In honour of International Women’s Day, we reached out to some of Hong Kong’s most empowering female founders to hear more about their journey. Some of these influential business owners have fought to find a place in male-dominated industries, while others are actively reclaiming and reinventing spaces that have previously been reserved for old-school views on femininity.

Sassy Media Group was built for women, by women so we’re taking the 8th of March as another day to appreciate what our fully female team works to achieve, and to proudly spotlight some of the inspiring woman we’ve had the privilege of working with by showcasing what they bring to the Hong Kong community.

Read More: Here’s What It’s Really Like To Be A Woman Working In A Male-Dominated Field

Claire Yates, Founder of The Lion Rock Press and Roksaan

How do you use your brand/role to support women?
It is no accident that of our team of 12, 10 of them are women. Of our creators, collaborators and consignees, the vast majority are women. Even our suppliers are predominantly women. In a world where diversity and inclusion are increasingly recognised as crucial components of success, for me, hiring, working with, encouraging and supporting women is business critical. Our brands, founded and run by women, embody the strength, resilience, and innovation that women bring to the table.

In order for our small but brilliant team of women to thrive and succeed, we’ve created a highly flexible environment where everyone’s diverse talents, range of perspectives, experiences and skills are valued and utilised to their fullest potential, and each person’s individual circumstances are considered and respected.

We have found that women offer unique insights and approaches that can lead to more effective problem-solving, innovation, and decision-making. Since our customer base is 75% women, this ensures that our business remains adaptable and responsive to the ever-evolving needs of our clients and market.

What’s a quote you live by?
“Never get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life”. As an entrepreneur, it is easy for the lines to blur between your business and the rest of your life. You can get very focused (to the point of obsession) and you need to be actively keeping yourself in check. It is nearly impossible to find the perfect balance however –  it’s a constant work in progress.

Talk us through a pivotal moment in your life, where women helping women led to success.
As well as running The Lion Rock Press and Roksaan, I also co-founded an NGO called EcoDrive which tackles the issue of single-use plastic here in Hong Kong. I teamed up with 10 other women from a variety of backgrounds, but what we all have in common is that we are mothers who care deeply about the legacy we are leaving for our children.

We could never have dreamed that we would achieve all we have by helping each other shine and using our connections and influence to make change happen at individual, corporate, industry and community level. It has been one of the greatest privileges of my life to experience this alongside these incredible women.

Our film “Start Small, Start Now” has been played all over Hong Kong and beyond, and I have spoken in front of LegCo imploring them to bring in a policy to force people to confront their waste. Without the support and encouragement of my co-founders, none of this would have been possible.

Tell us about a woman you admire.
My domestic helper, Belle, left all her hopes and dreams for herself (not to mention her husband and young children) in the Philippines in order to come here to support her children, parents and extended family when times got tough at home. She is a very intelligent woman who spends her spare time going on courses to learn more about the things that interest her and that she hopes will sustain her when she eventually moves back.

Despite the hardships, she works diligently with energy and dignity in my home, allowing me to pursue my own dreams knowing that my children are nurtured and looked after when I’m not there. It must be agony to be trapped in a life you didn’t choose when you know you’re capable of so much more, but she does it with grace and fortitude.

What are three tips you’d give to aspiring female entrepreneurs?

1. Believe in yourself and your idea – as an entrepreneur, you’re the sole champion of your concept. Make sure you know it intimately and believe in your potential to bring it to life.
2. Use your network and your connections, and don’t be afraid to ask for the things you need, whether that be capital, knowledge, contacts or other resources. You will be surprised at how willing people are to reach out and help you get to the next level. Put yourself out there – if you don’t ask, you don’t get!
3. Have something to say. Entrepreneurs need a strong narrative that people can buy into. What is different about you? How did you get here? What are you offering that’s interesting and new? Share your story with people and allow them to emotionally invest in who you are and, in turn, what the values of your business are. Business is all about relationships and human connections, and entrepreneurs need to leverage that more than most. Don’t be afraid to show your vulnerabilities – people respond to that and, in the end, it makes your narrative more engaging.

Read More: 14 Uplifting Autobiographies & Memoirs By Remarkable Women

Madelon de Grave, Founder of Bamboo Scenes

How do you use your brand/role to support women?
With Bamboo Scenes we focus on strong artistic power, and I am very proud to have such fierce female talent within our collective. Among our artists, we represent a number of female photographers who all have their own incredible stories and experiences of Hong Kong. These creative women have decided to follow their passion – and I feel honoured to help them share their artistic work with an international audience and to turn their work into tangible photography art pieces for walls in Hong Kong and beyond. I can only hope this inspires other women to pursue their own personal dreams as well.

What’s a quote you live by?
“What would you do if you weren’t afraid?” A quote I first read in Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In” – a book advocating women empowerment and a sentence I realised I have lived by for years. From deciding to leave my Supply Chain Management career to pursue and discover my true passion, to moving to Buenos Aires, Guatemala and now Hong Kong (where I eventually launched my own art company).

If you always live by the fear of failing, you will never be able to realise your own dreams.

To keep reminding myself of this daily, I have placed this quote in my bathroom so I can read it every morning when brushing my teeth at the start of another day.

Talk us through a pivotal moment in your life, where women helping women led to success.
When living in Guatemala, I worked alongside Dutch-born Tessa de Goede – a powerful lady who I immensely respect. Tessa started her own charity organisation in 2008, helping Guatemalan children with cleft lips and palates by organising surgery and offering life-changing care. For almost a year and a half I was able to support her work and vision, giving those kids a better life and educating their mothers. To date, with her positive energy and effort, she has managed to offer life-changing surgeries to nearly 1,800 Guatemalan children, providing them a fair chance to live their life.

Tell us about a woman you admire.
I have lots of strong and independent women I admire in my personal life, from my mother to my female friends who are kicking ass in their corporate careers. But I also admire the women who have paved the way before me by building their own businesses from scratch. I continuously aim to learn from them by reading autobiographies or listening to talks and interviews.

What are three tips you’d give to aspiring female entrepreneurs?

1. Don’t be afraid to fail. A pitfall is to overthink fear, with “what if” becoming your biggest enemy. No one knows how life will unfold. If you believe something will work, overcome your fear and try it. Otherwise you will always live with a feeling of regret.
2. Surround yourself with the right people. Find people who believe in you, who are honest and from whom you can learn. There will be moments where you have doubts, and it’s your closest circle who will be there to lift you up and help you grow even further.
3. Dream BIG! Don’t shy away from daring to dream big and for saying it out loud. Lots of women shy away from what others might think. Who cares?! If you believe in it, work towards that goal and show them that dreams can never be too big.

Read More: Where To Buy Affordable Hong Kong-Themed Wall Art & Prints

Monica Browning, Founder of Courage Through Coaching

How do you use your brand/role to support women?
The work I do as a heart-centred leadership and life coach supports women in developing themselves, celebrating and building on their strengths, uncovering self-limiting beliefs, and showing up as their best selves. On the journey to transformation, I support women to navigate and explore what it feels like to make resonant impactful choices and decisions based on a solid understanding of their core values as they move towards their dreams, both professionally and personally. This work enables me to live and honour my values of courage, connection and health (physical, mental/emotional and spiritual), and to express my life purpose in inspiring others to live and love courageously and authentically.

What’s a quote you live by?
“Choose discomfort not resentment” – Brene Brown. I love this quote AND it puts me to the test many times a week (sometimes in a day) as I navigate the multiple decisions that I need to take in daily life. It keeps me grounded in my value of courage, and helps me to continually grow the self-awareness muscle. The “people pleaser” in me makes this a massive stretch and it is not something that comes very easily to me (although it’s getting easier with practice). I know this is also true for many of my clients.

Taking a pause, breathing and making a decision other than my well-trained “default” has resulted in huge gains and positive outcomes for me.

Talk us through a pivotal moment in your life, where women helping women led to success.
2019 was a pivotal year for me both professionally and personally. It was the year I founded and launched my business, whilst also tackling some personal health challenges. Professionally – I joined an inspirational group of female entrepreneurs called The Tribe HK, whose mission is to help entrepreneurs grow, especially in the area of digital development and education. Their knowledge, network and support has been invaluable and a key part of my success in launching my digital business. Personally, it is through the help of women supporting women that I’ve been able to share my personal health challenges in a non-judgemental, supportive and honest way, which ultimately allowed me to grow mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Tell us about a woman you admire.
Apart from my mum, a woman who I admire is Brene Brown – the researcher and storyteller. Her authenticity and her courage inspire me. Her ability to bring humour whilst sharing very personal, moving and sometimes challenging stories reveal her strength of character and humanity. Her TedTalks (especially her first one on the power of vulnerability), as well as her written material, reveal huge insights into human behaviour which are of personal interest to me in the work that I do. I use her research in my work and I also apply it to how I show up.

What are three tips you’d give to aspiring female entrepreneurs?

1. Ask for help – whatever the situation, whatever the time, whatever the place. Some things we just can’t do on our own.  There is no shame in asking for help and you’ll likely save time, learn new skills and build your own capability. It can also empower someone who is sharing their knowledge and helping you. It’s a win-win.
2. Be courageous – feel the fear and do it anyway, it helps us grow. The point where we stretch is the point where we grow. And yes, it’s scary, but you’ll never know if you don’t try. Consider the cost of not feeling the fear and standing still.
3. Remember your “why” and make fun, joy and laughter a part of it. I’ve caught myself on occasion getting far too serious about everything, and life can get hard in those moments. Ensuring that fun, joy and laughter are part of my “why” brings additional ease, both personally and professionally.

Read More: How To Prioritise Your Wellbeing At Work

Myriam Bartu, Co-Founder and Advisor of Enrich HK

How do you use your brand/role to support women?
By providing life-changing financial and empowerment education, Enrich enables migrant domestic workers (primarily women) to escape debt and achieve their dreams, whatever those may be. Through Enrich and also in my personal capacity, I have always tried to be there for other women (for my friends, for Enrich’s team and for the migrant domestic workers and women I encounter in my day). I listen to their struggles and offer support, especially on efforts to reduce consumption, save money and do what it takes to live with peace and ease. Just having someone to listen can be a powerful form of support.

