Mediacorp Actress-Turned-Model Ye Jia Yun, 21, On How She Stayed Cool When She Almost Tripped On The Runway In Milan

No part of this story can be reproduced without permission from 8days.sg.
Sometimes the best way to grow up fast is to live overseas on your own.
When we spoke to Mediacorp actress Ye Jia Yun, 21, last September, she was a bag of nerves talking about her first international modelling gig at Milan Fashion Week?
More than three months has passed, and we're speaking to the 1.8m-tall Star Search 2019 second runner-up again.
She is finally back in Singapore, this time armed with newfound confidence.
For her previous interview with 8days.sg, she was accompanied by not one, but two managers, both of whom listened intently to our phone call with the nervous young actress.
This time, Jia Yun is expressive and self-assured and she is without any "supervision" from her managers.
We guess being alone in Milan for three months has helped Jia Yun gain a new level of independence and maturity?
After all, she did say her biggest takeaway from her trip was "getting to learn a lot" about herself.
"I learned how I work under stress, how to overcome it and how to stay motivated," recalled Jiayun, who admitted that the long waiting times during casting sessions had made her feel sluggish.
"When that happens, I should maybe go for a walk, or go somewhere to refresh my mind, like maybe a weekend trip out of town?" she added.
That said, Jia Yun acknowledged that the jitters from walking on an international runway is not something one can easily overcome.
"I definitely still feel a bit nervous because it is in front of a live audience and I do not want to trip," she laughed.
It didn't help that that almost happened.
"I actually almost tripped but I didn’t let it show. The second runway show I did, we had three looks per person. It was a mad rush backstage so I think my shoes weren’t buckled properly."
"When I was walking out, I kinda tripped ‘cos I was wearing heels on a marbled floor and it was a little bit slippery. But I had to keep a calm face and not let it show. Thank God I did not fall," chuckled Jia Yun.
With her modelling career on the rise, we couldn't help but ask if she prefers acting or modelling now.
Before starting her modelling career, Jia Yun starred in Mediacorp dramas such as Love At First Bite (2023) as well as In Safe Hands (2022).
"I haven't been exposed to acting that much so I can't say that I don't like acting. But at the moment I prefer modelling 'cos I've been given a more in-depth view into it," she mused.
According to Jiayun, she was supposed to return to Milan this month or February for the Fall/Winter season but those plans have been halted as she's slated to perform at Mediacorp Chinese New Year shows.
"So I’ll be staying in Singapore until the next Spring/Summer season, which is around September?" she said, adding that there are no plans for her to star in a drama anytime soon.
Regardless, we think Jia Yun must be pretty happy to be sticking around, considering how she was feeling FOMO when she was all alone in Milan.
"I saw how my fellow artistes were going for events while I was so far away and I didn't know what was going on in Singapore," she laughed.
Jia Yun is, nevertheless, really thankful for all the support her showbiz pals have given her throughout her modelling journey.
"We had a gathering and I got to catch up with my Star Search friends and fellow artistes. They all came to say how proud of me they are. Things like that are motivation for me to do better."
She continued: "When I compare myself to other models in Singapore, I feel my achievements are really very small but somehow everyone still says they’re very proud of me."
Does she feel she has missed out on acting opportunities in Singapore though?
"I feel it was a good opportunity for me. Previously for acting, I just didn’t have the experience I needed for the roles that were given to me."
"But through this trip I’ve experienced different things and have a different mindset now. I think that will help me in the future for acting as well. I think maybe my age is my privilege? There’s still time for me to grow and improve myself," she said.

Photos: Ye Jia Yun
Catch Jia Yun in Love At First Bite on meWATCH or in the embedded video below: