Vivian Lai
Singaporean actress and host (born 1976)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vivian Lai Yi-ling (born 18 December 1976) is a Taiwanese-born actress, television host and businesswoman based in Singapore.
- Actress
- television host
- businesswoman
Vivian Lai | |
|---|---|
| Born | 18 December 1976 |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1999-present |
| Spouse |
Alain Ong (m. 2001) |
| Children | 2 |
| Awards | Full list |
| Chinese name | |
| Traditional Chinese | 賴怡伶 |
| Simplified Chinese | 赖怡伶 |
| Hanyu Pinyin | Lài Yílíng |
| Jyutping | Laai6 Ji4 Ling4 |
Early life
Born in Taiwan, Lai migrated to Singapore with her Taiwanese family when she was still a student.
Career
Media
Lai joined Star Search Singapore 1999 and was the winner in the Singapore edition and the overall champion in the female contestant category.[1][2]
Lai started out as an actress, making her debut in Knotty Liaisons,[3] and won good reviews. After a few dramas, Lai attempted hosting with her first variety show, Property Classified.[2] She eventually focused on hosting and has hosted various kinds of programmes ranging from food reviews to travelogues. In 2012, after numerous nominations, she won her first professional award, the Best Supporting Actress award, at the Star Awards 2012 for her role as a Chinese immigrant in Love Thy Neighbour.
Her current management company is LNX Global headed by Li Nanxing.[4]
Business ventures
In 2014, Lai, with fellow host Quan Yifeng and hairstylist Addy Lee, set up the social media and production company 3x Media Production.[2]
In September 2019, Lai set up her bubble tea brand Teabrary.[2]
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Lai has been active as a livestream e-commerce vendor. She is also a co-host of The Wonder Shop, an infomercial series on Channel 8.[5]
Brand ambassador
Lai is the brand ambassador for Kirei Kirei soap, Samsung electrical appliances and Osim massage.[6] She was also the brand ambassador for Pokka International and Deputy Group CEO of Pokka Corporation from 2008 to 2018. In 2012, she was paid S$1 million to continue endorsing the brand.[7] Lai's contract as an ambassador was terminated in the October 2018.[8]
Personal life
Lai is married to Alain Ong and the couple have two daughters, Vera and Ariel.[9] Their house in central Singapore was estimated to be worth $8 million in 2018.[10]
Ong is the CEO of Pokka International and Deputy Group CEO of Pokka Corporation which Lai has been brand ambassador for multiple years from around 2008. This has thus attracted its fair share of controversy, amid allegations of conflict of interest which in 2012, she was paid S$1 million to continue endorsing the brand.[7]
In September 2018, her husband, Ong, was suspended from his posts by Pokka Corporation following an internal audit and would later take up a new appointment offered by Kimly, which he was a non-executive director of Kimly.[11] Lai's contract as an ambassador was terminated in the following month, despite claims by Mediacorp that her contract would remain unchanged.[8]
In 2022, Lai revealed that she suffered from a slipped disc.[12] She chose not to go for a surgery which has 50% chance of success and chose traditional chinese medicine and acupuncture to improve her condition.[12]
Lai has adopted seven dogs and encourages others to adopt instead of buying pets. She takes care of them with her daughters and domestic helper with a monthly pet budget of $1,500 to $2,000.[13]
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Money No Enough 2 | Zhou Yanyan | ||
| 2009 | Where Got Ghost? |
Television series
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Knotty Liaisons | Jiaxuan | [3] | |
| Adam's Company | Elaine | |||
| Dare To Strike | ||||
| 2001 | Looking For Stars | Piggy | ||
| The Hotel | Lai Meiling | |||
| Three Women and A Half | Xiaoping | |||
| 2002 | Bukit Ho Swee | Wang Qing | ||
| Kopi-O II | Shuyun | |||
| The Unbeatables III | Dong Meiyao | |||
| 2003 | Holland V | Mo Rourou | [2] | |
| 2004 | Double Happiness | Luo Jiaqian | [2] | |
| Double Happiness II | Luo Jiaqian | |||
| 2005 | Love at 0°C | Liu Siqi | ||
| 2006 | Time to Heal | |||
| 2007 | Live Again | Jenny | [14] | |
| Making Miracles | Xu Xiuyuan | |||
| The Homecoming | Qianyi | |||
| 2008 | Just in Singapore | Jinyan | ||
| Love Blossoms II | Fan Fan | |||
| 2011 | Be Happy | Mable | ||
| Love Thy Neighbour | Shanshan | |||
| 2014 | World at Your Feet | Mo Lihua | ||
| 2015 | Super Senior | Ivy Ji Shanzhong | ||
| 2016 | The Queen | Zeng Jing | [15] | |
| 2019 | My One In A Million (我的万里挑一) | Vivian Lai | ||
| The Good Fight (致胜出击) | Rourou | |||
| A World of Difference (都市狂想) | Rui En | |||
| 2021 | Soul Old Yet So Young (心里住着老灵魂) | Cindy Yen | ||
| The Heartland Hero | Lexi |
Variety shows
| Year | Title | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Property Classified | [2] | |
| 2007 | On the Beat II | ||
| My Beautiful Life | |||
| Star Awards Post-Show Party | |||
| 2008 | The NTUC Show | ||
| Lunar New Year Eve Celebration | |||
| Dialect Delights | |||
| Bioskin Dreams Come True II | |||
| On the Beat III | |||
| Amuse Me | |||
| DIY My Home | |||
| 2009 | My House Husband's Journal 小男人周记 | ||
| Amuse U | |||
| 2010 | You Are The Man | ||
| 2011 | Sizzling Woks 3 | ||
| Ladies Nite | |||
| Home Makeover 2 | |||
| 2012 | My Fair Ladies | ||
| Silver Carnival | |||
| Simply Exquisite | |||
| Dessert Time | |||
| 2013 | Say It! | ||
| Laughing Out Loud | |||
| 2014 | Eat and Be Merry | ||
| Black Rose 2 | |||
| Style: Check-In 4 | Guest Host | ||
| Say It! 2 | |||
| Style: Check-In 5 | |||
| Ladies Nite 3 | |||
| 2015 | Hey Chef! | ||
| Hey Gorgeous 2015 | |||
| The Successor | |||
| 2016 | Touch Screen Cuisine | ||
| What's In The Fridge? | |||
| 2017 | A Gift for Mum | ||
| 2019 | The Destined One | Guest Matchmaker | |
| 2020 | A Gift For Mum 3 | [2] |
Discography
Compilation albums
| Year | English title | Mandarin title |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 12 | 新传媒群星金龙接财神 |
| 2018 | MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 18 | 新传媒群星阿狗狗过好年 |
| 2019 | MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 19 | 新传媒群星猪饱饱欢乐迎肥年 |
| 2020 | MediaCorp Music Lunar New Year Album 20 | 裕鼠鼠纳福迎春了 |