What’s a quote you live by?
“Everything is either an act of love or a call for love” – Jennifer Williamson. If someone is not being supportive, or even if they are being hurtful or aggressive, it is because they themselves are hurting. What they really need is love. While I understand that there is pain behind the challenging words and actions that I see and feel, I know it is not about me and I can let go of getting emotionally affected. This helps me live with more ease, connection and compassion.

Talk us through a pivotal moment in your life, where women helping women led to success.
During the early years of setting up Enrich we had no detailed road map, no office and no funding. We had loads of passion, energy and creative ideas. We said “Yes, great, go for it!” to ideas put forward by each other, and supported each other in turning these ideas into projects. Some ideas did well and some did not; it was this experimenting that led to the foundation of the professional established charity that Enrich is today.

Tell us about a woman you admire.
The women in Enrich’s founding team; Sophie Paine, Aruni John and Lenlen Mesina are all highly passionate, ethical and generous women who guided, inspired and motivated Enrich’s growth over the first decade. All three have the beautiful talent of dreaming big and creatively, while staying humble and closely connected to the migrants Enrich serves. We attracted other similarly wired women, and today Enrich is still led by a highly passionate, caring and committed team of (mostly) women.

What are three tips you’d give to aspiring female entrepreneurs?

1. Start small – initially, as much as possible, use savings instead of loans. Test out your ideas, keep costs low and expand once you have fine tuned your business with the knowledge of real experience.
2. Trust – find people that you can trust and trust the people that you have found. Trust works in a virtuous circle and it is the basis of team building, which is ultimately the foundation of success.
3. Know when to let go – whether you are letting go of a role or selling your business, know when it is time to let someone else do what you were doing. It’s not likely that you are the best person for every role in a growing venture. Letting go is the other wing of trust.

Read More: Meditation In Hong Kong – Mindfulness Centres, Retreats & More

Ines Gafsi, Co-Founder of Female Entrepreneurs Worldwide

How do you use your brand/role to support women?
Female Entrepreneurs Worldwide (FEW) is an online-to-offline business platform that connects, inspires and empowers women for entrepreneurial success. FEW Academy offers masterclasses all taught by industry experts and successful business leaders to provide skills and qualities needed to become a successful, next-generation entrepreneur. FEW’s online and offline showrooms serve as market expansion channels for members to promote and sell their products and services.

What’s a quote you live by? 
“Success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives” – Michelle Obama.

Talk us through a pivotal moment in your life, where women helping women led to success.
A key pivotal moment was probably expanding to Shanghai and Singapore so we can now support our members’ growth in other markets, accompanying the founder and saving her the time of not making common mistakes and offering shortcuts to gain new business opportunities. Our mission is to make women successful in business, and over the past five years, our actions have been rewarded by messages from our members about collaborations, deals and connections they made via our network. Many of them feel inspired learning about other women’s challenges and successes at our events, so we created inspiring interviews on our YouTube channel.

Tell us about a woman you admire.
I recently discovered the work of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I admire the unique journey of this quiet warrior’s rise to the highest court, fighting for women’s workplace rights and preventing race discrimination.

What are three tips you’d give to aspiring female entrepreneurs? 

1. Surround yourself with likeminded people – find people who understand what you’re trying to do. Those people will be the ones to support you.
2. Take calculated risks – save and make sure you have a clear-cut budget in place with an emergency buffer zone that should alert you when you go down to critical levels.
3. Do the maths – business is maths, get on top of your numbers, don’t be afraid of it.

Read More: The Best Digital Marketing Agencies In Hong Kong To Help Your Business Grow

Dervla Louli, Founder of Compare Retreats

How do you use your brand/role to support women?
Our core team at Compare Retreats is made up entirely of incredibly talented women who are leaders in marketing, editorial and sales. I learn so much from them every day and love being part of a supportive, tight-knit team of women who lift each other up. Our close global clientele is predominantly females with demanding professional and personal lives. We support them by helping them find and book the best wellness retreats in the world, to help them achieve their physical, spiritual and mental health goals.

What’s a quote you live by?
‘To lead your best life, do your best work” and my favourite – “If you’re in doubt you’re not in doubt”.

Talk us through a pivotal moment in your life, where women helping women led to success.
Three of my former bosses have been strong women who have encouraged me to develop new skills, think for myself and go above and beyond whatever role I was in. They empowered me to think big, follow my intuition and taught me to put problems into perspective. Maura Thompson, the co-founder of Sassy, and Claire Melwani, a shareholder of Sassy Media Group, are two of these women.

Tell us about a woman you admire.
Marketing and communications expert Cathy Chon is the founder and MD of CatchOn and Co.. Her specialties lie in the luxury, lifestyle, travel, retail and wellness arenas, and she is an expert in transforming, building and creating brands. She is an encouraging and wise force behind many female (and male) entrepreneurs globally and I make a point to put into action any advice I’m lucky enough to receive from her.

What are three tips you’d give to aspiring female entrepreneurs?

1. Trust your gut.
2. Embrace your fears.
3. Stop thinking and start doing.

Read More: 11 Unique Hotels In Asia To Book In 2024

Bertha Chan, Founder of Curvasian and Drastic Social

How do you use your brand/role to support women?
Curvasian.com was focused on providing plus-size fashion resources in Asia in the beginning. Things moved to a new direction in 2011 when body positivity came about in pop culture as the movement often intertwined with inclusivity in fashion. Naturally, the space I created originally for plus-size people has become a safer space for all “womxn” and their allies to discuss different issues.

I advocate for “womxn” and marginalised groups, by creating conversations about body image issues, self-love, self-acceptance, body acceptance (including fat acceptance) and ways to tackle body dysmorphia. I also touch on feminism, to stand in solidarity with intersectional feminism.

What’s a quote you live by?
“No amount of self-improvement can make up for any lack of self-acceptance” – Robert Holden

Talk us through a pivotal moment in your life, where women helping women led to success.
I never think about success as an outcome; I feel that I am a small wheel motor in the equality movement, and I don’t need to see the result to strive, it is a purpose in life. Having said that, uplifting the “womxn” in my community has definitely brought positive changes for all of us, and I see that as a success.

Tell us about a woman you admire.
I admire my mother the most in this world. From our conversations all these years, I learn bit by bit about her past and the hardships she has gone through. She was a little girl with no support from anyone. From there, she became a superwoman who raised five kids by providing financially and domestically for them. She has not stopped giving and caring for us up to this moment. I look up to her for her strength.

What are three tips you’d give to aspiring female entrepreneurs?

1. Be unafraid of mistakes – instead of being afraid of failure, learn to fail safely. Make room for error. Fail, reflect, repeat. I am sure you will be very knowledgeable after five failures this year.
2. Be spontaneous – network with people you vibe with, and collaborate on different projects to learn new skillsets or get inspired. Make friends with anyone who is open to new adventures and see where it takes you. You never know what it will bring (remember failing is an option).
3. Be vulnerable – share your feelings with the people around you, with your staff or anyone who’s working with you. Open up and talk about what bothers you instead of overthinking and assuming things in your head. Learn to communicate. As a woman, you don’t need to be the tough cookie. As a boss, you can be soft as water and really get things flowing.

Read More: Listen to Bertha On Sassy Speaks Episode Two – You Do You

Sonalie Figueiras, Founder & CEO of Green Queen & Ekowarehouse

How do you use your brand/role to support women?
Every day at Green Queen we champion women who are working to change the world through stories, interviews and profiles. That’s a key part of our mission.

What’s a quote you live by?
“Every dollar you spend is a chance to vote for the world you believe in.”

Talk us through a pivotal moment in your life, where women helping women led to success.
When I had my first child, I was amazed at how much my tribe of mom friends and non-mom friends gathered round me to help. They called, they wrote, they visited, they reached out, they advised and they made sure I had support, even though I wasn’t asking for it. It was brilliant and made the experience so much better.

Tell us about a woman you admire.
Ah, there are too many to choose. But I will have to say my mother: she is ambitious and kind, glamorous and maternal, generous and clever – it’s hard to find all those qualities in one person.

What are three tips you’d give to aspiring female entrepreneurs?

1. Do it your way – forget the books and the advice and what others do. Forge your own path, one that works for you.
2. Run your company as if you are being recorded – be honest, fair and authentic. If you’re not, it will catch up with you.
3. Find a woman mentor and a peer group of female entrepreneurs that you can go to for advice and support. We all need to talk things out.

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Sarah Fung, Founder of HULA

How do you use your brand/role to support women?
HULA is a consignment platform for the resale of designer womenswear. We help to declutter and allow women to monetise their wardrobes. We offer luxury designer pieces at affordable prices, making sure women feel great about shopping guilt-free. We also help to reduce textile waste to benefit ourselves and generations to come.

What’s a quote you live by?
“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage” – Anais Nin

Talk us through a pivotal moment in your life, where women helping women led to success.
When I asked my sister to help me launch HULA, she always gave me confidence, just as she did when we were young. I would never have been able to do it without her. I have also been fortunate to have experienced success within different female environments throughout my life. I come from a female-dominated family – a strong mother and aunties who went through a lot of challenges whilst raising families as single parents.

I later chose to work in fashion, which quite often means you are part of an almost all-female cast, led by fierce and dynamic female leaders. I have been fortunate to have been surrounded by so many women who inspire me. I believe we can achieve anything.

Tell us about a woman you admire.
My mother, who is sadly no longer with us, was a huge influence on me. She was not fortunate enough to have a proper education, and began to work at the age of 15 when she immigrated to the UK. She had low-paying jobs in restaurants, as a part-time singer and as a hairdresser, but she always knew she could do better than that. When we were older, she took herself to college to fulfil her dream of becoming a beauty therapist and finally owned a beauty salon. I now understand the sacrifices she made, the reasons she was not at home much and the “cloud of stress” that surrounded her. It must have been so hard running a business with two kids and little income or help.

What are three tips you’d give to aspiring female entrepreneurs?

1. It is better for your staff and the company’s growth to have a compassionate and kind leader (and, FYI, this does not mean you are not a strong leader).
2. Have close friends and family to confide in and who will listen to your emotional roller-coaster ride and not judge you.
3. Don’t let the idea that being a woman will hinder your chances of success take hold, because as soon as you have this thought in your head, you’ll have a needless step to climb.

