From left , Jackson B. Chen , Mona Oei, Michelle Chia and Johnny Koh
We had this delicious wasabi mayonnaise prawn
This article was written by Mona Oei Mona Hwang
This is a year for “firsts”. This is the first time I had lunch (yusheng lo hei lunch) with a renowned former MediaCorp artiste, none other than Ms Michelle Chia !!!
The road to having lunch with her was an unexpected road wherein I had gotten to know her incredibly personable and friendly husband Jackson B Chen before we got to meet her. Sometime in February 2025 I had called Jackson, a property agent with a renowned real estate agency in Singapore with a view to viewing one of his properties listed under him. He has such an easy going friendly manner that it was unbelievably easy chatting with him. Two weeks later, he texted me again to ask if I would like to view that property but Hubby and I couldn’t make it.
Six months later, he appeared in my Instagram post with hey, gorgeous Michelle Chia and wow, they were exchanging vows in Bintan. This was in August 2025. WOW I thought to myself “why does this guy look so familiar” as he danced with Michelle on the beautiful beaches of Bintan and he serenaded her in Cantonese as part of their wedding ceremony. They were/are picture perfect and such a lovely couple to gawk at. I was hooked!!! Count me in as one of their Forever Fans.
To be fair, I had always been a fan of Michelle Chia’s, more so after she became a host/presenter rather than during her acting days. She has this flair and ease about her, doing shows and travel programs. I believe it is the innate nurturing side of her which just is screaming to come out to nurture someone and want to genuinely get to know you. You wouldn’t be able to find a bone of hypocrisy in Michelle even if you searched high and low with a fine tooth comb! She is as lovely on screen as she is in person!!!
Oh the topic at hand….Hubby and I asked Jackson and Michelle out for lunch today. She is as angelic and beautiful as what you see in person, slim, flowing and every inch the sophisticated being you know her to be, MICHELLE CHIA!!! Absolute no airs !!!!
I lost count of the number of times I teared during the lunch because of her magnanimity and I was so touched by her unbelievable sincerity. How could someone so famous and so beautiful have absolutely no airs? I don’t know how she does it!!!I felt we bonded and I was able to ask her some probing questions like “Michelle how do you stay so grounded?” “There is absolutely no tinge or arrogance in you at all.” “How do you feel…waking up every day and remembering you are Michelle Chia? How do you deal with all the fame and curious looks every where you go?” She was every inch the complying and obliging star and she answered all my innocent (albeit childlike) questions and never once laughed at my silly questions.
I told her and Jackson I have never in my life met another couple who were so happy with life(and with each other) as they were. They are truly made for each other!!!
Long Live Michelle Chen and Jackson B. Chen!!!
May God bless you wondrously!!!