Behind the Scenes at Star Awards 2025: Zhang Zetong’s Breathing Woes and Pierre Png’s Stunning Outfit

At the Star Awards 2025 held last Sunday night (July 6), actor Christopher Lee emerged as the biggest winner of the evening. Meanwhile, actress Jessica Hsuan made waves by becoming the first overseas star to clinch an acting award. The event also featured guest presenter Chow Yun Fat, who was seen snapping selfies with stars, likely causing some serious FOMO among viewers.

However, the excitement extended beyond the stage. Our team at 8days.sg was on the ground, observing celebrities as they prepared for the event, memorizing acceptance speeches, and indulging in some guava snacks—all to bring exclusive backstage stories to our readers.

YVONNE LIM’S RED CARPET DRESS HAD A SPECIAL BACKSTORY

The elegant Yvonne Lim, who accepted her All-Time Favourite Artiste award during the event, revealed that her chic black and white polka-dotted dress belonged to her godmother. “Back in 2014, she told me to wear it if I ever became an All-Time Fave. At that moment, I didn’t think it would become a reality,” Lim shared, her eyes welling up with emotion.

DESMOND TAN’S SIMPLE DINNER PLAN

When we approached Desmond Tan, he was finishing a protein bar. “A friend gave this to me because I’m on a diet for a new show where I need to go shirtless,” he said, smiling. “This is probably my dinner since I need some energy for the day.” Those thirst-traps are sure to make a comeback!

PIERRE PNG’S BOLD SHORTS

Pierre Png caused quite a stir with his daringly short shorts. He shared that he had just come from a Hyrox team lunch, although that doesn’t quite justify their length! While he didn’t allow us to capture a photo of him in those shorts, he seemed to enjoy wearing them, matched with a sleek black button-up for the red carpet.

When we jokingly suggested he could wear those shorts in public, he chuckled, “If I stepped out like that, my wife (Andrea De Cruz) wouldn’t let me come home tonight!”

JERNELLE OH IN A COMICAL PREDICAMENT

While other stars mingled in the hair and makeup area, Jernelle Oh found herself stuck in a corner. The 31-year-old actress, already glammed up by 1 p.m., waited for final outfit adjustments. Unfortunately, her long dress made it a bit tricky to move!

ZHAI SIMING ALWAYS CHECKING HIS REFLECTION

Whenever the team from 8days.sg glanced in Zhai Siming’s direction, he was busy checking himself out in a mirror. When asked about it, he laughed, “I’ve lost count of how many mirrors I’ve looked into, but I need to ensure I look good!”

ZHANG ZETONG’S GUILTY PLEASURE

During the event, Zhang Zetong, the recipient of The Most Popular Rising Star award, was concerned about his breath after having lunch at Subway that included raw onions. “I didn’t realize they were in there,” he chuckled.

CARRIE WONG: THE TALL GIRL

Standing at 1.75m and probably reaching 1.8m in her heels, Carrie Wong easily towered over everyone during interviews. Observing the height difference, someone remarked, “Look at the height difference between Carrie and the interviewer.” Wong responded promptly, “It’s okay. Confidence doesn’t come from height.” Well, that’s easy for her to say!

JEREMY CHAN CAUGHT SNACKING

After mixing and mingling with fellow stars, Jeremy Chan was spotted secretly snacking on guava in the makeup area. He explained that he had to keep it under wraps because food wasn’t allowed. Yet, it seemed like many others were enjoying their snacks as well, including Joanne Peh, who was having lunch while getting ready!

HUANG SHINAN EMBRACING THE MOMENT

Huang Shinan, a former Mediacorp actor, appeared to be vlogging during the event, capturing moments on his phone and inviting friends for selfies. He shared, “I truly value this occasion. It’s my first time involved in this ceremony, and I want to keep these videos as memories.” He arrived early to soak in the atmosphere and catch up with friends. “I’ll edit these videos later,” he added, leaving us curious about the final product!