An exclusive acting contract with Mediacorp after she won the inaugural Star Search competition in 1988 first catapulted Zoe Tay to unprecedented heights, and the rest, you can say, is history. From being appointed as a L’Oreal Paris ambassador to winning four Best Actress Star Awards, it’s safe to say Vogue Singapore’s July/August ‘Home’ issue cover star isn’t just Singapore’s ‘Queen of Caldecott Hill’—she’s a cultural maven whose career has shaped the nation’s entertainment landscape for nearly four decades. This year, Singapore’s ah jie‘s back in full force, taking on the role of a family matriarch in Netflix’s highly anticipated series Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story.
Beyond the silver screen, Tay is known for being quite the timeless beauty. And with her association with the Singapore Council of Women’s Organisation and several other charities, she sure knows how to be a hero off-screen, too, using her platform to champion important causes with the same passion she brings to every role. What makes her so relatable, even now, is that she seems to rise above the pressure to embrace ageing. At 57, Tay is luminous, not because she’s trying to look younger, but because she doesn’t shy away from her age; she liberally leans into it. The veteran actress proves that confidence doesn’t have an expiry date in a society that often places youth on a pedestal.
And when it comes to her trusted mane, let’s just say Tay knows how to give good hair. In fact, based off her transformations over the years, she has become something of a hair icon. You name it, she’s done it; pixie cuts, bobs, fringes, micro fringes, middle partings, side partings, sleek updos, and her signature ‘Bobo‘ cut. The only question is, what will she think of next?
From a sleek bun to a daring pixie, we dipped into the archives to round up Zoe Tay’s best hair moments of all time.
1 / 5
Mane muse
Tay is well aware that a sleek, polished top knot gains an intriguing edge when textured ends are allowed to peek through.
2 / 5
Pixie power
Someone once said, never underestimate the transformative power of a pixie cut—Tay is living proof. With not a hair out of place, she looks ready to take on the world.
3 / 5
Flirty feminine
Take a leaf from Tay’s book with these windswept, full of movement tousled hair–perfect for a beach vacay.
4 / 5
Fringe affair
Scroll through Tay’s Instagram account, and you’ll note that she’s been working a fuller fringe for some time now. This classic statement style is definitely a commitment but with her usual poise Tay is effortlessly owning the look.
5 / 5
Braided goddess
With her hair pulled into a sculptural braid, Ah Jie looks like a literal goddess.
