PUBLISHED ONOctober 04, 2026 2:00 AMBYYeo Shu HuiDelson Yii could have been some students' classroom crush had he not found another goal in life while studying in university.
The 23-year-old Malaysian model-turned-actor, who has been managed by TCP Artistes since 2024, recounted to AsiaOne about his journey to showbiz in an interview recently.
"When I was graduating from secondary school, I didn't know what I wanted to pursue (for my university education)," he recalled.
"My mum, who is a teacher, encouraged me to consider teaching because she thought it might be more manageable for me."
In 2022, while studying for his Bachelor of Education at Taylor's University in Kuala Lumpur (KL), Delson had his first brush with showbiz after he was paired with a classmate — a popular influencer — for an assignment.
The latter invited him to social events, where he was introduced to directors, actors and influencers, and eventually TCP's founder Sean Kevin, who invited him to Singapore to become an artiste.
As a child, Delson enjoyed watching movies and television series, often imagining what it was like to experience different lives through characters as an actor.
So when the Sarawak native, who stands at 1.86m tall, had the opportunity to pursue his dreams, he decided to take the risk.
While his parents are supportive about him pursuing his passion, they were initially worried that it was a scam, but were convinced after Delson explained the plans to them.
Pursuing both studies in KL and a showbiz career in Singapore was a challenge for Delson because he prioritised his lessons, which meant missing out on work and opportunities to learn the trade.
The latter includes improving his acting and language skills as well as learning to be comfortable in front of the camera.
Since starting this career, he has modelled for multiple fashion and electronics brands and events.
With his striking looks and height, Delson gained the attention of students in university, and some also recognised him from social media.
When asked about how he managed the attention, he said hesitantly: "I am recognised occasionally in school, but not often. Usually, I would go to school when there are classes and leave after that, I wouldn't stay for long.
"Some people would approach me and ask if I am Delson... I would just say 'Hi' and walk away. I'm quite introverted and wouldn't try to strike up a conversation."
Sean, who was with him during the interview, said that Delson was being "humble", recounting how he attracts attention whenever they are at public places and some even asked to take photos with him.
Sean also recalled Delson telling him about the time some girls screamed his name as he parked his car in school.
After four years of full-time studies, Delson graduated from Taylor's University in July.
In early September, Delson filmed his first leading role in upcoming microdrama Beyond Borders.
The 10-episode series centres on Mingwei (Delson), an introverted young man who falls in love with Filipino exchange student Clarissa (Ella Cristofani). However, their relationship is strongly opposed by his traditional Singaporean mother Yoke Leng (Chen Huihui).
Spanning a decade, the story explores whether Mingwei and Clarissa can overcome cultural differences, family objections and the challenges of a cross-border relationship to build a future together.
It also stars Natalie Chua as Mingwei's sister Kaiqi, as well as Wang Yuqing as his father, and will premiere on international vertical-series platform Beetzee Play in late October.
Delson admitted to feeling nervous taking on his first leading role: "I read the script to familiarise myself with the plot and the relationships between the characters, especially between Mingwei and his parents, as well as with his girlfriend Clarissa.
"I would memorise the script every day, making notes along the way and think about why he does some of the things he does and how he reacts to it."
He also watched dramas and films, including Taiwanese film 18x2 Beyond Youthful Days (2024), where Greg Hsu plays Jimmy.
Delson said through analysing Jimmy's emotions and character growth, he was able to understand Mingwei better.
He also admires local actress Chantalle Ng's versatility as a performer while watching local drama All That Glitters (2023), especially her crying scenes and hopes to learn more from her.
Crying in front of the cameras may not be the most natural thing for a new actor, and Delson, who has to perform a few scenes with various degrees of sorrow in the microdrama, had his concerns.
He explained: "If I can't do it, then I won't be able to touch the audience. So, I have to practise crying.
"I tried to cry once every day just as practice. I would set up cameras to film myself and read some lines to see if I could get into the emotions."
Outside of work, Delson enjoys long drives, riding his motorcycle and playing sports, such as swimming, basketball, badminton and other outdoor activities.
He also goes to the gym four or five times per week and spends about an hour to two working out to get into his best condition for the cameras.
He also watches his daily nutrient intake carefully, planning them out in advance. On his weekly cheating day, he eats what makes him happy.
When asked about his favourite foods, he said: "I love fried chicken. I have a sweet tooth and enjoy desserts. I also love to eat bread."
His fanclub The Delson Society was set up in July and he expressed his appreciation towards his fans.
He said: "I feel very touched and thankful that they are willing to spend their time on me...
"I want to thank them for coming to events and supporting me. I would definitely do better to further improve myself and not disappoint them. I also hope to bring more good projects to them."
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