The Straits Times AUG 28, 2004
Plain
food for pregnant Zoe
By Lionel Seah
NO SEAFOOD PLEASE: Zoe Tay, seen with her
husband Philip Chionh, can't eat her favourite seafood because her
tastebuds have changed.
QUEEN of Caldecott Hill Zoe Tay is about three months into her
pregnancy and a close friend reveals her tastebuds have
changed.
Fashion stylist Jeremy Tan says: 'She used to like seafood a lot.
But now, she complains that seafood makes her want to throw up. She
prefers plain food these days.'
Tan has been friends with the 36-year-old MediaCorp artist for
about 10 years. He last saw her when they shot a print and
television commercial on Tuesday.
Channel NewsAsia reported Tay's pregnancy on Thursday night, as did
Channel 5.
Tan, who is in his 30s, declines to elaborate further on the
pregnancy or say when he first knew of the news. But he adds that
the actress' face looks slightly slimmer than before.
'Perhaps that's the reason most of the film crew for the commercial
commented that her face looked much prettier on the TV monitors
than normal.'
Tay had commented during the Channel NewsAsia segment that she had
shed some weight.
The actress, last seen in the drama serial Man At Forty, which
ended its run in June, was unavailable for comment yesterday.
This will be the first child for the actress and her pilot husband
of three years, Philip Chionh, also 36.
A MediaCorp spokesman declined to say how the pregnancy will affect
the career of one of its top stars, who currently endorses Olympus
camera and Super Coffee Mix, among other products.
However, a press reception has been scheduled for next Tuesday
where Tay will speak about her pregnancy.
Long-time friend and hairstylist to the stars, David Gan, 40, says
he knew of the good news about three weeks ago.
'She called me while I was in Paris and told me not to say a word
back then. She's obviously very happy.'
Gan has known her since 1988 when she was crowned the winner of the
first Star Search, a talent quest organised by the then Singapore
Broadcasting Corporation.
He also reveals that 'Zoe has talked a lot more about wanting
babies in the past year'.
Tan surmises one possible reason babies did not come into the
picture until recently was Chionh's work schedule, which often
requires overseas postings.
Back in May, when asked about her baby plans at a press conference,
Tay said: 'I shall let nature take its course. These things are
God-given, you cannot force it to happen. Anyway, Philip is not
around, how to have babies?'
Gan and Tan say they do not know if the couple have decided on a
baby name yet, or how many children they intend to have.
Says Gan: 'I remember Zoe and Philip saying that it doesn't matter
whether it's a boy or a girl. But I'd like them to have
twins.'
Tay was quoted in yesterday's Lianhe Wanbao as saying that she
would like her first-born to be a girl 'because girls are more
obedient'.
She is the latest media personality to have a go at parenthood. She
joins fellow MediaCorp artists Wong Li Lin and Allan Wu, whose baby
is due in October.
Over at SPH MediaWorks, another celebrity couple, Evelyn Tan and
Darren Lim, are expecting their baby in January.
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reserved.