Read More: 50 Local Hong Kong Brands You Need To Know

Laura Offe, Co-founder of Meraki Hospitality Group

How do you use your brand/role to support women?
Meraki Hospitality Group, which includes Uma Nota and BEDU, has very strong female representation in its branding. You’ll find visually striking murals of solo women expressing strength and happiness in all our outlets. We also work with local female entrepreneurs such as Elsa Jeandedieu (the artist behind our murals), Nicola Ip aka La_baleine_52 (the creative who does all of our branding) and Mariane Chan (who’s crafted beautiful ceramic plates and bowls for us at BEDU). We’re very proud of our management team, which is made up of 60% women and a female-only office which goes against the norm in hospitality.

What’s a quote you live by?
“Success is no accident, it is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing” – Edson Arantes do Nascimento aka Pelé.

Talk us through a pivotal moment in your life, where women helping women led to success.
When I was working in London at the Shangri-La at The Shard, the Food & Beverage management team was composed of mostly women and I felt a strong sense of camaraderie and support from them. Whenever we needed help, it felt natural to send support or to have a quick chat to brainstorm and look at ways to work out a difficult situation. I think this is where I felt the most comfortable and open to express myself, because I felt completely understood and supported by the people I worked with.

Tell us about a woman you admire.
Ellen DeGeneres – to me she represents true grit. She lost everything when she was at the peak of her career when she came out on national television, and yet she never let that stop her from achieving her goals. Today, she has one of the most successful talk shows in the US, is recognised globally and she never forgets to give back to the community.

What are three tips you’d give to aspiring female entrepreneurs?

1. Believe in yourself.
2. Surround yourself with positivity.
3. Don’t settle, keep pushing until you get what you want.

Read More: The Best New Restaurants In Hong Kong

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published by Tania Shroff and was most recently updated in March 2024 by Team Sassy.

The post 10 Hong Kong-Based Female Founders Share Their Life Lessons appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

It’s one of Sassy’s greatest joys to be able to celebrate women’s achievements and share their voices on our platform. Over the years, we’ve been honoured to meet and work with a number of incredible women who have shown us what it means to be a strong female figure in today’s world. From artists and photographers, to civil engineers and founders of successful businesses, we’re proud to spotlight these women and share what they are doing to support their fellow females in the fight for gender equality.

Ahead, we catch up with six inspiring influencers to find out what International Women’s Day means to them, their experiences with gender imbalance and what they are doing to #InspireInclusion.

Read More: 10 Uplifting Autobiographies & Memoirs By Remarkable Women

Louisa Awolaja, Co-Founder Of HomeGrown The Podcast & TEDx Speaker

Alongside her co-host Fo, Louisa “Lou” Awolaja is on a mission to inform and inspire fellow Black expats in the city with their Hong Kong-based podcast HomeGrown. The British-Nigerian diversity and inclusion specialist has been working to dispel biases and foster a sense of community by sharing stories from the city’s Black community that celebrate diversity.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

To me International Women’s Day is really about two key things: 1) championing gender equality and women’s rights, and 2) celebrating women in all forms. The concept of intersectionality is extremely important – while we look at equality through the lens of gender, we also have to consider the added layers of race, culture, socio-economics, sexual orientation and other factors. I love that it is celebrated in so many countries across the world (over 60 apparently!), allowing us all to come together in conversation and community to lead change.

What has been your experience with gender imbalance?

Starting out my career as an engineering graduate, I got very used to being “one of the few” in most spaces – and while this shifted when I entered the corporate world, it never fully changed. I mentioned above the importance of considering intersectionality, and I have seen in my own career some of the ways it plays out.

I’ve had to navigate biases based on both race and gender, and I actively work to remove those obstacles for the younger generation now coming through the system.

How are you striving to challenge gender roles in your daily life?

I think challenging bias in the workplace is one of the ways I can have the biggest impact. Sharing and educating others to see beyond what we class as “typical” markers or criteria for success and leadership. As an example, many studies show that in a meeting (or classroom) setting, a woman is often less likely to share a new or challenging opinion in such an open forum. This can sometimes be misconstrued as her being less knowledgeable or competent, but that’s rarely the case. If the leader instead actively engages each of the members of the meeting, and brings everyone’s voice to the table, it allows everyone to thrive. I do my part to create these opportunities, and encourage others to do the same.

Read More: We Chat To The Founders Of HomeGrown Podcast About The Black Expat Experience In Hong Kong

Aanchal Wadhwani, Founder of STAGE Creatives

Photographer, art director, entrepreneur, model and actress Aanchal transforms the fashion landscape in Hong Kong with her inclusive model and talent agency, STAGE Management, which represents beauty in all its forms. Her goal was to create an agency that celebrated diversity and inclusivity in the hopes of improving the local model and acting industry.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

Women’s Day is a global celebration of womanhood. It’s a day to celebrate and empower the incredible women in our lives (although that should be every day!).

What has been your experience with gender imbalance in Hong Kong?

Working in a male dominated industry has been a consistent battle of constantly having to prove myself. As a photographer, I’ve had to prove my work is really my work. As a model and actor, I’ve been subjected to sexual requests by male production crew members. As an entreprenueur, I’ve been challenged by male peers on statistics and whether women can really run the show.

Working in a male dominated industry has been a consistent battle of constantly having to prove myself.

Some of the wildest things I’ve been told throughout my career:

“Are you sure you can carry your gear? It looks heavy and you’re so thin!”
“You’re so young and you run all these businesses? Your parents must be the reason to your success!”
“Oh, you’re a photographer!? Do you know the technicalities or do you just have your assistant help you with that?”

My career began more than 11 years ago, but I’ve noticed an improvement over the past few years with more awareness on the subject. Hopefully the next generation of female entrepreneurs will find it more welcoming!

How are you striving to challenge gender roles in Hong Kong?

I truly believe that if I continue to push forward and break down the walls as I chase my goals, I am simultaneously paving a way for other women to follow suit if they wish. They’ll have more confidence, a sense of camaraderie and hopefully the strength to break barriers of their own!

Read More: That Girl – Aanchal Wadhwani, Actress & Photographer

Inès Gafsi, Co-Founder & COO Of Female Entrepreneurs Worldwide (FEW)

As Co-founder and COO of FEW, Inès leads the platform’s operations, international business development and special projects like FEW incubator “Invest in Women Who Tech”. She also heads up the chapter of international charity, Inspiring Girls Hong Kong, empowering girls to believe in their dreams by connecting them with female role models.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

Celebrating women’s advancements to collectively close the gender gap. It’s a day to remember that there is still a lot to do but also a day to inspire each other to dream bigger.

What has been your experience with gender imbalance in Hong Kong?

I personally feel that the gender imbalance in Hong Kong is not as strong as it is in the West because in the FEW network there are a lot of powerful and accomplished women. However, statistics still show that the number of women on boards or leadership positions is lower than men. Startups led by women struggle to get funded and overall access to capital remains difficult for women entrepreneurs.

How are you striving to challenge gender roles in your daily life?

Everything always starts with our mindset. We are often more limited by ourselves than by external parties. That is why I surround myself with people who believe in me and help me broaden my perspectives. Women in the corporate world should tap into male allies to be mentored to the top of the ladder. There are more and more female business-focused funds and investors looking at supporting specifically women in business which we bring together on the FEW platform. In the ecosystem we build, we gather men and women mentors supporting the growth of future female leaders.

Tiffany Huang

Tiffany is a Taiwanese-American writer who has lived across the US, Taipei and Hong Kong. She is the founder of Spill Stories, a publisher and collective run by diverse women sharing personal stories for a nuanced world. Spill Stories has self-published several books, including Sex & Power and Black in Asia. Her passions lie in writing personal, raw stories at the intersection of gender and culture that encourage learning, empathy and catharsis among writers and readers alike. She is now based in San Diego after moving away from Hong Kong following a five-year stay. During the day, she works as a Customer Experience Design Director in Hospitality. The places she misses the most are ACO bookstore in Wan Chai (where Spill Stories books are stocked) and Grandpa Roast Goose Restaurant (阿爺燒鵝餐室) in Sai Wan Ho.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

It seems to me that people have lost sight of what International Women’s Day stands for. On March 8, someone will give me a pink balloon and invite me to a Champagne brunch at Soho, and that’s it. That being said, I think IWD is a good reminder that there is a struggle for women everywhere to overcome, whether it’s in the boardroom or bedroom.

For me, the day is an invitation for everyone, regardless of gender, to use our skills and networks to impact those changes meaningfully and unapologetically.

What has been your experience with gender imbalance in Hong Kong?

My experiences with sexism were less about one-off dramatic events, but reoccurring uncomfortable situations that made me feel lesser than, perpetuated by men, women and policies. In social situations, I’m lucky to have had allies at work who stood up for me, friends who spoke up, and sometimes, I had enough courage to say something myself. Most of the difference has been made due to the quality of friends I had around me and the quality of leadership I had at my work, and less about my own words and actions. I am so grateful for our team, including Janice Li, Charnell McQueen, Boipelo Seswane, and Dyondra Wilson for leading the charge with me.

How are you striving to challenge gender roles in Hong Kong?

I’d like Spill Stories to be a place where people can share personal stories and speak their truth. I think both men and women should have an opportunity to share their stories, and through honest conversation, learn how we can support each other. Some of the best stories have actually been written by men, because it’s so rare to see men share their feelings so openly, and I’d love to encourage that in a future series.

Read More: We Chat To The Editor Of Spill Stories Tiffany Huang About “Black In Asia” Anthology

Ophelia Jacarini

Ophelia is a multidisciplinary visual artist whose work involves interwoven processes of structural movements within the female form. Coming into her eighth year in Hong Kong, she continues to be influenced by her surroundings in her artistic process, while allowing her work to exist as an extension to how she believes to live: free and independent.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

It means taking the opportunity to rethink the way things are between men and women, and how that has changed over the centuries. We still have a lot to work on.

What has been your experience with gender imbalance in Hong Kong?

