
Kelly Chen reveals she once considered retiring from music after marriage
Hong Kong singer-actress Kelly Chen is currently on her Kelly Season 2 World Tour.
On July 11, the pop diva launched her highly anticipated 10-night live in Hong Kong concert series, boasting eight costume changes and nostalgic hit numbers.
Sin Chew reported that during her July 15 show at the Hong Kong Coliseum, the Cantopop star played a clip from her 2008 performance – where she had famously announced her marriage on stage.
Reflecting on that moment, Chen shared with the crowd: 'At that time, when I was getting married, I thought I'd quit the industry. Who knew it wasn't necessary…'
The 52-year-old went on to express heartfelt gratitude to her fans for supporting her through every stage of life.
In the 2008 video, she had asked the audience if they'd still come watch her perform even though she's married and has children.
Thankfully for her fans, Chen has continued to perform – and she still looks and sounds amazing.
However, she acknowledged that change is inevitable, and that she'll need to adapt her performances as she gets older.
'I think by then I will leave the dancing to all of you,' she said with a laugh, imagining what her shows might be like in 10 years.
Chen married her long-time boyfriend, businessman Alex Lau, on Oct 2, 2008. The couple now has two children. View this post on Instagram
A post shared by· 陳 慧 琳 (@kellychenwailam)

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Hype Malaysia
an hour ago
- Hype Malaysia
(Video) Colgate Malaysia Teases Collaboration With K-pop Icon IU; Is She Coming To KL?
These brands do love to tease fans when it comes to collaborations with Korean stars – not that we're complaining, of course. Recently, several companies have been teasing their partnerships with idol groups and actors ahead of official announcements to build excitement. These promotions are clearly doing the trick, as fans are almost always able to guess the mystery collaborators based on nothing more than a silhouette. And now, it seems one singer could be making her way to Malaysia very soon. Who is she? Let's find out. Over the weekend, oral hygiene brand Colgate Malaysia posted a video on social media teasing a future collaboration with a K-pop icon. The clip featured a female singer dressed in purple, posing for the cameras with her face obscured, revealing only her smile. 'The queen of K-pop is about to spill her secret beauty hack for a radiant smile 😁✨ Any guesses? Coming your way soon. Stay tuned!' the brand wrote in the captions. If the smile wasn't already a clear giveaway, the hint 'Queen of K-pop' certainly is, as there's only one person known by that title. As expected, fans flocked to the comments section to share their guesses, but the majority had one name in mind: none other than IU (아이유). Not only is she celebrated as a gifted singer-songwriter, but she's also an accomplished actress, having recently won Best Actress at the Blue Dragon Series Awards and Baeksang Arts Awards for her role in 'When Life Gives You Tangerines'. While Colgate Malaysia's teaser is certainly exciting, there has been no confirmation or indication, at the time of writing, that IU will be making a special appearance in Malaysia. Still, that hasn't stopped fans from urging the brand to invite the icon back to Malaysia for an event. The last time IU was here, she performed at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil back in 2024 and even handed out snacks to fans upon her arrival at KLIA. We personally would love to see IU again, but for now, we'll have to wait for the official announcements for more details about this collaboration. Watch the teaser below: Source: Instagram


Borneo Post
3 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Indie vibes take centre stage in KromaKuning's Sarawak Day tribute in Kuching
The 'KHEMAH I.N.D.I.E.P.E.N.D.E.N.C.E DAY' programme brought together local creatives in a night of music, expression, and community spirit. KUCHING (July 28): Over 50 people gathered at Khemah Café, Jalan Dagok Timur here to celebrate this year's Sarawak Day in an alternative and independent spirit. Themed 'KHEMAH I.N.D.I.E.P.E.N.D.E.N.C.E DAY', the programme was jointly organised by KolabBasi: Kumpulan Tidak Konsistan (KromaKuning) and Khemah Café, spotlighting the independent music scene and alternative artistic expression, offering a grassroots platform for the local voices. 'We built this event with the true spirit of independence; not just nostalgia, but the freedom to be yourself, to speak out, and to feel accepted without having to follow industry formulas. 'And most importantly, we did this with our own hands, for ourselves,' a KromaKuning spokesperson told The Borneo Post. The night featured performances by five independent acts, starting with a soulful R&B showcase by Dayangmu. Coming up next was Lydbie, who delivered introspective, melancholic pieces that resonated with the audience. Akmal Kamisly followed up with a solo set before being joined by Dayangmu for a duet. Wan Purong added humour and interactive energy to the evening, while Adruce Azman closed the event with a series of original songs that blended folk and jazz. His set began with a heartfelt rendition of 'Ibu Pertiwiku', paying tribute to Sarawak Day. Beyond the music, the event also included a digital campaign titled 'Follow & Freebie', which boosted online engagements. Attendees who followed the organisers' Instagram accounts (@kromakuning and @ received exclusive merchandise items, including limited edition stickers and customised design pieces. Those dressed in a 'camping vibes' theme received special drink promotions, further enhancing the laid-back and free-spirited atmosphere. 'This event is not just entertainment, but a manifestation of alternative voices that rarely find space in the mainstream. 'Through an open and community-driven format, we've created space for new talent to shine,' added the KromaKuning spokesperson. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many describing it as 'a fresh breeze' in the Sarawak Day celebration scene. KromaKuning expressed hope of making the camp-themed gathering an annual event, continuing the open mic sessions and alternative art programmes. 'We would also welcome collaborations with other groups in promoting independent culture and community arts,' said the spokesperson. KolabBasi is an independent art collective led by KromaKuning, engaging Sarawakians in music, visual arts, writing, and community activism. Known as the Kumpulan Tidak Konsistan, the group operates informally but consistently to champion a space for alternative expression in Borneo. Khemah Café, known for its tropical camping-themed décor, continues to serve as a hub for creative gatherings, including photo exhibitions, poetry readings, book discussions, and acoustic shows.


