Celebrity Life
Karen Prasetio: “Love is a Decision”
“My family and life experience have influenced the way I see love. It’s not a feeling, but more of a decision. It is selfless and genuine as potrayed by God who loves us unconditionally,” declares Karen Prasetio in an interview with Liviani Putri.
Karen Prasetio sits down to talk with Prestige after taking part in a regal photo shoot inspired by the beauty and love of Aphrodite, the Greek Goddess of Love. She has posed elegantly in Michael Kors, MaxMara, Versace, Farah Khan, Lanvin and Louis Vuitton, with jewellery by Bvlgari, Tiffany & Co. and her own brand, Siorai. While sipping a chocolate milkshake, she tells us about her online jewellery business, which she promotes through social media.
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Photographed by Andre Wiredja / Styled by Paul Dela Merced / Dress by Versace[/caption]
“Siorai is my first project since I moved back to Indonesia for good,” Karen says. “What gets me so excited about it is because it’s not just another brand or consumer product. We want to provide women with fashionable yet affordable jewelry pieces, creating the image that diamonds are made for everyone.
“Beyond that, we have a vision. We aim to build a powerful community to promote women’s empowerment and encourage diversity. Our messages about self-confidence and gender equality are delivered by several muses who come from different backgrounds, such as a photographer, product stylist, an entrepreneur, influencers, even a psychologist.
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Photographed by Andre Wiredja / Styled by Paul Dela Merced / Dress and jewellery by Louis Vuitton[/caption]
“We have just hosted a private event with MadeInd, a platform for curated designer items by Argo Apparel Group. We also invited Charlotte Priatna, M.Pd, an education expert and motivator, to share her beliefs about developing self-confidence. The event was a huge success. I was very humbled to meet a lot of talented women and to learn from their stories and experiences as entrepreneurs and influencers.”
Starting a business at a young age was a huge leap for Karen. “I am a very risk-averse person, so to get my feet to even start something was already a challenge. I tended to weigh the pros and cons of it, the risks and the returns, the best or worst thing that could happen before I even started doing it.”
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Photographed by Andre Wiredja / Styled by Paul Dela Merced / Dress by Valentino from Time International / Jewellery by Tiffany & Co.[/caption]
She believes her college life shaped her to be a persistent, proactive and humble woman. She graduated from both UCLA (Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics) and University of Southern California (a Master’s in Finance).
“I remember the hardship of juggling a lot of things, such as studying for good grades, involving myself in student organisations, job hunting and at the same time keeping my life balanced within the time constraints,” Karen says. “I was enrolled at both schools and, since there was no other way, several times I had to sleep over in one of the libraries on campus.
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Photographed by Andre Wiredja / Styled by Paul Dela Merced / Dress by Michael Kors[/caption]
“I considered giving up and dropping some classes, but then I thought why would I want to waste my time and repeat the same thing all over again? So I’ve got to deal with it no matter what. Yes, it was a rough ride but I would not have made it this far if it wasn’t for the people behind me, especially my family, who kept pushing to do my best and leave the rest to God.”
The younger sister of Katherine Prasetio, who appeared on the cover of the July 2018 issue of Prestige, grew up in a family-oriented culture. “I would say I am really close to my family and that they are the ones who teach me everything,” she says. “Family really means a lot to me, since they are the ones who will constantly be there no matter what - genuinely accepting each other’s flaws and supporting each other to become better each day. My parents always reminded us to put family first. We had to stick together no matter what and have each other’s back.
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Photographed by Andre Wiredja / Styled by Paul Dela Merced / Dress by Lanvin / Jewellery by Bvlgari[/caption]
“It feels great to have Katherine by my side. In fact, she often acts more like my mom than a sister. She really cares for me and my well-being, starting with simple things such as reminding me to take vitamins in the morning, or even giving me live Instagram traffic reports about which roads I should avoid! Those connections have been built because we literally shared everything since we were kids. Besides shoes and clothes and stuff, we always tell each other what is happening in our lives. We are really open with each other. I feel so uplifted and peaceful when I’m with her.
“My family and life experience have influenced the way I see love. It’s not a feeling, but more of a decision. It is selfless and genuine as potrayed by God who loves us unconditionally. I have also learned that love requires sacrifice. You have to put the heart and feelings at risk of getting hurt, because you know it’s worth it in the end.”
