http://tnp.sg/show/story/0,4136,219851,00.html?
IDOLS to say I DO
Former Project Superstar contestants are finally tying the knot after three years of courtship in the public eye
By Gan Ling Kai
November 08, 2009
--TNP DESIGN: PRADIP KUMAR SIKDAR
--PICTURE: Courtesy of HONG JUNYANG, 60 40 COMMUNICATIONS
THEIR love story started on stage.
Candyce Toh, who had gained a strong following of fans on the Chinese reality talent show Project Superstar in 2005, was knocked out of the contest before she could make it to the finals. She became the female third runner-up.
Fellow contestants, including Hong Junyang, appeared on stage to console her after the results were announced.
She once called him a country bumpkin
She recalled: 'Our pictures were taken and a few days later, an entertainment magazine speculated that we may be an item.'
Worried about how Candyce, 29, would react after reading it, Junyang rang her up.
She told The New Paper: 'I told him, 'Don't worry. I know it's not real.' But he told me, 'Er... What if I tell you it's true?'
She didn't reciprocate his feelings at that time. 'I had just ended another relationship and I wasn't ready,' she said.
Still, Junyang, 28, was glad that he got it off his chest.
He said: 'I was relieved that the media had done the job for me. It was a blessing in disguise. But I was also concerned that I would lose a friend.'
Junyang first noticed her during the qualifying rounds of Project Superstar. He said: 'She's a quiet girl with an aura around her.'
SECRET LOVE: Junyang and Candyce tried to keep their relationship hush-hush for the sake of his career as some of his fans did not like her dating him. --TNP PICTURE: GAN LING KAI
And Candyce's first impression of him?
'A 'tu-tu' man who cannot speak up,' she said.
Yet, this tu-tu (Mandarin for country bumpkin) won the admiration of many teenage girls in Singapore and went on to become the male first runner-up in the contest. The winner was blind singer Kelvin Tan.
Junyang subsequently released his debut album, Unicorn, in May 2006, which sold about 12,000 copies.
Touched by his sincerity and captivated by his talents, Candyce agreed to go out with Junyang in 2006.
In July this year, he proposed and next year, on 31 Jan, the couple will solemnise their marriage.
To ask Candyce to marry him, Junyang roped in her 3-year-old pet dog Tuffy. Explaining why a performer like him used a dog to help him, he said: 'It's different when it comes to personal matters. I'm not a confident person'.
He tied a ribbon, with a diamond ring attached, round the dog's neck.
'When she saw the ring, I went on my knees and popped the question,' he recalled.
Candyce said: 'I was touched and I cried a little. We have gone through so much together.'
Tuffy was his gift to her three years ago when he had to travel frequently to Taiwan to promote his album.
'It was his plan to tie me down with a 'kid' to look after. Tuffy became my faithful companion when he was away,' she said with a chuckle.
The couple admitted that they struggled to keep their relationship under wraps. 'It was inconvenient to disclose the relationship because I'm an artiste,' Junyang said.
Candyce, a radio DJ with Safra's 883 Jia FM, said: 'Some of his fans didn't like me. They thought I was riding on his popularity. Some gave me dirty looks when we were out on the streets.
Nasty e-mails
'They sent me nasty e-mails and SMSes. I have no idea how they got my e-mail address and phone number. It's weird because he was the one who made the first move.'
Yet, she said, she wasn't upset.
'I know he's worried about his career and I feel that was a challenge we had to overcome together.'
They eventually went public two years into the relationship after Junyang decided to move into music production and arrangement instead of being a full-time singer.
He's a creative executive with local music publisher Touch Music Publishing, a subsidiary of Ocean Butterflies.
As local celebrities, their wedding has attracted several sponsors.
The couple will hold their wedding banquet at the Raffles Marina Club House on 31 Jan. They have booked 35 tables for guests.
TV host Dasmond Koh has been approached to be emcee at the banquet, while local singers JJ Lin and A-Do may join the groom's entourage.
At this stage, the celebrities have not confirmed if they can take on the roles due to their work schedules.
What's certain is that Junyang prefers that the singers won't have to pick up the microphone and croon during the nuptials.
He said: 'I just want them to come to the wedding and relax, but if the emcee spontaneously wants to get them on stage, I can't guarantee what will happen.'
So will the couple be serenading the guests then?
'It's too stressful for me to sing in front of our friends in the music industry,' said Candyce. Then turning to Junyang, she said: 'You can surprise me!'
'Let's just keep it a secret then,' he replied, looking lovingly at her.
Junyang and Candyce will have their wedding photos taken in Singapore and Taiwan, courtesy of a bridal studio. It will also provide the three gowns Candyce will wear on the big day.
Other sponsors have also stepped in to glam up the affair. Sponsored items include a necklace, bracelets and earrings worth more than $200,000 for the photo shoot, another set of jewellery for the wedding itself.
The platinum and gold wedding bands, worth $3,000 a pair, are sponsored by a jewellery company, which plans to give away another pair of rings as a prize in a lucky draw to be held during the banquet.
