JYST X Inspires w/Simone Heng
Meet the Chilli padi (pocket rocket) that has travelled cities all over the world as a broadcaster + influencer
- Simone Heng!
Born in Singapore to a Chinese father and Portuguese Eurasian mother she has lived in Switzerland, Singapore, Dubai and Australia, with each place leaving a mark on her.
Check out her blog/Instagram and you can be sure to expect to find tips on how to live a more inspired and beautiful life with a little bit of style, a dash of dining and DIY, some comedy and inspirational stories.
Hey there Simone,
Thanks so much for lending time out of your busy schedule to do this interview with me! Especially after returning from Perth + going straight back to work!
Ha! This is nothing, compared to what I used to do in Dubai. I used to not even sleep, so we are all good! LOL
We always like to start interviews with random Q's that aren't really controversial at all but are very relevant:
Fave Singaporean Dish?
Chicken Rice! I have the healthy version which is the steamed breast meat with no skin and I eat only 30% of the rice which is cooked in chicken fat (delicious but too dangerous after aged 30).
Bold lip or bold eye makeup?
I like to play around with both, which you probably can see from my Instagram. (Which by the way you should definitely check out! @simoneheng)
If you were a fruit, what fruit would you be and why?
A lychee. Asian, sweet, tough on the outside, soft-hearted on the inside and feminine.
Yasss - that was amazing!
So tell us a little bit about yourself + your professional/creative journey so far
I have been really blessed to work all over the world in both TV and radio. I only ever wanted to be broadcaster, and it is the only job I have ever had. I left Australia at 21 to move to Singapore and get a start in the media industry, I worked for HBO Asia as their first regional host (I cannot believe that is 11 years ago now) and did some commercial modelling and radio, that was from mid 2005 until the end of 2008. I was then poached to work for Virgin Radio Dubai from Singapore and was based there from 2008 until the beginning of 2014.
It was in Dubai that I got to achieve a lot of my goals, I met my boss Richard Branson, was an endorser for some big brands, interviewed a bunch of celebrities (The Kardashians, Adriana Lima, Gerard Butler, Lewis Hamilton and so many I cannot remember) and fronted a special for CNN International. It was a really heady time. I did some of my best work there and was such a baby, I was only 23 when I moved there by myself. I was such a little punk! Very brave and with zero fear.
In 2013 my mother suffered a very severe stroke and became disabled, I left the life I had built in Dubai and moved back to small town Perth. I was on air there at Mix 94.5 for about a year, while also settling my Mum's affairs. In mid 2015 I moved back to Singapore so I could pick my career back up but still be geographically close to my Mum.
I secured a talent contract from Mediacorp before moving over from Perth, I began work straight away after getting off the plane. Just the same way I did when I moved over to Dubai. It feels like I am living the same life again just in a different region and being 10 years older (and wiser).
I host 2 to 5pm weekdays on Class 95FM, which is the number one English station here in Singapore. I have a TV show also, if you don't live in Singapore you can play catch up at www.eatliststar.com. I also have a huge project that has just been signed for mid-year which I am keeping close to my chest and have just shot a 6 page feature for Esquire Singapore which comes out in April. So things have been very busy, a good start to 2017. I am a lucky girl.
Wow, so international! And the Kardashians! Sounds like it has been a pretty amazing journey so far.
Singapore is amazingly close to Perth, I love that you have such a fond relationship with your mother - and you just got back from her 70th birthday!
So you currently reside in Singapore and have an epic career in Radio + Tv presenting here (Shout out to @EatListStar, which I have been watching religiously while I'm here!) - how did you get into this side of media?
I did an internship with Mediacorp radio in 2004 which lead to an audition with Channel V in Malaysia. I got the gig and moved to Asia. Ironically, I now work for the same company I interned for all those years ago.
How long have you been blogging for and what inspired you to start?
I started in 2012 because I am a very visual person by nature. I think most Taureans seem to be. LOL.
Who is someone (industry/or not) that you look up to and why?
Career-wise, I have always looked up to women who know how to brand themselves, that is 70% of the fight. Someone like Jennifer Lopez for example and Victoria Beckham. I love Oprah in terms of channelling her public profile into influencing people for the better and I am slowly moving more and more into this direction.
Definitely - Branding is key! #DJKhaled, and all such amazing examples of #GIRLBOSSES too!
What would you tell someone out there/anywhere reading this that wants to get into hosting/radio/the creative industry?
I think with old media morphing into digital, the person needs to be able to do it all. From my experience in Asia and the Middle East, you need to be what my mentor calls a "pizza". You have your base (radio) but you have to have all your toppings like your modelling, endorsements, digital properties, socials, voice overs and you have to edit and produce trailers too.
Oh my goodness - who knew pizza could be both delicious and a great analogy!?
We believe in #GOALS here @JYST - where do you see yourself in 5/10 years time?
I would hope to be completely digital by this time and have built a solid content creation project. I also, do not know where I will be living as I tend to get offers when I least expect them. I will always be doing what I love for a living. I hope I will be married and have children by then too.
That's amazing, thanks so much for taking time out of your schedule to speak with us!
Be sure to check out Simone on here:
IG - @SimoneHeng
And of course www.eatliststar.com
