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It was third time lucky for He Yingying, who won her first Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste trophy at Star Awards 2024 last night (Apr 21). She was previously nominated for the category in 2017 and 2021.
“So this is how it feels to be on stage!” says Yingying, 29, excitedly in her acceptance speech. “I have been in the industry for almost nine years, and this is my first award – not too late or too soon, [the timing is] just right.”
When 8days.sg speaks with the actress backstage, she says she was “super, super shocked” when her name was called.
“But I kind of kicked into auto pilot [mode] ‘cos I was afraid I would run out of time for my thank you speech,” she says.
“I prepared a speech, but it was with the attitude of if win then win lah, don’t win it’s fine too, so I was really shocked. And I think I was the third person [Ed: she was actually the fourth] to be called up on stage. I was not expecting that.”
The only things on her mind were to get on stage quickly and don’t fall.
Apart from her fan club and managers, who actively helped her to cavass votes, Yingying attributes her win to friends and family who voted for her every day.
“We have group chats and every day they would be like, ‘Time to vote or don’t forget to vote,’ and I am so thankful for that. I never asked them to do that for me, but out of love, they have been supporting me ever so silently,” she shares.
When asked if she brought anything for good luck, she replies, “Not really but maybe next year onwards, I will wear the same pair of underwear.”
Hearing this, Shaun Chen, who was next to Yingying, jokingly covers his nose.
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t wash it!” she exclaims, before continuing, “But the interesting thing is, my stylist saw this outfit that I’m wearing [from British luxury label 16arlington] last year and he told me he was going to give this to me to wear to go on stage [at Star Awards 2024]. I told him I don’t know if I am going to be nominated or win anything, but he said that he has faith in me. So maybe this is my lucky charm. My stylist manifested my win.”