There is a common misconception that gender inequality only exists in developing countries. Despite its modernity, Hong Kong is still deeply sexist in many ways.

Some recent pay surveys make for depressing reading as the gender pay gap has actually worsened. The truth is, there is still not a single country in the world which can claim to have achieved complete gender parity.

Women have consistently made up the majority of victims in domestic abuse and sexual harassment cases. Barriers at work hold women back in their careers. Sexism is not only a workplace issue, it is a much more complicated problem where imbalance is happening at home. The work/life/family balance for men and women is still not shared equally.

How are you striving to challenge gender roles in Hong Kong?

As a visual artist I see my work as an opportunity to address this topic. In my backstage project I translated digital imagery of myself into a thought provoking message on the stigma surrounding female nudity. The platform mostly displays selected images of women in provocative poses, in which one image will display a suggestive photo followed by a revealing version that can only be accessed by users who have a paid membership to the platform.

This project is my way to understand the complexity of human sexuality and awareness. Can a female body be perceived as sensual instead of sexual? How has advertising trained us to observe what is decent or indecent? The purpose of this ongoing visual art project and social experiment is to test boundaries and the grey area of female nudity, and to convey how a digital audience perceives artistic nudity and soft porn.

Read More: 10 Questions With Ophelia Jacarini, Hong Kong-Based French Artist

Cammie Warburton

Cammie is a Hong Kong-based wellness photographer who believes photography can be a powerful tool to help empower women. Her passion lies in celebrating humans of all sizes, forms, abilities and ages. She strives to make each of her subjects shine, feel comfortable and help them see themselves in a new light.

What does International Women’s Day mean to you?

International Women’s Day to me is a day to acknowledge the women throughout history who have paved the way for women like me to achieve their dreams.

IWD is a reminder for me to be proud of how far I have come as a woman of colour. To be proud of the conversations I’ve had surrounding what it means to be a woman in modern society. To be proud of my lineage, the struggles of my mother, of my grandmother and of my biological mother. IWD is a day I pay tribute to all the incredible women in my life.

What has been your experience with gender imbalance in Hong Kong?

I have encountered sexism through fellow photographers on Instagram thinking I was male bodied, and after discovering I’m not, deciding not to work with me. It took me by surprise, and ever since then, I have rebranded myself and my photography work to speak up fearlessly about women’s experiences – body awareness, mental health, self pleasure and period talk. I can see that female photographers are on the rise in Hong Kong. Photography is a predominantly male-dominated space and I’m truly blessed to have felt the impact of my practice, helping support women in representing themselves and their brand through the gaze of a woman.

How are you striving to challenge gender roles in Hong Kong?

Through having conversations! From having everyday “uncomfortable” conversations at family dinners and correcting men on a night out, to hitting people with facts on gender inequality in Hong Kong and sharing stories of women who don’t have a voice – every little helps!

The post 6 Influencers Share What International Women’s Day Means To Them appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

Art is a medium of expression, of oneself and values. For the audience, it’s finding resonation in unexpected forms – be it a favourite childhood snack, a new-found love for a home-grown brand, a social value or mythological figures. When we first laid eyes on Riya Chandiramani’s recreations of cereal boxes, we were struck by more components than one – the vivid colours, the strong female figures and the overall nostalgia. It definitely went beyond mere cereal boxes.

We talk to Riya about her influences and inspirations, how being an Indian-Hongkonger and a global citizen ties into her work, her future projects and the sheer joy of following your passions (as well as the not-so-pretty side of it).

Read More: “I want to build my own Neverland,” Hong Kong Artist Lio Sze Mei On Escaping The Real World With Her Art

Tell us a bit about your background. Were you raised in Hong Kong? Do you identify as an Indian Hong Konger?  

Yes – I was born and raised in Hong Kong, and honestly, I struggled to identify myself up until recently. I felt I wasn’t “enough” of either to be a Hong Konger or Indian, though I’m both — so I guess Indian Hong Konger is a good term to describe me.

When I heard the term Third Culture Kid it definitely resonated and I have learned to embrace it.

And I think it shows in my art ­– East meets West; a cultural mix of Indian, Hong Kong, Chinese and all the Western influences I grew up with as well, and experienced while I was in the US for university.

When did you first feel drawn to art or consider yourself an artist?

Before I can even remember! There are so many photos of myself as a young child with either a pen, paintbrush, crayons or colour pencils in my hand. It was definitely a result of my upbringing — I was surrounded by so much gorgeous South Asian art at home.

And my mom is a graphic designer — she is an incredibly talented artist, and really encouraged me to paint and draw. I think growing up it was not really seen as a viable career/ future path to become an artist but given that it happened organically for me as an adult despite not even formally training for it, I suppose this was always what I was going to end up doing.

I have been a full-time artist for five years now. I’m extremely fortunate — my parents are immensely supportive of me being an artist and are some of my biggest cheerleaders.

Read More: That Girl – Aanchal Wadhwani, Actress & Photographer

Can you tell us about your practice and work — your inspirations? Would you consider cereal boxes as your signature?

My inspirations are primarily drawn from ideas around societal stigma, especially surrounding gender; and my personal experiences. The inspiration around gender comes from my university studies in communications with a focus on gender. Some of the courses that had the greatest impact on me were about gender stereotypes in the media and popular culture, and gender and sexuality in Hinduism.

I would not consider cereal boxes my signature, but people associate me with it because it has been my first major series and made quite a visual ‘mark’ through my shows with Young Soy Gallery and Vain Projects. I am very wary about putting myself in a box (no pun intended) and I don’t want to be just known as the cereal girl so after three years, I am actually moving on to a new series.

I started the cereal boxes because I love cereal and because I ate it a lot in my recovery from an eating disorder, after not allowing myself to have anything that brought me joy.

But then I learned that the mascots are all male and everything clicked together. The lack of differentiation in female representation made me want to reimagine this style by portraying strong mother goddesses who fight and feed; or in some pieces, I portrayed the parts that give life feeding the male mascots.

The fusion of Western branding, and Indian and Chinese cultural art is representative of my mix as a Hong Kong-born Indian woman with an international upbringing.

What emotion do you aim to evoke when people view your art? 

I believe good art evokes emotion and starts a conversation, whether internal or external. Hard as it is as a control freak, I’m learning to accept that I cannot control how people interpret my work. All I can do is put it out there, and if the audience cares to understand my meaning, that’s great, but they may not and I have to be ok with it.

How much of yourself is represented in your art?

In my last series of boxes for Art Central, I featured some self-portraits for the first time. This was an interesting exercise because I’ve always been very conscious of depicting human figures, I wouldn’t consider it one of my strengths. But putting myself into the pieces, especially given the messages behind them, really added another dimension and felt very empowering.

Read More: 5 LGBTQ+ Hong Kong Visual Artists To Follow Now

Your artworks have been a hit — with multiple gallery shows as well as a booth in both Art Central and the Affordable Art Fair. How does it feel to get that recognition and appreciation for your art?

It feels amazing and I’m very grateful. The thing with constantly working towards new shows (which is a privilege, for sure) is that I often forget to step back and appreciate what I’ve achieved so far, and be thankful for all the support. I also forget to take a break – I often process when I burn out.

I try not to worry too much of how my new works will be perceived but at the end of the day, I think we all care a little more than we’d like to about what others think. That’s not to say I’m very glad my work has been received very positively thus far!

How do you think your art has been received in Hong Kong?

From what I can ascertain, it seems to have been received well so far – despite my work being a mix of all the things that make me “me,” so to speak.

I think there is something in there for everyone to relate to in some way.

At the Delirium group show with Young Soy Gallery last July, I featured some Hong Kong brands – Kowloon Dairy and Garden Life Bread; and Indian brands – Amul Milk and Parle-G, and I loved how those were received specifically by people who resonated with the brands and then looked further into what I was saying in the pieces.

There have been people who have expressed concern about my usage of goddesses in my pieces – and this has also been the crux of some of the hate comments I received on Instagram from some people in India who claimed that my work was disrespectful. To that – I say, respect is at the core of my work and it honours the female body and powers. 

What are three personal goals you have in the near future as an artist?

To try out new mediums – which I am currently doing with oil paint, and I’m loving it so far. I also have plans to get into sculpture. And to go larger in size of my pieces.

To try living somewhere other than Hong Kong for a little while, to experience different kinds of inspiration from new surroundings.

To take better care of myself – which includes taking more breaks, as well as being cognisant of how many projects I take on, how much I charge, and sometimes not being afraid to say no.

Read More: “Patience And Persistence Will Make It All Happen,” Rania Hatoum On Following Her Passion For Food & Fashion

Do you have any plans to expand your work in other forms of art? What would it be?

I’m working on a series of rubber gloves that have been painted with bridal mehndi (henna) patterns. It’s a series that circles around the notion a woman’s value and worth is to strive to be “marriable” – and that this is the main goal no matter what else we achieve. Coupled with the idea of the invisible woman, the second shift, and all the extra unpaid work that women often do.

Lastly, what are three emotions you feel when doing something you love and why would you say it’s important to go after your passion?

Three positive emotions I feel are gratitude, curiosity, and calmness. Three negative emotions are anxiety, obsession, and self-doubt. It all goes hand in hand.

There is that phrase that goes something like, “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life,” I don’t agree – you can do what you love and it is still work. But it is important work, because by doing what you love, you feel like a more fulfilled person. It definitely ties into mental health and that is why I think it is important to go after your passion – it is one of the highest forms of self-respect, in my opinion.

Read More: Must-See Hong Kong Art Exhibitions

The post “I don’t want to just be known as the cereal girl,” Local Artist Riya Chandiramani On The Inspiration Behind Her Iconic Works appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

Designing gorgeous bridal gowns by day and getting busy in the kitchen at night, half-Egyptian half-Chinese Rania Hatoum splits her day between her two loves: food and fashion. We’ve been huge fans of her wedding dress designs and are just as enamoured by the decadent dishes she plates up for her members-only private kitchen RH Fine Dining and pastry business Tarte. Ahead, Rania runs through a typical day in her busy life and shares how living in Hong Kong and abroad has helped her thrive in the worlds of bridal design and F&B.

