red Dot United)

Dedicated to “all the women fighting the good fight”, Liyana Dhamirah's memoir Homeless navigates her experiences of being homeless at 22 and pregnant with her third child in a city like Singapore. It also touches on wealth inequality, and privilege in the country, so it’s no surprise that she ran for parliament with Red Dot United in last year’s General Election.

Never underestimate a woman

"What I really believe in is empowering women experiencing hardship. I want them to know that this is temporary and that there is indeed light at the end of the tunnel. As women, we sometimes don’t even realise our strength and potential, especially when faced with so much adversity. Not only do we have to deal with how society can discriminate against women but also women trampling on other women. I hope that sharing my story will help encourage and empower them. I want to remind them that there are small victories we can celebrate on this journey."

Read the full interview here.

Fine artist

Emerging fine artist Aisha Rosli is a young name in the scene, but she's already made waves following successful exhibitions at Cuturi Gallery last year. Her works have been featured in group exhibitions at Sangkring Art Space in Yogyakarta, Coda Culture in Singapore and Unit London in the UK. You'll see references to 20th-century painters Francis Bacon and Egon Schiele, as well as contemporaries such as Marlene Dumas.

When did you decide to be an artist?

“I can’t pinpoint when I decided to be an artist. But maybe it all started in secondary three when we had to choose if we wanted to specialise in art or design and technology. I chose art. I feel lucky that I was able to travel to Vienna for an exhibition with my school. I met different artists and saw different types of art, which was different from what I perceived art to be. My exposure to art in school was painting or drawing something realistic. I had never seen performance art or installations. From there, I followed my curiosity and ventured down that path.”

Read the full interview here.

Visual artist

With an ability to make anyone feel at ease, Soph's personality is just as colourful as her works – which you might have seen adorning the alleyways of Kampong Glam or music festivals like Neon Lights. Beyond being aesthetically pleasing, Soph's bold pieces tackle social issues head-on – one mural at a time.

What is it like to be an artist in Singapore?

“As artists in Singapore, we tend to self-censor. We can't really challenge the status quo and talk about politics or deeper issues. Everything ought to be pleasant and pleasing to the eye, and relatable to everyday life. I love everyday life, but art should be more than telling things as they are. It should be able to make you feel and dive into something deeper that words cannot describe.”

Read the full interview here.

Singer-songwriter

Singapore’s very own electro-soul-R&B darling Vandetta (real name Vanessa Fernandez) is nothing short of versatile. She was the vocalist of homegrown R&B outfits Urban Xchange and Parking Lot Pimp for more than a decade before moving onto her current lusher terrain. Back in December 2019, she repped the Lion City in the inaugural edition of The Alex Blake Charlie Sessions, a new music series by 24OWL that champions female-fronted acts.

What are your thoughts on female-fronted festivals?

“I think it’s great because it’s both clever and brave to do an all-female festival. There’s a lot of conversations about diversity both in terms of line-up and whoever the programmers are. I don’t think there’s a lot of such festivals, so I think it’s really cool.”

Read the full interview here.

Co-Founder of multi-label green lifestyle store The Green Collective SG

When it comes to eco-warriors in Singapore, Agatha Lee is in the front line leading the charge. A co-founder of Singapore’s first multi-brand green lifestyle store, The Green Collective SG, Agatha’s contributions to the conscious-living movement run deep, way before sustainability and metal straws became buzzwords in the retail space – she was a former senior policy executive at the National Environment Agency.

On sustainable living

“Sustainable living means being mindful of the impact your lifestyle has on the environment and making informed choices to reduce it. Before you think it’s just another fad Singapore is picking up on, it’s not. The need to change the way we live now is not only inevitable, it’s imperative.”

Read the full interview here.

Author

Always rooting for the underdog, award-winning author Balli Kaur Jaswal uses the power of storytelling to transport readers to alternate worlds where everything works out in the end. It’s an ethos that forms the core of her novels like Erotic Stories for Punjabi Women – a Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club Pick that’s also been picked up by Scott Free Productions and Film4 in the UK for a film adaptation.

On the inspirations behind her novels

“I like to highlight the stories of invisible or marginalised people, especially women in communities that claim to be inclusive but ignore people who don’t quite fit in. That’s the lens I like to put in my writing: looking at the stories that we don’t see in the common narrative about places and people.”

Read the full interview here.

Photographer

Singapore-born, New York-based photographer Lenne Chai has established herself as one of Singapore's highly-sought after fashion photographers. Her works – which have appeared in several publications around the world like Esquire Singapore, Tidal Magazine and Issue Magazine – evoke a dreamy mood, with a focus on the play of lights and colours. She's photographed both local and international names the likes of Sonia Chew and Nadia Rahmat to Richard Ellis, Dylan Sprouse and even Lil Miquela.

On activism and art

“The civil rights of LGBTQIA+ Singaporeans, recycling and waste, and creating a sustainable working infrastructure for creatives in Singapore are important causes to me. The favourite thing I’ve ever shot is definitely An Issue Wedding, a fictional lesbian wedding I dreamt up in support of, and also inspired by, the 377A repeal petition.”