The Star
18 hours ago
- The Star
The claw grip is trending, and it says a lot about women's fashion woes
Everywhere you look, women have their hands full. They are clutching water bottles, phones, cups of matcha and wallets. Now that it's summer, sunglasses dangle off the pinkies of already stuffed hands. Never mind that women's handbags, where these items could theoretically live, make up an entire industry and that bigger bags, in particular, are having a moment. The phenomenon, in which women are gripping their necessities without the aid of pockets or bags, is called the claw grip, and on social media, it has been crowned as a secret superpower. In one video on TikTok, a woman challenged herself to carry as many items as possible in one hand. She managed 15, including a lip balm, a pen, a bottle of hand sanitiser, a Kindle, a notebook, a wallet, a power bank, a comb and three water bottles. Read more: Why toes are taking over: Fashion's growing obsession with feet-first style An Instagram account dedicated to girls carrying things (which uses a profane synonym for 'things' and sometimes goes by GCS) posts images submitted by users of their hands full of various bric-a-brac. 'I have seen my grandma do the claw grip all her life,' comedian Atsuko Okatsuka said in an email. 'Every grandma of every culture and race always has, like, a napkin or a piece of trash that they've been carrying around for a long time, maybe years. 'I have taken on the passed-down tradition of claw hands myself,' she added. 'Whether it's mayonnaise packets, or napkins or my cellphone, I am always holding stuff.' For Halle Robbe, personal experience with this tradition prompted her to create the GCS account on Instagram. In 2021, Robbe had run out to a nearby bodega. 'I just brought my keys, my wallet and my AirPods with me, and then I was going to get a Red Bull,' she said, noting that she did not bring a bag. 'I had it all in my hand so I took a photo and put it on my personal Instagram with some silly caption that was some version of, like, 'After hundreds of years of evolution, this is what I can do.'' Her friends responded to her post almost immediately, saying they do the same thing. Robbe created the GCS account that same day. She initially solicited photos from friends and co-workers, and now she receives more than 100 submissions a day. 'I think we've all been there when we have just, like, an assortment of stuff and we're running out the door,' said Abby Cox, 29, a fashion historian and a YouTube content creator. 'I need to make sure I have my glasses. I need my water bottle. Do I need to bring a snack? 'And so you're going out the door with your purse,' she added, 'And then the stuff that should be in your purse.' A popular theory around the origins of the claw grip is that it is a reaction to the fashion industry's refusal to provide women with the functional pockets that are standard in men's clothing. It was not always this way. As far back as the Regency and Victorian eras, women had pockets in the form of bags that were tied around their waists underneath their big, flouncy skirts, Cox said. Their dresses had slits through which women could access these pockets, which could be as big or small as necessary. Cox added: 'They would have pockets in the hems of skirts or they would have what we call butt pockets, because in the back pleats of gowns, you could hide a deep pocket.' In one of her YouTube videos, in which she is dressed in Victorian clothing, she put an entire bottle of prosecco in such a pocket. In the late 20th century, as female clothing shifted toward narrower silhouettes and lighter textiles, substantial pockets became difficult to incorporate, so they were sized down or erased from garments altogether, she said. In February 2024, Hailey Bieber's brand, Rhode, released a phone case with a built-in lip gloss holder that generated a wait list of more than 200,000 interested customers. Now the case and the lip gloss have become immediately recognisable, partly because of how many times they're seen peeking through women's hands – or particularly, Bieber's hands. This month, Glossier – which from its earliest days had packaged items in pink transparent reusable pouches – released a pair of terry-cloth shorts with a sliver of a pocket that fit only lip balms. There are also side pockets, which could fit a phone, and a single belt loop, potentially for key rings. There are also theories that the claw grip reflects the chaos of the minds of women who are thinking through to-do lists and mentally writing text messages and running errands all at the same time. 'I think holding things in our hands actually is our need to keep something in control,' Okatsuka said. 'I started getting submissions that were like, 'Oh, I'm carrying XYZ and the weight of the world' or something metaphorical like that,' Robbe said. The claw grip, she added, could be seen as 'an extension of or in parallel with the mental and emotional and spiritual burdens that women carry'. Read more: From kopitiam to cool: How the white tank top became a style staple for men It is an idea that artist Maira Kalman started to explore three years ago. 'One day at a farmers market, I saw a woman carrying an absolutely gigantic cabbage,' Kalman said in a 2023 TED Talk. 'It made me think of all the things women hold, literally and metaphorically.' Yes, they hold cabbages, balloons, phones. But also, in her own words, "the home and the family and the children and the food". "The friendships, the work, the work of the world and the work of being human. The memories and the troubles and the sorrows and the triumphs and the love. Men do as well, but not quite in the same way,' she added. She turned her observations into a book of paintings. It is called Women Holding Things. – ©2025 The New York Times Company This article originally appeared in The New York Times.