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Photographed by Andre Wiredja / Styled by Paul Dela Merced / Dress by Farah Khan / Jewellery by Bvlgari[/caption]
Seeing life as a blessing and putting her heart and soul into everything she does, what is Karen’s hope for the future? “I want to live a life with purpose,” she declares. “I want to help make this nation rise and become a better place to live.
“The important thing I have to do right now is to get to know myself better. I need to keep learning and at the same time to use my skillset and ability to inspire people to create more impact. I want to move forward with Siorai for a greater vision, which is to empower the younger generation, especially women - to unlock their full potential, strengths, passions and capabilities as individuals.”
Make-up and Hair by Dave Rio
Shot on location:
Da Vinci Indonesia
Styling Assistant: Lintang Hutami
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Lifestyle brand Canvas brings a wealth of opportunities to its members in Asia
Canvas — a new-generation lifestyle brand connecting people with ideas, experiences and places — held the highly anticipated launch party of its Asia-wide membership programme, Canvas Belong, in Hong Kong at the end of January. The event was held at upscale French restaurant Maison ES, which was founded by chef Esther Sham, one of the first Canvas Citizens. Thailand will also get its own launch party in early February, while one for Singapore is slated for later this year.
The evening was an opportunity for Carl Gouw, Canvas’s Founder, to outline the concept behind the group. “Canvas strives to be a multi-layered platform for global citizens to gather and connect through the common interest of creating meaningful experiences,” he said. “We are excited to welcome you all to join the Canvas journey. Through our exclusive cultural initiatives, we hope to spread our vision to discerning creative individuals and travellers in Asia and worldwide.”
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Sand artist Ma Chai draws concept of Canvas through his art.[/caption]
At the launch event, guests also got to learn about the many services the lifestyle brand offers through a series of videos from Canvas Ambassadors, including chef Sham, Bryant Lu, James Chau and Dickson Yewn. Meanwhile, Hong Kong-based sand painter Ma Chai entertained those assembled with his art, helping to illustrate the cultural initiatives that are part of Canvas’s mission statement.
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First 300 Canvas Citizens signing up to Canvas Belong have a chance to win a studio at Canvas Place Hua Hin – Kuiburi eResidences.[/caption]
The evening was attended by a virtual who’s who of movers and shakers from around the region. Among them were Sham’s husband Sunny Tan, Executive Director of Luen Thai; Ray Ng, founder of club Volar; Kent Cheung, founder of Elite Swim and Hong Kong record-holding swimmer;Denise Lau of colourliving; Marc Convery, founder of Strength Labaoratory; and Ted Lo, LED artist.
The highlight of the evening was a raffle and presentation by Joshua Ng, Canvas Belong Co-founder and Canvas COO, in which he announced that the first 300 Citizens to join Canvas Belong will have the chance to win ownership of a studio apartment at the Canvas Place Hua Hin – Kuiburi residences in Thailand, among other great prizes such as a nine-day cruise on Crystal Symphony.
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Guests exchanging cultural insights and enriching experiences with one another at Canvas Belong launch.[/caption]
There are three main facets to Canvas’s lifestyle approach: Canvas Place, its hospitality and real-estate arm; Blank Canvas, a platform for creatives to come together and interact; and Canvas Belong the aforementioned membership programme. Canvas Place comprises two resorts, one in Hua Hin and another in Bali. (A third Canvas Place residences in Bangkok will open this year.) Both offer upscale, bespoke experiences that are tailor-made to match their unique cultural surroundings.
Other benefits of Canvas Belong membership include curated experiences; meetings with influential figures from the world of business, art, design and sport including Sharan Valiram of retail giant Valiram Group and third-generation Italian jeweller Andrea Buccellati; one-on-one sessions with life coaches; and lifestyle and wellness offerings in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Jakarta and Bangkok, including a dating package from Lunch Actually. To find out more about becoming a Canvas Belong member, click here.
This story is presented by Canvas.
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In Conversation with Ruth Chao
We catch up with Ruth Chao, founder and creative director of her eponymous design agency, Ruth Chao Studio. While her journey hasn’t always been easy, the talented and prolific entrepreneur has met every challenge head-on, picking up awards and accolades along the way.
This story is presented by The Macallan.
