For Lila Tan, football and fashion are the fixations that feel most like her, and she’s clear about why: “Both give me the creative freedom for self-expression.” With a Singaporean-French background, the 22-year-old has spent most of her life in Shanghai, where she grew up trilingual in English, Mandarin and French.
“Football has always been an integral part of my life,” she says, tracing it back to growing up in a family full of athletes—with three brothers who all play. It began with “competitiveness and fear of missing out, watching my brothers play”, before deepening into something more lasting. “Over time, that curiosity turned into genuine passion and love for the beautiful game.” Being part of the Women’s Premier League added its own learning curve and she describes it as rewarding even when it pushed her. But through it all, she returns to the same perspective: “I remind myself that it is a privilege to do what I do, to have the opportunity to pursue both sport and creativity.”
That drive carries into her creative life too, where she describes her path as instinct-led from the start. “Content creation came about very naturally,” she explains, adding: “I simply enjoyed sharing things I loved.” Modelling followed as another outlet, one that became more deliberate over time. “It started as a passion and gradually evolved into something more intentional.” She frames personal style through an intuitive lens, allowing ease to guide the narrative. “I wear what feels right to me; comfort is always a priority,” she shares.
When the conversation turns to the homegrown sports scene, she opens up about how far things have come and how much further they can go. “Women’s football in Singapore has made progress, but there is still significant space for growth.” What she wants next is practical—more representation and long-term support, and the bigger hope, she adds, is “the eradication of gender bias in sports” so that the focus lands on “genuine recognition of athleticism, skill and professionalism”.
“Women’s football in Singapore has made progress, but there is still significant space for growth.”
As for what Ignite means to her, she answers simply: “It signifies power and strength; it connects with me in a way that manifests itself in everything I do, whether it is sports or fashion.” Tan stands as proof that ambition doesn’t have to fit into one lane and she comes back to the same advice when it comes to growth: “Firstly, I would say to not be afraid. Fear limits self-discovery.” Showing up fully, she makes room for herself to be seen, letting that fiery energy carry her into what comes next.
Photography Kim Jaeha
Styling Lance Aeron
Hair Marc Teng
Make-up Sarah Tan
Photographer’s assistant Fong Wei Han
Special thanks to ActiveSG Jalan Besar Sport Centre
