Actress-model Sonia Sui had first date with 'ugly' boyfriend in S'pore

Sexy Taiwanese actress-model Sonia Sui is off the market after being single for two years.

The 34-year-old was all smiles when asked about her new Taiwanese boyfriend, Mr Tony Chia.

"He is very kind and has a pure heart," she said.

"He didn't know of my celebrity status when he met me. He likes me for who I am."

Sui was introduced to Mr Chia in April by Taiwanese singer Lai Pei Hsia, who is married to Mr Chia's father.

Mr Chia, the son of Mr Chia Zhi Hong from a previous marriage, reportedly works in the financial sector in the US.

He is not fluent in Mandarin. But Sui said he has been practising hard so they can talk in Mandarin.

"We send messages to each other in English, but we talk in Mandarin face-to-face," Sui said.

She also revealed that their first official date was in Singapore around end-September. She said: "There is no paparazzi in Singapore, it's a good place."

Sui made the relationship public last month by posting a photo taken with Mr Chia on her Instagram and Facebook accounts, saying: "I met someone whom I want to bring joy to.

Please give us some space, thank you!"

Sui said: "We will both feel more stressed out if we don't announce our relationship as we will need to date secretively. At least we can be open about it now."

However, her sudden announcement also led to some criticism, with one media outlet in Taiwan calling Mr Chia "ugly".

An upset Sui said: "Media outlets have a huge influence on the public, and I don't like it when they imply that a person needs to be handsome to be successful in life. Looks should never be used to determine a person's worth or value."

She added: "A man shouldn't be too perfect. If he is so perfect, it makes me feel pressured and nervous."

Sui, who was in town to promote her upcoming Taiwanese television drama, Mr Right Wanted, with local actor Christopher Lee, was speaking to the media at The Westin Singapore on Saturday afternoon.

In the show, she plays a woman who places an advertisement searching for love, and dates many different guys, including Lee's character.

It will air on Channel U from Sunday at 7pm.

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CROSSOVER

Starting out as a fashion model, Sui ventured into acting in 2003 and made her mark as an outstanding actress in the well-received Taiwanese drama The Fierce Wife (2010).

She was nominated for Best Leading Actress in a Television Series at the 47th Golden Bell Awards for her role as a conscientious wife whose husband cheats on her with her cousin.

Sui's relationship with Mr Chia is her first serious one after her high-profile split from Taiwanese actor Yao Yuan Hao in 2012.

The couple dated for eight years but Yao allegedly left her for Taiwanese actress-singer Cyndi Wang, 32.

Even though Sui, who is based in Taiwan, has always been against a long-distance relationship, she is determined to put in a lot of effort to make it work.

She said: "When you don't see each other that often, you work harder to maintain the relationship and you don't take each other for granted."

She added: "I yearn for marriage and it is in my plans."

Other celebrity odd couples

HUGH JACKMAN AND DEBORRA-LEE FURNESS

Wolverine, Sexiest Man Alive, Jackman, at 45, still has a body that puts younger male actors to shame.

Furness, who looks much older than her husband, is 58.

The Australian couple, who met in one of Jackman's first acting roles in TV series Corelli, have been married for 18 years and have two adopted children.

SALMA HAYEK AND FRANCOIS-HENRI PINAULT

The Mexican-born Hollywood star married the French billionaire in 2009.

Pinault does not have naturally good looks.

His wife, on the other hand, is all Latino curves.

LEE HYORI AND LEE SANG SOON

The queen of K-Pop tied the knot with singer/songwriter Lee Sang Soon last year but when their relationship was first made public, netizens labelled the couple "beauty and the beast".

Cynical industry watchers also predicted a swift break-up.

Lee Hyori, 35, is said to be K-pop's sexiest female star with beautiful features and fair skin while her husband has "small eyes and a big nose".

She told the media that they have a lot in common.

This article was first published on Nov 17, 2014.
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