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This weekend: The Wedding KL, Chef Sergio Meza & WeBarre at W Kuala Lumpur
And just like that, the four-day workweek is almost done and dusted! That calls for a celebration, don't you think? Do so as you cheers to the weekend with refreshing cocktails at Man Tao Rooftop, take a barre class with the best view you can find in all of Malaysia, and tuck into a selection of comforting Colombian food prepared by a guest chef at The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur.
SEE ALSO: Versace Man Autumn/Winter 2019: Gender-bending is this year's mood
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Event Photo Gallery: Private dinner and opening of Unhomed Belongings with Lucy Liu, Shubigi Rao and Ryan Su
Hollywood celebrity Lucy Liu met some very special guests at a by-invitation-only dinner as well as at the opening of the exhibition featuring some of Lucy's works together with Singaporean artist Shubigi Rao.
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The Best Gifts to Give Yourself for Chinese New Year
Let’s be honest: The best gifts you receive are usually from yourself. You know exactly what you want, down to the finest detail. Not to mention, there are some gifts that are just too good to give away. If you haven’t marked off everything from your wish list from Christmas, Chinese New Year is the perfect excuse to indulge yourself with just that. Or, better, add to it with the must-haves to ring in the Year of the Pig.
To guide you through the abundance of choices out there, we’ve come up with what’s on our list, to help you build yours. After all, as the auspicious saying goes -- you can’t start off the new year without something new.
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Fitness guru Victoria Martin-Tay spills her exercise tips and busts a workout myth
We've all heard stories of high-flying corporate whizzes leaving cushy jobs for the pursuit of passion. Victoria Martin-Tay is living proof. The co-owner of Boom, a buzzing boutique boxing gym in Singapore's CBD, is an Ivy League graduate who swapped engineering for fitness. Victoria runs Boom with her husband, Bryan Tay, and is one of the most hands-on gym owners you could ever meet. Knee-deep in operations, she juggles teaching with working front of house and spearheading the gym's growth. Surprisingly, Victoria hasn't always been the fitness guru she is today. She tells us how she fell in love with exercise and got into the business of making others feel good.
SEE ALSO: These luxury activewear labels are the secret to looking good while working out
How did you fall in love with fitness?
I was averse to exercise most of my childhood and only started my fitness journey when I moved to the United States for college. Most of my friends at that time saw being active as a stabilising force in their daily lives and could not fathom why I did not work out at all. One of my best friends urged me to start taking strolls in the beautiful fall weather. A stroll became a jog and eventually turned into a run. Before I knew it, I was running half marathons. Moving back to Singapore and adjusting to running in a much warmer, urban environment was not easy and I turned to boutique gyms to find my next new passion. I ended up falling in love with indoor cycling and decided I wanted to become a part-time fitness instructor on top of my full-time job.
You were a cycling instructor at CruCycle for a few years. What inspired you to start Boom?
After three years of teaching spin, during which Bryan and I had sacrificed time with each other as well as family and friends, many people encouraged us to start our own gym. We realised opening Boom seemed like the natural progression for our passion — we loved teaching and derived a greater sense of joy connecting with our customers than from our full time jobs.
We wanted to start Boom to focus on the importance of being strong. We are not talking about Arnold-Schwarzenegger type of strength but functional strength instead — this makes the tedious daily chores so much easier to manage such as running after children, lifting up a carry-on to the overhead bin and carrying shopping bags.
Describe your fitness routine and your diet.
Between teaching and running a business, I am on my feet all the time, which keeps me incredibly active, as evidenced by my FitBit step count. Unfortunately, I also have less time to dedicate to my personal workouts — that’s limited to only twice or thrice a week. We joke all the time that cleaning the studio helps to keep us in shape.
I used to work at a desk all day and exercise for 50 minutes five to seven times a week. Now, I'm on my feet for a large part of the day, and only can only sneak in a couple of 30- to 40-minute long workouts a week. My physique then and now isn't that much different, except that I have gotten even more toned with less working out. I attribute that to a significant shift from cardio intensive workouts to more strength-based exercises. As for my diet, I always tell people I cannot be a role model for a healthy balanced diet. I’m your typical indulgent everything-probably-does-taste-better-with-lard Singaporean foodie.
Give us the real deal. What’s a fitness myth you’d like to bust?