Read the full interview here.

Author

Becoming an author is not an easy feat. But in 2013, literary wunderkind Amanda Lee Koe published Ministry of Moral Panic when she was 25. A year after, she won the Singapore Literature Prize for the collection of short stories. Now the author has set her sights beyond Singapore, moving to New York and launching her debut novel, Delayed Rays of A Star, which is published under Doubleday’s literary imprint Nan A. Talese – the same name that’s represented literary geniuses like Margaret Atwood, Jennifer Egan, and Ian McEwan.

How did growing up in Singapore influence your writing style?

“Basic education system aside, to grow up in Singapore is also to be exposed to a wonderfully messy polyglossia of cultures, palettes and appetites. This makes you the arbiter of your own style across a broad range of possible influences, both Eastern and Western. You knew your Teresa Teng, but you also knew your Billie Holiday.”

Read the full interview here.

Dancer

Started as a tiny dancer at four, Sandhya Suresh has gone on to perform on stages all around the world. But when she turned 21, she fell critically ill and was told that she might never be able to dance again – but her heart told her otherwise. Eight years after the scare, she’s not just a dancer but also a teacher and company manager at CHOWK, an established dance company founded in 2007 by Raka Maitra, a fellow Odissi performer. The centre offers classes and produces contemporary and classical dance works that have been commissioned by theatres and festivals in Singapore.

How do you explore difficult topics through dance? 

“I work with imagery. I like to mentally list down words that best describe what I’m trying to say, and think of different images that would effectively portray them. Imagery gives me the scope to be more imaginative and experimental. I embody movements and gestures, and aim to evoke a feeling within the audience. Personally, it is not important for the audience to completely get or understand the meaning behind each movement or gesture. I use my choreography as a tool to question these difficult topics and not to provide any answers. As humans, we are all curious at the end of the day.”

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Presenter and Singapore’s only woman race car driver

If she’s not in the passenger seat, she’s either hosting events or leading a high-octane life on-track, and even off-track. As Singapore’s only female race car driver, she has won her first podium placing of second at the Malaysian Formula One support race, and was awarded by the Singapore Motor Sport Association for Outstanding Achievement (Car). Together with hubby (also a racer) Yuey Tan, she runs The Karting Arena @ Bukit Timah.

Have you always had a need for speed?

“I've always been involved in extreme sports since young, so the science of driving really intrigued me. I never looked back racing behind a wheel and talking about racing behind the microphone.”

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Filmmaker

More local female film directors are gaining traction in our admittedly small film industry – and that’s a good thing, considering their male counterparts have dominated the scene for years now. Kirsten Tan’s first feature film Pop Aye was selected for Cannes Film Festival 2015’s 11th Cinefondation L’Atelier and won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury award for screenwriting at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.

What are your thoughts on pushing boundaries as a female director in a male-dominated industry? 

“Gender balance has come a long way but statistically speaking, the odds are still not great for the female filmmaker, even in Hollywood. It’s almost inevitable that we [female directors] come under more scrutiny and judgment. Still, it’s enough for me to do my best work quietly in my own way and challenge unconscious bias that may come along.”

Read the full interview here.

Poet

A name at the forefront of Singapore's literary scene is India-born, Singapore-raised poet Pooja Nansi. Heartfelt and unbelievably sincere, her words encourage all to be in touch with their emotions. She has published two collections of poetry, Stiletto Scars and Love is An Empty Barstool, and co-edited SingPoWriMo: The Anthology, and co-authored Local Anaesthetic: a Painless Approach to Singaporean Poetry, a teacher’s resource for Singaporean poetry.

What’s it like to be a minority and woman in the local literary scene? 

Being a minority sometimes means you get unfairly tasked with holding the mantle for an entire community. That's because minority voices are still under represented in the English literary scene. I can as much speak for the entire Indian community with all our differences and diversities as a Chinese poet can be expected to represent every Chinese individual in Singapore. And yet, so often you get labelled as "the voice of" which does not allow for true representation and is problematic. 

Being a woman in the literary scene means having to constantly justify why writing about the personal is as important and political as writing about national monuments. It means that when you do write about national monuments, you can expect critique that your work does not display enough emotion or feeling as a woman's work should. I do wonder why nobody asks men what it's like to be a man in any given landscape. It's telling of the fact that we still persist in seeing women as outside of the status quo.”

Read the full interview here.

Award-winning pastry chef

Besides 2am:dessert bar in Holland Village, Janice Wong also dishes out sweet treats at her eponymous retail store in Orchard, featuring familiar sweets like lollipops, chocolates and marshmallows, but with an artistic twist. You can always look forward to cakes baked in the shape of balls, marshmallow paintings – which you can pick at with your fingers – and coloured chocolate paints with which art and food enthusiasts can DIY their own edible art.

Do you think the pastry industry gets the recognition it deserves in Singapore? 

“Yes absolutely, Singapore is a trendsetting city for the up-and-coming patisserie landscape. Singapore displays a dynamic contrast in the industry with a wide range of offerings. There are the traditional patisseries that have been for decades, and also a wave of new enterprising creatives.”

Read the full interview here.