Read More: 10 Questions With Simran Savlani, F&B Consultant And Cookbook Author

Tell us a little about yourself. How long have you lived in Hong Kong?

I was born and raised in Hong Kong. I lived here for 14 years, then moved around the world, from Egypt to the US and Tokyo, and now I am back in Hong Kong indefinitely.

What do you love the most about this city?

I love how international Hong Kong is, and how I can find almost anything I need for both my businesses, from fabrics to fresh seafood from the wet market. I love how fast paced this city is, but at the same time I can drive for half an hour and find myself at the most tranquil beach and just tan all day long to destress.

Read More: The Best Beaches In Hong Kong

What drew you into the world of bridal fashion?

My parents have been in the fashion industry for 30 odd years, so I felt like my fashion career path had already been paved for me at a young age.

Read More: Where To Buy Your Wedding Dress In Hong Kong

How would you describe your own personal style?

Feminine, minimal and artistic.

You launched your own private kitchen, RH Fine Dining, around the start of the pandemic. Can you tell us about your relationship with food and cooking?

I have always had a passion for cooking and eating. I would travel the world to try all different kinds of cuisine. Cooking is therapeutic for me and I always enjoy hosting dinner parties and feeding my friends. It all started when I was living in Tokyo, where I would often go to the local fish markets then go home and prepare dinner for my husband and friends.

Has your Chinese and Egyptian heritage influenced your designs and cooking style?

Surprisingly they have not, but the time I spent living in Japan and travelling around Europe has largely influenced my cooking style. French and Japanese cuisine are my favourite which is why my focus is on French-Japanese fusion.

Read More: Top Hong Kong Private Kitchens & Dining Rooms

What are your favourite ingredients to work with?

The finest in ingredients in life! I mainly love using seafood and other ingredients with strong, aromatic flavours such as caviar, sea urchin, truffles and fine herbs. Now with my recently launched pastry brand, Tarte, I get to use these luxurious ingredients to create what I like to call “the finer tarts in life”.

What are your favourite dishes to eat at home or out?

Omakase is my favourite type of food, I’m a sucker for fresh seafood and French cheese!

Read More: The Best Cheese Shops In Hong Kong

What does a typical week look like for you?

Day-time bridal designer and private chef by night, I would meet with brides from the morning to afternoon, and then I would start prepping for my dinner parties from late afternoon and my day would typically end at 11pm.

What do you do in your downtime?

Spend time with my dog, work out, hang at the beach and play poker with friends.

I just need to do keep doing what I do, work harder and stay focused.

What are three goals you had for this year?

I just tell myself I just need to do keep doing what I do, work harder and stay focused. I want to live a healthier lifestyle and be more active, give more time to myself and be able to travel for more inspiration.

How would you like to see Rania Hatoum Bridal and RH Fine Dining grow?

After a series of successful pop-ups for Tarte, including our current one at LANDMARK, I’m looking to expand the brand globally. As for my bridal design business, I hope to launch a bigger collection soon and would love to hold my own local fashion show in Hong Kong one day.

What advice would you give to someone that has multiple passions?

If you are doing what you love you will never have to work a day in your life. Follow your passion and success will follow, it may not happen quickly but patience and persistence will make it all happen.

Read More: 9 Hong Kong Businesswomen On Career Success

The post “Patience And Persistence Will Make It All Happen,” Rania Hatoum On Following Her Passion For Food & Fashion appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

It’s Art Week — or rather, the city’s unofficial Art Month, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to see the Fairs (namely Art Basel and Art Central) in full swing alongside some gorgeous exhibitions at galleries around town and other art-inspired happenings. To celebrate, we decided to check out a homegrown artist, someone born and raised in the city who’s making her mark.

We spoke to Lio Sze Mei, whose debut solo exhibition opened at the very beginning of March at a favourite gallery of ours, Odds and Ends. Read on to hear what she said about her literary inspirations like J. M. Barrie’s “Peter Pan” and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s “The Little Prince”, dream and memory recollections and more…

Read More: Your Insider Look At Art Central 2023 – What To Expect & Our Favourites

It takes Lio Sze Mei a little to open up — she answers most of our questions from behind a plastic folder she keeps holding up to her face. Realising the Hong Kong-born and raised artist is probably more comfortable in Cantonese, her first language, we turned to Odds and Ends co-founder and gallery director Natalie Ng to accompany us — who offered her own insight and thoughts as we toured Lio’s debut solo exhibition.

Born to Hong Kong office workers, Lio’s family was not as supportive of her artistic career. To them it “seems like a waste of time, a waste of money,” Lio tells us, which partially informed her decision to study art at home, at Hong Kong Baptist University. The 29-year-old works full-time these days, teaching young children art.

Round and round and round, 2017, Charcoal, ink, and soft pastel, on canvas

Scattered Sparks II, 2022, Oil on canvas

So if her parents didn’t see art as a career, why did she pursue it? “I love art — for me, it’s a time to escape the real world,” she tells us. “In primary school, I loved drawing and doing crafts with clay and paper. It made me feel very calm, exploring different materials. I studied painting and printmaking, ceramic-making and more mediums.”

Lio really lights up when we come to the topic of inspiration. Hers come from stories, like J. M. Barrie’s Peter Pan. “I want to build my own Neverland — but I want to be cleverer than him. He has to stay there; I want to be able to go back and forth from the real world.”

That’s why her show is called “Ad Astra”, a Latin phrase that means “to the stars”. “It’s so meaningful for me,” Lio says. “I want those brighter things, even to own for myself.” As we tour the space later, she adds “I want to collect all the beautiful things.”

A Floating Planet (Detail), 2023, Ink on copper plate

 Gallerist Natalie Ng considers the notion of the stars like a guiding star, like the North Star. Something that conveys desire but you can’t quite grasp like a tangible thing. “All the works in the show, even if they look dark, there’s one trait that ties them all together — they all sparkle.”

The two canvas pieces in the exhibition — the other works are on metal — consist of charcoal and black ink, and depict objects that twinkle. There’s a lit-up chandelier, a lit-up carousel, a young girl in a pretty party dress made up of lights. Even the surface of the ocean reflects, sparkles. There’s a hazy element to Lio’s pieces, a blurry “bokeh” out-of-focus effect.

Lio’s most interesting pieces, to us, are her metal works, made by a timely process of scratching the surface of brass and copper plates and then processing it with ink and oil. We look at the cropped, detailed piece that shows the surface of the ocean, and you can see how the different textures create a twinkling, glistening effect. “She works on a negative, instead of a positive when you think about it,” Ng says.

Starry Sea (Detail), 2023, Ink on brass plate

The subjects of Lio’s works come to her in her dreams — or rather, she says, she recollects old memories and images she sees when she’s sleeping. If you look closely, you’ll spot tiny ducks. Lio says they’re lost and lonely, and it’s meant to look a little uncertain and unclear — as if they could disappear. “I don’t like birds but for this illustration, when I’m far away, it’s okay — they’re so cute!” The aforementioned girl in a sparkly dress is also disappearing, “she’s going away to Neverland.”

Lio likes Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s “The Little Prince for a similar reason. “Because all these stories, [the characters] have their own world. I want to build my own world.”

The Lost Duck (Detail), 2023, Ink on brass plate

Ad Astra, 2022, Ink, oil on brass plate

 When asked why she choose to work with Odds and Ends, a fairly younger local gallery, for her debut show, Lio says it’s her pleasure. Ng and co-founder and co-director Fiona Ho approached her at the Affordable Art Fair, where they both purchased a piece. “We really liked it and we wanted to visit her studio to learn more about her practice, and then the show just came about organically.”

And what would she want viewers to take away from “Ad Astra”? “I want them to feel calm, at rest. Like it’s a quiet place for them.”

You can view Lio Sze Mei’s debut solo exhibition “Ad Astra” at Odds and Ends, Block B, H307, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong, until Saturday, 8 April. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 12pm to 7pm.

You can also catch Odds and Ends at this year’s Art Central at Booth B2, Halls 3FG, 3/F, Old Wing, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, until Saturday, 25, March.

The post “I want to build my own Neverland,” Hong Kong Artist Lio Sze Mei On Escaping The Real World With Her Art appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

Courtney Act, a name play on “Caught in the act” when said in a non-rhotic accent like the Australian accent, is a renowned drag queen who first appeared on “Australian Idol” (The Aussie version of “American Idol”), and then went on to more reality TV like “RuPaul’s Drag Race”, “Dancing with the Stars” and more. We chat with her on her successful performances, what to expect in her return to Hong Kong and the way forward for the Hong Kong’s LGBTQI+ community. 

Read More: 10 Questions With Coco Pop, A Hong Kong Drag Queen

Have you spent much time in Hong Kong before this trip? 

I’ve made multiple trips to Hong Kong, especially around when SEVVA first opened. I performed there for New Year’s Eve, it was a beautiful night with the view of the fireworks, and I’ve been back after that to meet friends. I love Hong Kong, it’s a vibrant and exciting city.

Ultimately I was pioneering a path for myself.

Growing up did you have any strong figures you looked up to?

Growing up, I did enjoy pop stars like Madonna and the Spice Girls but I wouldn’t say they inspired my drag journey. When I moved to Sydney back in 2000, there were many drag artists and performers I was inspired by but I think ultimately I was pioneering a path for myself.

Can you walk us through how you transition into drag? 

After I get showered and shave, I sit down for my makeup and the first thing I do is pop open a glue stick to transform my manly brows into a more feminine arch. And then I do the rest of my face, put on my dress, my wig, my jewellery and it all comes together in the very last minute when I pop on my lip gloss. It’s all a creative process that I very much enjoy.

Read More: Top Eyebrow Services In Hong Kong – Microblading, Threading, Brow Tinting & More

You’ve just taken centre stage to host the Sydney WorldPride Opening Concert. How was that experience for you? 

Sydney has been amazing during WorldPride – there were so many people, so many parties, packed concerts, humans rights conferences to talk about the human rights of the LGBTQI+ community in the Asia Pacific region. I hosted the opening concert which was so exciting, and my big broadway opening number was so well-received.

What brings you to Hong Kong this time round? And where we catch your performance?

