Gladys Bay & Marcus Sim ROM-ed Online In Their PJs; For Months, Most People Didn't Even Know They Were Married

Star Search 2024 alumni Gladys Bay, 29, and Marcus Sim, 28, drew widespread attention last year when they competed in the talent search as a married couple, even advancing together to the finals, where Gladys finished as runner-up.

The pair, who are both breakdancers, met through a mutual friend at a dance practice spot, and after dating for five years, tied the knot in 2023.

They kept everything low-key, and as revealed in the latest episode of itsclarityco’s Men, Explain podcast, they registered their marriage quietly — so quietly, in fact, that some friends only discovered they were married when Star Search aired.

As guests on the podcast, the couple discussed what it means to build a relationship on their own terms, with Gladys recalling: “[We only did the] ROM. We were ready for the housing thing and the registry of marriage thing, but we were not ready for the Chinese wedding. So we decided to do the ROM first.”

“We only told our closest family members, like mum, dad, grandpa and grandma, and maybe our closest friends. Then Star Search happened and the media reported it, so our friends and family came over and were like: ‘Eh you all are married ah?’. So we had to explain that it was just a ROM, and we’ll have a wedding next time,” she continues. 

When host Sonia Chew asks if they actually have plans to have a wedding, Marcus says they would “probably” have one next year. 

However, according to Gladys, she was not clued in on the plan when the topic first came up. 

“The first time he said this was when our family and friends asked. He said, ‘Next year.’. My reaction was, ‘Huh?!’” Gladys says with a chuckle. She adds that they do plan to have a wedding to celebrate with their loved ones, but they haven’t set a date yet.

The couple says family members who weren’t informed of their marriage were understanding of the situation since they haven’t had the Chinese wedding ceremony. 

Gladys then drops a surprising tidbit: “And [we did the] ROM online in our pyjamas, so nobody felt offended.”

She explains that she and Marcus initially wanted to dress up for the occasion even though they had the ceremony online, and even planned to have a nice meal out to celebrate. 

“But then we both overslept,” she adds, as both she and Marcus burst into laughter. 

Marcus then seized the opportunity to clarify: “Our top half was prepared, our bottom half wasn’t.” 

Valid, we suppose, considering that their entire ROM session took place via a Zoom meeting. 

True to their chill personalities, Marcus and Gladys have not set any “expectations or limitations” on how their wedding would be, and are simply planning to do what they enjoy. 

“[We’ll] do what we’re comfortable with, and what makes us happy ultimately. ‘Cos it’s our thing, our wedding, so it doesn’t have to conform to what other people would need or want,” says Marcus. 

Gladys continues: “But definitely I believe our families will have certain rituals or traditions they would want to follow, so we’re going to figure out exactly what we want in a wedding first, then we’ll also talk to them and see how we can find a balance.”

Photos: marcusssim/ Instagram, itsclarityco/ YouTube

You can watch the episode of Men, Explain below to find out more about Marcus and Gladys’ relationship, and the advice they have for other couples who want to welcome marriage on their own terms.