She runs one of Singapore's oldest restaurants, but doesn't let age define her
At 75, restaurant owner Soon Puay Keow is not letting age hold her back from the things she loves to do. From ballroom dancing, choir singing and most recently, modelling, Soon is all about keeping herself busy and living life to the fullest.
“I always find something to do, and I don’t usually stay home. I would stay home if there’s something to do at home. But if not, I will go out,” said Soon during an interview with Yahoo Lifestyle Singapore backstage at the Japan Beautiful Life festival. Soon had just finished modelling for the Makeover Magic Fashion Show, organised by popular hair salon brand Shunji Matsuo and Shiseido Professional Singapore.
This is the fifth edition of the fashion show and the first time it is taking place in conjunction with the inaugural Japanese lifestyle expo held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre. During the interview, the cheerful model and owner of Chinese restaurant Spring Court still had her costume on. The red embellishments that adorned her hair were still intact and the thick makeup reminiscent of a geisha still looked fresh on her skin.
Looking at her extravagant outfit, she said, “I think it’s nice. The stylists said I looked like a Japanese woman and decided to make me up into one.” For someone who had to spend over an hour getting ready and another hour on stage, she still looked energetic.
“As you grow older, you should always find something to do. I know that sometimes when we go out, we need to spend money. But there are ways to go out without spending a lot of money. You can go to the park or take up classes at the community centre,” said Soon, who also spends her free time engaging in ikebana, a Japanese art form of flower arrangement. She also makes sure to get six hours of sleep each day, from 1am to 7am.
Soon has been running her restaurant for about 33 years after taking over from her father-in-law. The eatery opened in 1929 at the now-defunct Great World Amusement Park. It is currently located along Upper Cross Street.
“My family has been supportive of all the things I do. They’re in the crowd here today, cheering me on as I modelled,” said Soon.
The idea behind the Makeover Magic Fashion Show was conceived by Shunji Matsuo himself after seeing so many senior citizens in his hometown of Kobe who were healthy but out of job, and ended up committing suicide. “He wanted to give back to the community. Not just through money but by making them feel beautiful and confident again,” said the salon’s creative director for Singapore, Lai Me Jen.
However, when the Makeover Magic Fashion Show launched in Singapore in 2013, the show was met with criticism for the overly extravagant outfits the elderly were made to wear as part of the show. “They called it ‘siao’,” said Lai, adding, “but I told him (Shuji Matsuo), this is about making people happy. Look at their faces, they look happy.”
Costume designer and makeup artist Kim Tai said that the show is not about wearing ordinary clothes, but to help the senior citizens stand out – hence the “outstanding” and somewhat “crazy” outfits. “You will age and I will age. But we rarely think about those who have aged,” said Lai, who has organised the show for five consecutive years.
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