I’m very excited to be back and it’s so great to see that the city is turning back on! I can’t wait for some gorgeous cocktails, delicious food and that Hong Kong skyline view from SEVVA, which is where you can catch me performing.

What can audiences expect from your Hong Kong shows?

Lots of songs! Since I was back in Hong Kong, I was in “Dancing with the Stars” in Australia and I know Latin and Ballroom dancing is very popular here, so you may just see some cha-cha or salsa, which will be very fun.

You never know who’ll pop up at my performance in SEVVA!

You’ve done your fair share of reality TV, which has been your favourite?

Definitely “Dancing with the Stars”, it was so much fun! My dance partner, Josh, actually lives in Hong Kong and he’s a Ballroom champion (just saying, you never know who’ll pop up at my performance in SEVVA!). 

Read More: Our Favourite LGBTQ+ Shows To Watch On Netflix This Pride Month

How have you found the visibility and acceptance of the LGBTQI+ community in Hong Kong?

I’ve always had a wonderful time in Hong Kong and the gay bars here are great, so from that perspective, it has always felt accepting. But there sure is still a way to go with the mainstream visibility and the way of understanding. However, with the Gay Games coming to Hong Kong this year, that’s definitely a way forward. And every drag performance, big or small, helps to slowly change any negative attitudes.

What advice would you give to young people who are discovering and exploring their sexuality?

The internet – when used cautiously – can be a great place to fill the void of solidarity when you feel alone and a lack of support. Know that who you are is valid and you will find a community that gets you.

What do you think is the most common misconception about the drag community?

To me, it’s about expressing both masculinity and femininity through my performances, and making people forget about their struggles for a little while and just simply enjoy the performance.

Read More: 11 Relatively New LGBTQI+ Books To Read

Follow Courtney Act on Instagram @courtneyact to know more about her and catch her act at SEVVA, more details here. 

The post “Know that who you are is valid”, Courtney Act On Her Drag Journey appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

One of the things that we love most about Hong Kong is the thriving community of women in business we have here, covering every industry and niche you can think of. While these incredible Hong Kong businesswomen make it look easy, we know that’s very far from the truth, especially when taking into account the added burden of gender stereotypes and discrimination that comes with being a female founder.

In honour of International Women’s Day, we’re chatting with some of Hong Kong’s most successful female businesswomen to learn more about their road to success and the challenges they’ve encountered along the way, and how they embrace equity at work and outside work. Keep scrolling for more…

Read More: Female-Founded Brands To Support Now

Jump To:
Mandy And May – Founders Of Linguabox Group
Amy Tsien – Founder Of Drink Eve
Amanda Hyndman – General Manager At Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong
Sara Vee – Founder Of Women of Hong Kong
Gianne And Canice – Founders Of Lexemedia
Maisy Ma – Figure Skating Coach
Emma Lauren – Stylist And Social Media Personality

 

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Mandy And May, Founders Of Linguabox Group

Learning a new language can be tough, especially one as complex as Mandarin! Linguabox Group uses its 30 years of expertise and connects anyone, anywhere in the world, to its engaging and interactive online classes. Its founders, Mandy and May share how they embrace equity and how women can become each other’s support systems.

What changes have you made to your personal or professional life to embrace equity in regard to gender, race, religion or any other aspect of your life?

We were keenly aware of the amount of well-qualified women unable to find fitting jobs after having children, so we took a special interest in this demographic when hiring for Linguabox.

We are very proud that a majority of our teachers are women, and that we are able to provide these well-educated, certified and passionate women with fulfilling jobs, and the support and flexibility necessary for child-caring.

Do you agree that women may sometimes compete with each other? How can women embrace equity and support each other?

Women can sometimes be competitive in the workplace due to systemic barriers and limited leadership opportunities. To embrace equity and support each other, we encourage women to engage in mentoring, advocate for equal opportunities, celebrate each other’s achievements, and foster an inclusive and collaborative culture.

Is there anything else you’d like to share regarding the theme of #EmbraceEquity?

Another important facet of equity extends to embracing and giving equal opportunities to other cultures and communities in Hong Kong. We have the privilege to work with students from various different countries and cultures, including India, Singapore, South Korea, Australia and the US, and that cultural exchange is a highlight of our job!

LinguaBox Group, WhatsApp: 9685 8939, www.linguaboxgroup.com

Amy Tsien, Founder Of Drink Eve

Drink Eve is a research-backed Hong Kong wellness brand that aims to give a new perspective to mental and physical well-being and create a more inclusive, understanding, and supportive community through its products and wellness events. Its founder, Amy Tsien talks us through how she stays motivated, how her brand empowers young women in Hong Kong and her career goals.

How do you and your business help empower women and girls in Hong Kong?

I strongly believe one of the main purposes of us going through any personal ups and downs is to relate, understand, and help others who are on a similar journey. Every day, I hope to use myself, my brand and the Eve community to encourage and empower other women and girls in Hong Kong through transparency, sharing, and mentorship.

What keeps you motivated on days when the road gets tough?

At the heart of Eve are a lot of my own personal core values and missions. When the road gets tough, I let my passion, vision, and mission drive me.

I remind myself to turn every hesitation or rejection into improvements and motivation; and never be too afraid to think big, try, and ask for opportunities.

What are three short-term goals you have for yourself and your business?

1. Make our products and unconventional well-being workshops more accessible to urbanites (including travellers!) at work and off work.
2. Partner with more mental health organisations with aligned core values.
3. Launch our very first well-being campaign!

Use code EVEXSASSY to get 5% off on Eve Recovery Sodas and Eve Prevention Packs. Valid until Friday, 8 March, 2024.

Shop Drink Eve

Drink Eve, www.drinkeve.com

Amanda Hyndman, Manager At Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group

Having worked in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group for 16 years, Amanda has taken on several leadership roles. She’s currently the General Manager of Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong as well as the Vice President, Operations for Southern China and the Group Director of Quality, which includes quality control on services across the hotels.

What has been your proudest business achievement?

It’s the feeling of the whole team pulling together to go above and beyond, which creates the adrenalin, excitement and sense of achievement.

We pulled off an incredible 140th-anniversary party for MO Bangkok, which was named number one in the world! We are also very proud of our colleagues who dedicated 40,000 hours of community volunteering to help the less fortunate in London and last but not least, the team in Hong Kong for enduring hardships in the past four years.

What is your proudest personal achievement?
I feel most proud of myself when I make others proud. Throughout my life, I have been championed by a number of fine women, from my grandmother who partly raised me (and couldn’t have a career of her own due to World War Two) to amazing ladies who had my back when I was in Thailand for five years, and supportive and encouraging female colleagues I have at both Jardine and MO.

What are three short-term goals you have for yourself and the Mandarin Oriental?
1. Create, finalise and kick off the hotel renovation plan in Hong Kong.
2. Deliver a great 60th-anniversary celebration for the hotel this year.
3. Spend more time laughing and having fun with our colleagues and teams!

Follow Amanda Hyndman on Instagram (@amandahyndman) to learn more about her.

Sarah Vee, Founder Of Women of Hong Kong

Women of Hong Kong was formed out of a personal need to feel belonged. It started out as a handful of women coming together for social drinks and now has close to 7,000 sign-ups and about 10,000 followers on its Instagram page! To sum it up, the network is like a “create your own adventure” book — you can use it for personal reasons, business, or both.

What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs starting out in Hong Kong?

Think about what problems you are solving and how your business would be of help to the community.

Be ready to put yourselves in someone else’s shoes which is a key quality in running a business.

The other key quality is to maintain good relationships with your clients and to humanise the whole experience.

Do you agree that women sometimes compete with each other? How can women embrace equity and support each other?

Yes all the time, we’ve been brought up to believe we need to rise above one another instead of raising each other up. And I also feel like we often ask to be understood by the opposite gender but we may lack the skills to do the same thing we’re asking.

What’s key to embracing equity?

The three keys to ending gender inequity are education, technology and media — if your business revolves around or is involved in this department, then you have the power to contribute to making the world a more equitable place. I believe everyone is capable, the question is, is anybody willing?

Follow Sarah Vee on Instagram (@sarahvee.asia) to learn more about her.

Gianne And Canice, Founders Of Lexemedia

Lexemedia, a local creative agency — derived from the word “lexeme” which means the basic/abstract unit of meaning — helps brands and businesses communicate their individual message and shine.

What has been your proudest business achievement?

When we worked with Women of Hong Kong to help organise its first-anniversary event, which brought together over 300 women for an evening of networking and inspiration. Being able to use our skills to support other women-focused organisations and see the direct impact was very fulfilling.

What changes have you made to your personal or professional life to embrace equity in regard to gender, race, religion or any other aspect of your life?

We’ve made a conscious effort to hire diverse talents and create an inclusive work environment where people from all backgrounds can thrive, which is key to embracing equity and creating work that resonates with people from all walks of life. Hiring globally has brought unique perspectives and skills to our team.

How do you or your business help empower women or girls in Hong Kong?

We empower women and girls in Hong Kong through partnerships with communities and charities. Our co-founder Gianne recently designed charity merchandise to benefit Inspiring Girl’s empowerment programs for young girls. Through these initiatives, we aim to empower women and girls through mentoring, education, and community programs.

Collective action can drive real change, so we’re committed to using our skills and platform to uplift women in Hong Kong.

Follow Lexemedia on Instagram (@lexemedia) to learn more about them.

Maisy Ma, Figure Skating Coach, Emcee, And A Jill Of Many Trades

Why excel in one thing when you can have multiple successful hustles? Maisy is an influencer, figure skating coach, TV host, emcee, F&B operations coordinator and content creator, all at the age of 23!

What is your proudest personal or business achievement?

It has always been a perception for people to think that retired professional athletes take a long time to find their track in life. I am proud to prove that wrong. I have shown that, as a former athlete, I have smoothly transitioned into the media world, bringing the positivity of sports to a bigger audience from an athletic standpoint.

What keeps you motivated on days when the road gets tough?

Recognising your past achievements and living in the moment is so important. Many times we get so caught up because of our perspectives.

We should always remind ourselves that where we are in life at the moment, was all we ever wanted in the past.

What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs starting out in Hong Kong?