People like to think they have to do hour-long cardio workouts many times a week to lose weight. I think this is foolish for so many reasons because your body plateaus from these cardio workouts so quickly. Cardio alone is not the most effective way to workout or maximise total calorie burn. Lastly, not many of us have the time for hour-long workouts so frequently every week. A more effective solution would be pairing twenty minutes of strength training with twenty minutes of effective, interval cardio. This is more sustainable in the long term for fat burn, as well as cardiovascular and muscular strength.
Do you ever tire of working out?
Yes, I get tired from working out, and also being constantly active and involved in running the business. But now I know not to overdo it. Having gone through health scares a year ago reminded me that working out should help me and not harm me. Understanding one’s body and limits is crucial. My body is not capable of always functioning at its best if I don't have sufficient rest. Over the last three years of teaching, I’ve been at my fitness prime, but it was also the sickest three years of my entire life — imagine the paradox! I came down with colds and flus much more than I used to in grade school and each time I fell ill, I was sick for a long time. My body was working on overdrive to keep itself fit.
How do you unwind?
I attempt cooking and baking with my husband. It’s a way for us to work together in a much less stressful environment. In line with being active but also unwinding at the same time, we’ll often take a stroll around our neighbourhood or drive to Botanic Gardens to walk around. A good massage also works wonders for us mentally and physically.
Speaking of massages, tell us your favourite spa or wellness resort.
My husband and I are partial towards the Ritz Carlton brand as we got married at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Singapore. For our honeymoon we stayed at the Ritz Carlton Waikiki Beach in Hawaii, which is notably my favourite wellness destination. Come on, it’s Hawaii, how can you not be relaxed? Without venturing too far from home, I would also say the Auriga Spa at Capella is fantastic.
Complete this sentence: “My fitness mantra is…..”
Find your balance. Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing, and not enough of one can leave you unfulfilled. Balance often unlocks our hearts and minds to receive happiness and inner peace.
Can you share five personal wellness tips for women who struggle to keep up with their fitness routines?
1. When you’re starting out, consistency is key. You don’t have to jump into working out five times a week, every week. Start with twice or thrice, but do it consistently and weekly.
2. Workout smart. Look for shorter workouts that incorporate both strength training and cardio.
3. Don’t be afraid of weights. You don’t have to go super heavy like a body builder, but you should pick up weights that challenge your muscles a little. If you don’t feel any soreness in the days following your workout, the weights you’ve used are not heavy enough. Incorporating weight training into your workout helps to eventually reduce your body’s fat layer as your muscle layer becomes more defined. This eventuality combined with your consistency will give you results.
4. Diet is crucial. I can’t say I keep to a very healthy diet but I find that when I eat terribly, I'm sluggish, and feel heavier and find it even more difficult to drag myself to a workout. I find myself sleepy all the time, and just wanting to eat more. Sometimes your diet affects your physical willingness to workout.
5. This is more a warning than a tip, and it’s one my mother used to remind me of. Make it a habit, before it’s too late, before you have to start doing it because of health concerns. By then, sometimes, it may be too late, and some things are harder to reverse.
SEE ALSO: 5 gyms we recommend
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The Inspiring Gita Sjahrir Who Against All Odds and Co-Founded Ride
“I didn’t know when I was 22 that I was going to end up in a wheelchair,” says Gita Sjahrir. “Everyone said, technically it’s impossible for you to become someone who’s active, Gita. Give up.” But she didn’t give up, and now she runs the first fitness boutique brand in Southeast Asia to obtain venture-capital funding. Ajeng G. Anindita reports.
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Event photo gallery: A Royal Household at Chaumet’s Joséphine apartment
Chaumet reimagined the French empress Joséphine Aigrette's apartment with a pastel pink-themed jewellery pop-up.
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The Feminine Mystique of Actress Zhao Tao
The feted film actress explains how she's able to fully become the complex women that she portrays on screen.
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Grand Hyatt Taipei x Prestige 風格生活
國際酒店是不是個嚴肅的空間？如果不是，如何來呈現它個性的樣貌？人，是重點。一個好的酒店，除了空間豪華與否，餐點、調酒經典與否，一個酒店的形象，來自於工作人員的態度與風格。今天，Prestige帶你看看大家所熟悉的Grand Hyatt Taipei，其實有不一樣的生活風格想像。
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Event Photo Gallery: Prestige x Club Monaco
Our Prestige society previewed Club Monaco's Fall 2018 collection, which championed genderless pieces and real people.
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