I believe the society we live in now encourages people to be hardworking — as long as you have a dream and you are willing to fight, there will be a significant role that belongs to you. Plus, I love having multiple career paths to keep myself busy but also explore different talents.

Follow Maisy Ma on Instagram (@maisyma1999) to learn more about her.

Emma Lauren, Stylist And Social Media Personality

As a stylist and creative, Emma helps businesses with their branding and the storytelling that goes behind it.

What has been your proudest business achievement?

Being the Art Director for Net-a-Porter for one of its Hong Kong projects and being flown to Thailand to style for a Pandora global shoot were both huge thrills. But honestly every time I see an idea I’ve had become a reality, that feels like the proudest moment.

Do you agree that women sometimes compete with each other? How can women embrace equity and support each other?

I think there is often an underlying narrative that women have to compete with each other to get ahead. I feel super fortunate that my personal experience has been largely supportive and to have had some great women mentors and peers who have encouraged and boosted me up. I think it’s so important that we embrace equity and support each other — help and cheer on your friends with their dreams.

Success isn’t truly success unless we are all succeeding.

What are three short-term goals you have for yourself and your business?

1. Successfully master Little Red Book! I believe the China market has a lot to offer and we should all diversify our social media platforms.
2. Graduate from Cantonese Class.
3. Endeavour to find more of an equilibrium between work and home.

Follow Emma Lauren on Instagram (@emma_lauren) to learn more about her.

The post 9 Hong Kong Businesswomen On Career Success, “Embracing Equity” & More appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

South African-born Londiwe Ngubeni, better known by her stage name MsLolo, has made a name for herself in Hong Kong, the city where she found her footing as a solo artist and shares her love for Afrobeat culture. You may have caught her opening the “Festival of the Lion King” show as Rafiki in Disneyland Hong Kong a few years back, modelling for Fenty Beauty or even performing live at a local club. At the end of 2021, she released her debut album, “A Different Breed”, which features a fusion of authentic Afrobeat music with Asian influences.

Ahead, we chat with Londiwe for our 10 questions, covering everything from her experience working as a performer at Disneyland to how she found success in Hong Kong and where she likes to listen to live music.

Read More: 10 Questions With Coco Pop, A Hong Kong Drag Queen

Tell us a little about yourself.

I was born into a big Christian family in Durban, South Africa. I moved to Hong Kong a few years ago when I was cast to play Rafiki in Disneyland Hong Kong’s “Festival of the Lion King” show in 2008. I later started working on my music career in 2017 and have been performing in local clubs and events since; I recently launched my Afrobeat album. My first love is music but entertaining is my passion. I was born into a musical family so music has always been a part of my life. I cannot remember a time in my life when music was not a part of me, so I can really say that music chose me! All I did was fall in love.

Can you tell us more about your music? What encouraged you to become a singer?

After spending some time in Hong Kong, I noticed that Afrobeat was becoming a more well-known music genre here. I identified this through dance when I realised that there are so many talented dancers who would incorporate the Afrobeat rhythm and culture into their performances. I later started my own research and study around Afrobeat, particularly on how it had grown into a global sound enjoyed by a multicultural audience.

The sound originates from West Africa, particularly Nigeria. It’s a style mixed with West African and American jazz plus a bit of funk and soul. I’m excited to share my new album, titled “A Different Breed”, [with] 10 Afrobeat tracks on it all sung in English, and have already started introducing it on some South African radio stations. I plan to continue pushing it in Hong Kong and in other countries. I believe that anyone can relate to the lyrics and stories I share; more than anything, the beats are vibey and fun to dance to.

Read More: That Girl – Anisha Thai, Dancer, Model & Civil Engineer

How has your experience working in Hong Kong as a creative professional been so far?

Hong Kong is where I felt like my career was being solidified. It has given me an opportunity to create something unique and express, or exchange, the vibrant heritage of Africa. But it is challenging to start something new, and I also enjoy that I am a commodity.

What was your favourite part about being a performer at Disneyland?

More than anything, I enjoy sharing a stage with people from different parts of the world and learning about different cultures. Disneyland Hong Kong has the most talented performers, and I enjoyed meeting new people and creating friendships.

Read More: 10 Questions With Celine Ng, The Singer-Songwriter Behind WANYI

Can you share your most meaningful milestone?

It was when I decided to launch my solo career and produce my own album written by myself. It’s always been my dream.

What do you do in your downtime?

Because my life is almost like a party — when I am not out and about, I enjoy quiet time at home listening to music and watching movies. I especially love having long phone and video calls with my family.

Juggling singing, acting and modelling, what are three things you do to maintain work-life balance in your day-to-day?

It is not as hectic as it sounds, but keeping a good old schedule helps a lot to make sure I am not overwhelmed by work or overbooked.

Read More: That Girl – Aanchal Wadhwani, Actress & Photographer

What are five goals you have for this year?

I think setting goals sometimes puts pressure on us as human beings. I just take life as it goes. I wake up every morning with the mindset of achieving something on that day, big or small. I work and put the effort that I can into everything I do. I do, however, plan to also have fun, exploring more of the Hong Kong culture and people, sharing my music, and creating strong and happy relationships as I go along.

Where do you like to go for live music in Hong Kong?

I am usually busy when it is time for live music but if I am not working, I occasionally go to Foxglove where my friends play.

If you had one piece of advice to give to aspiring singers out there, what would it be?

Make music because you love and enjoy it. Do not make music because you want to become an overnight sensation. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to be successful. It’s different for everyone. One can release one song and make it big but one needs to put more effort into understanding their environment, finding a unique gap, and working very hard before finding success.

Read More: We Chat To The Founders Of HomeGrown Podcast About The Black Expat Experience In Hong Kong

The post Afrobeat Artist Londiwe Ngubeni On Performing At HK Disneyland, Her Music & More appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

We can’t deny that drag queens are born performers with a charm and level of confidence like no other! But there’s more going on behind the scenes than meets the eye, from making the leap to finding your style and building a support system. With hit-shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race and more LGBTQ+ shows hitting the limelight, not only are more people drawn to alluring performances by drag queens, more drag queens are on the rise! We chat to one of Hong Kong’s earliest divas, Coco Pop, on the secret to confidence on stage, costume inspirations and her RTHK show, We Are Family.

Read More: Our Favourite LGBTQ+ Shows To Watch On Netflix Right Now

Can you give us a brief journey of how you found your calling of transitioning into a drag queen? What inspired you to take the step?

Growing up, I was very much fascinated by divas like Madonna and Whitney Houston and local star, Anita Mui (my number one icon!), I always dreamt of one day performing like them. Back then, in my understanding, I thought I could never do that as a man. Then, at 19, I first got to know about drag queens! This was also around the time I was exploring my sexuality and getting to know the gay community, so it all came together.

I gave my first drag performance in 2002, it was just for fun, with some friends. I had bought my high heels back in 1997 but that was the night I wore them out for the first time and I felt so happy! I was eager to know when my next drag performance would be but my friends weren’t very keen on continuing. But I couldn’t stop, I dug deeper into the drag culture, famous drag queens from around the world and started contemplating how I could make this into a profession. I told myself I will do it, I didn’t know how, but I told myself I would learn!

From around 2006 onwards, I started performing regularly at a nightclub and my first show was lipsyncing to Anita Mui!

What part of being a drag queen do you find most appealing?

Initially I copied the styles of my icons but going on I found my own and that’s what was appealing to me. I don’t just mean make-up and costumes, I’m also talking about creating my own voice. I have my own RTHK show called We Are Family where all topics are welcome, for all types of viewers. I read stories for children and create educational videos about safer sex and aim to spread awareness about the LBGQT+ community. This is me creating Coco Pop’s image, beyond being a drag queen.

How significant would you say your shift in personality is when you are in drag?

There isn’t a huge difference between myself and Coco Pop, Coco Pop is like an extension of myself. Sometimes I think that Coco Pop is even more real – when I’m not in drag, I look like every other male in the society and with that comes certain expectations of masculinity. As Coco Pop, I can happily and confidently try whatever I want to do and be as bold as I want! Don’t get me wrong, I like both my selves and I don’t function like a switch (though some others do function like this which is also fine but I’m not that type). Both my selves are very similar and being a drag queen isn’t something secretive.

Would you say having a “drag family” is important?

You need to have a “chosen family” because in our community we need one to hang out with. It’s important for me, it’s important for the young ones in the LBGTQ+ community and all of us. People may have a good relationship with their biological family but sometimes it’s not the case. When you come out to the society, it’s good to bond with your chosen family and build your support group. 

For example, in countries where gay marriage is legalised, there have been many cases where people’s biological families wouldn’t show support or attend the wedding but their chosen family will always be there for them.

This topic is personally what I’m striving to push out there. I myself have my own chosen family, I have my drag daughters and two very good drag sisters who also have their own drag daughters. To be a drag queen, you need a lot of support. This goes to not just being supportive of being a drag queen but also helping others cope with their personal issues.

You’re a costume designer as well, who is your style inspo? Do you do your own makeup too?

Yes I do! I get my inspiration from anything and everything! Initially, I bought clothes from H&M, Zara and more but they could never accurately represent me so I started designing clothes myself. I like the 80’s fashion and monotones and it gives me more flexibility to fit my style when I make my own outfits. I’m still in the process of learning to sew – I try to learn more so that I can create more styles.

Growing up, I was a huge collector of fashion magazines and they greatly shaped my style. I also used to work for Elle magazine under merchandising so I have a significant knowledge in terms of fashion. I love them a lot and I’ve spent a lot money (and time!) looking through these magazines. Also, I aim to be eco-friendly with my choices so I love mixing and matching clothes and also borrowing pieces from other drag queens.

As for makeup, you can find plenty of tutorials on social media nowadays. Early on we relied on makeup artists and I would note down tips from them. Slowly, I picked up the techniques and now my face is my canvas! 

Read More: Beat-The-Heat Beauty Tips & Products To Keep Cool In Hong Kong Humidity

You were at last year’s Women’s Festival at Eaton, how was the experience for you?

Yes, I read What to Do When I’m Gone: A Mother’s Wisdom to Her Daughter and Dancing at the Pity Party to an adult audience (normally my audience for storytelling are young kids). It was a great experience and I have pitched something else for this year’s Women’s Festival – let’s see how it goes! I am always eager to spread my knowledge and I welcome any interviews because I want to be the bridge that connects people and deepens people’s understanding of the LGBTQ+ community.

You always own the stage! What tips do you have for looking and being confident?

Some people think that the minute you put on your make-up, wig and costume, you’ll automatically feel confident but it’s not quite like that. For me, confidence comes from preparation. And knowing you look great and your costume is impeccable adds to that confidence. If you’ve spent enough time getting ready, you know you’re the queen of the night and your confidence level only goes up from there.

Read More: 8 Inspiring Autobiographies & Memoirs To Read

How does your RTHK show, We Are Family spread awareness about the LGBTQ+ community in Hong Kong?

I welcome all topics on my show and I always have a little sex corner – not just for the LGBTQ+ community but also for straight-people – it usually airs after midnight so I found the timing quite apt! I also highlight tougher topics like sexual harassment. I like to encourage people to open up about all topics, none are off limits!

People think We Are Family is targeted towards certain people but it isn’t! It’s for everyone; parents, children, those struggling with their sexual identity. Another thing is, parents who have children in the LGBTQ+ community have very less support. They don’t know what to do and how to handle the situation and that’s where I can jump in and help. It’s a show where we come and say, “It’s okay, you’re not alone. Don’t be apologetic for who you are”.

What do you think people are often misinformed about when it comes to drag?

Hong Kong people are actually pretty open when it comes to LGBTQ+ issues but that’s only until they personally have to handle the situation, say finding out their son is gay or their daughter is a lesbian. Sometimes the family members are supportive, sometimes they are completely against or sometimes, they just ignore it. For my father, he wasn’t against me but he also didn’t really do anything about me coming out gay.

I think people are most misinformed about handling these types of situations.

What form of discrimination have you often faced? Do you think Hong Kong is more tolerant now than before towards the LGBTQ+ community?

I have personally never felt directly discriminated by anyone. And my gay friends who came from countries with legalised gay marriage often say they feel safer in Hong Kong than in their own countries! Hongkongers are tolerant until they themselves have to deal with a family member who is from the LGBTQ+ community, but I’m hopeful that the situation will gradually improve.

Read More: 11 Relatively New LGBTQI+ Books To Read This Pride Month 

The post 10 Questions With Coco Pop, A Hong Kong Drag Queen appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.

It’s always exciting to catch up with a former Sassy gal to see where life has taken them. Since parting with the team, Simran Savlani has been tirelessly working to follow her passion for food and cooking. After graduating from Le Cordon Bleu and working around the world as an F&B consultant, she decided it was time to take the next step in her career. But when her dream of opening up her own restaurant had to be put on the back burner due to the pandemic, Simran ended up creating a line of original Spark Sauces and putting together a cookbook of 116 recipes, titled A Spark of Madness, inspired by her travels around Asia and beyond.

Ahead, we chat with Simran to ask her 10 questions, covering everything from the inspiration behind her cookbook, her goals for 2022, and where she likes to shop for ingredients in Hong Kong…

Read more: 10 Questions With Chamani Wong, Co-Founder Of BEAMS Co.

Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from and how long have you lived in Hong Kong?

I am a “made in Taiwan” baby, I was born there and lived there for 7 years before moving to India and then Hong Kong. Hong Kong has been my home for the last couple of decades and seven of those years were spent working at Sassy! I eventually decided to leave the city to pursue my dreams of learning how to run a restaurant, enrolled to study at Le Cordon Bleu and hopped on a plane to Paris. After completing my diploma I started working as a Restaurant Consultant and worked for restaurants across Melbourne, Jakarta, Hong Kong, Lagos and Bombay, including Soho House Bombay.

In 2020, I finally thought I was ready to open my own restaurant – but along with the rest of the world, my life came to a standstill. I was stuck in India for 6 months during the most severe lockdown. For the first time as an adult, I didn’t have a job and all I was doing was cooking and eating. I decided to make lemon curd meringue out of lemons and put myself through self-taught culinary school – the accumulation of which resulted in my cookbook.

As Robin Williams, famously said, “You’re only given a little a spark of madness, and if you lose that… you’re nothing.” I adhere to this religiously, if you have a spark (or idea), go pursue it, give it your best and then see how the universe responds to it, but whatever you do, always hold on to the madness.

What ignited your passion for food and cooking?

I have always been curious about food, there is nothing I dislike and too many things I like. Talking about food and brainstorming flavours and combinations has been the foundation of some of my best friendships. You can get me talking for hours on how I like a dish to have the perfect balance of sugar, spice, salt and a crunchy texture.

I started baking at a young age and have had my fair share of goof-ups, such as putting salt instead of sugar in my sister’s birthday cake or keeping things in the oven for much longer than needed, but that didn’t stop the curiosity.

However, at Le Cordon Bleu, I trained to be a restaurant consultant and not a chef as I don’t have the patience or acumen to follow details. I prefer free-styling and tossing things into the wok as I go along. So, the irony of me having written a cookbook hasn’t fallen on deaf ears. I have never followed a recipe line-for-line myself but now I have written a cookbook with 116 recipes!

We’re big fans of your Spark Sauces. What is your favourite thing to make with them?

I love sauces and when designing Spark Sauces, I wanted to ensure that firstly the taste wasn’t one dimensional and second that the usage wasn’t one dimensional either. Despite being Asian-inspired sauces (and they do taste amazing on dumplings and fried rice), they can be paired with a wide variety of cuisines and dishes from all around the world.

I made Spark sauces for you to have fun with, experiment with and play with. Use them as a condiment, for cooking or have them on their own. I love having my pizza and burrata with Crispy Chili Oil, my Greek salad and Elote Corn with Caramelized Spring Onion and my French fries with Crack Sauce. Sometimes I just toss all three into a bowl of cold noodles. Another favourite pairing is chocolate ice cream with Crispy Chili Oil!

Congrats on launching your first cookbook! Would you say this is your most meaningful milestone so far?

Writing a cookbook was never part of the plan, it was a pivot from the plan. My dream, for as long as I can remember, has been to open a restaurant. But when I had to put that dream on hold, I decided to feed people through a cookbook. There is no greater joy for me than seeing people eat something they love. That look takes over their face and the excitement is worth all the work.

A Spark of Madness, is an Asian vegetarian cookbook – I have travelled extensively and eaten across each of the cities mentioned in the book. I’ve also included personal anecdotes about each dish – Why is it in the cookbook? What is the story behind the dish? Where did the ingredients come from and how did they become such a key part of the region’s culture? I am intrigued by these stories and hence wanted to share it with everyone.

At the end of it all, the biggest joy was to see the cookbook go from being a manuscript on my laptop to being on the bookshelves of households around the world.

And on the flip side of that, what has been your biggest challenge?

Writing doesn’t come easy to me and the cookbook challenged me to the core – I suddenly had to have measurements for all my recipes, words to my crazy ideas, and learn how to publish a book along the way! I did know I wanted a few things to be represented in the book for sure. All of the recipes are fool-proof and flavourful, with an easy-to-find ingredient list. I personally get annoyed when I have to visit five grocery stores to make a single dish, hence in my book I’ve specified whether an ingredient is essential or can be substituted with something that you already have in your fridge or pantry.

Read more: Nutritionist-Approved Pantry & Freezer Essentials

What are five goals you hope to achieve this year?

The year 2022 has started off feeling a lot like 2020 but hopefully this time we are better equipped mentally and physically to manoeuvre and thrive despite the pandemic. My goals for this year are:

• To grow Spark – I want it to be an international brand. I want to share the sauces with everyone and further grow the product range.
• To read more – having only read my cookbook manuscript (over 10 times) in 2021, I would love to get back to reading regularly again and I’ve started with Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro.
• To be more comfortable in my body – for most of my adult life, I’ve struggled with my weight so this year instead of going for the cliché goal to lose weight, I aim to be more comfortable with myself.
• To challenge myself – I truly believe the greatest ideas and growth comes from moments of chaos and confusion. It is easy to live an easy life but going out there and putting yourself in uncomfortable scenarios is what I always look for.
• To build a better relationship with money – it’s a topic that is not discussed often and we are always questioning how much we need, but I would like to spend time this year to understand my relationship with money.

What are three things you do to maintain work-life balance in your day-to-day?

Balancing is a tough act, I struggle with this as when I am in work mode, I like to focus solely on my work and everything else can take a back seat. In all honesty, I can’t say I have a daily work-life balance but a motto I live by is “work hard, play harder”. So, when I am done working, I make it a point to take some time off to recharge and rejuvenate. This could either be by going on a whole day hike (I have currently finished three out of the four Hong Kong Trails and am excited to complete the final one). I will have my phone switched off the whole day and just enjoy the challenge of completing a trail. Or it could be spending time with my sister and girlfriends giggling over the silliest things, with copious amounts of wine and fries.

Where do you like to shop for ingredients in Hong Kong?

I love the streets around Sai Ying Pun wet market, you have several local grocers there selling everything from fresh noodles, sauces, vegetables, tofu. There is a Fineprint around the corner where I get my latte for the day, and then I begin to tick items off my grocery list. You also have all the ethnic Indonesian, Thai, Filipino and Indian grocers in the area. It is the perfect one-stop street to get all your ingredients.

Read more: 3 Quick & Easy Recipes Using Wet Market Greens

What would your last meal be?

Ah, this would be an easy one! Vegetable dumplings with Spark Crispy Chili Oil, egg fried rice, a bottle of Chianti and to finish, a warm chocolate chip cookie with sea salt flakes. Easy, right?

What advice do you have for someone who isn’t confident in cooking?

Don’t overthink it. Find a recipe that excites you. A recipe is usually much easier than it seems. Don’t forget to keep tasting along the way, it helps to give you more control over the taste. I’d also recommend listing to A Spark of Madness Spotify playlist (created by yours truly) whilst cooking! It helps to calm my nerves, and I hope it can do the same for you!

Read more: That Girl: Aanchal Wadhwani, Actress & Photographer

The post 10 Questions With Simran Savlani, F&B Consultant And Cookbook Author appeared first on Sassy Hong Kong.