Celebrity hairstylist Addy Lee has also offered his services for free.
IDOLS to say I DO
Former Project Superstar contestants are finally tying the knot after three years of courtship in the public eye
By Gan Ling Kai
November 08, 2009
--TNP DESIGN: PRADIP KUMAR SIKDAR
--PICTURE: Courtesy of HONG JUNYANG, 60 40 COMMUNICATIONS
THEIR love story started on stage.
Candyce Toh, who had gained a strong following of fans on the Chinese reality talent show Project Superstar in 2005, was knocked out of the contest before she could make it to the finals. She became the female third runner-up.
Fellow contestants, including Hong Junyang, appeared on stage to console her after the results were announced.
She once called him a country bumpkin
She recalled: 'Our pictures were taken and a few days later, an entertainment magazine speculated that we may be an item.'
Worried about how Candyce, 29, would react after reading it, Junyang rang her up.
She told The New Paper: 'I told him, 'Don't worry. I know it's not real.' But he told me, 'Er... What if I tell you it's true?'
She didn't reciprocate his feelings at that time. 'I had just ended another relationship and I wasn't ready,' she said.
Still, Junyang, 28, was glad that he got it off his chest.
He said: 'I was relieved that the media had done the job for me. It was a blessing in disguise. But I was also concerned that I would lose a friend.'
Junyang first noticed her during the qualifying rounds of Project Superstar. He said: 'She's a quiet girl with an aura around her.'
SECRET LOVE: Junyang and Candyce tried to keep their relationship hush-hush for the sake of his career as some of his fans did not like her dating him. --TNP PICTURE: GAN LING KAI
And Candyce's first impression of him?
'A 'tu-tu' man who cannot speak up,' she said.
Yet, this tu-tu (Mandarin for country bumpkin) won the admiration of many teenage girls in Singapore and went on to become the male first runner-up in the contest. The winner was blind singer Kelvin Tan.
Junyang subsequently released his debut album, Unicorn, in May 2006, which sold about 12,000 copies.
Touched by his sincerity and captivated by his talents, Candyce agreed to go out with Junyang in 2006.
In July this year, he proposed and next year, on 31 Jan, the couple will solemnise their marriage.
To ask Candyce to marry him, Junyang roped in her 3-year-old pet dog Tuffy. Explaining why a performer like him used a dog to help him, he said: 'It's different when it comes to personal matters. I'm not a confident person'.
He tied a ribbon, with a diamond ring attached, round the dog's neck.
'When she saw the ring, I went on my knees and popped the question,' he recalled.
Candyce said: 'I was touched and I cried a little. We have gone through so much together.'
Tuffy was his gift to her three years ago when he had to travel frequently to Taiwan to promote his album.
'It was his plan to tie me down with a 'kid' to look after. Tuffy became my faithful companion when he was away,' she said with a chuckle.
The couple admitted that they struggled to keep their relationship under wraps. 'It was inconvenient to disclose the relationship because I'm an artiste,' Junyang said.
Candyce, a radio DJ with Safra's 883 Jia FM, said: 'Some of his fans didn't like me. They thought I was riding on his popularity. Some gave me dirty looks when we were out on the streets.
Nasty e-mails
'They sent me nasty e-mails and SMSes. I have no idea how they got my e-mail address and phone number. It's weird because he was the one who made the first move.'
Yet, she said, she wasn't upset.
'I know he's worried about his career and I feel that was a challenge we had to overcome together.'
They eventually went public two years into the relationship after Junyang decided to move into music production and arrangement instead of being a full-time singer.
He's a creative executive with local music publisher Touch Music Publishing, a subsidiary of Ocean Butterflies.
As local celebrities, their wedding has attracted several sponsors.
The couple will hold their wedding banquet at the Raffles Marina Club House on 31 Jan. They have booked 35 tables for guests.
TV host Dasmond Koh has been approached to be emcee at the banquet, while local singers JJ Lin and A-Do may join the groom's entourage.
At this stage, the celebrities have not confirmed if they can take on the roles due to their work schedules.
What's certain is that Junyang prefers that the singers won't have to pick up the microphone and croon during the nuptials.
He said: 'I just want them to come to the wedding and relax, but if the emcee spontaneously wants to get them on stage, I can't guarantee what will happen.'
So will the couple be serenading the guests then?
'It's too stressful for me to sing in front of our friends in the music industry,' said Candyce. Then turning to Junyang, she said: 'You can surprise me!'
'Let's just keep it a secret then,' he replied, looking lovingly at her.
Junyang and Candyce will have their wedding photos taken in Singapore and Taiwan, courtesy of a bridal studio. It will also provide the three gowns Candyce will wear on the big day.
Other sponsors have also stepped in to glam up the affair. Sponsored items include a necklace, bracelets and earrings worth more than $200,000 for the photo shoot, another set of jewellery for the wedding itself.
The platinum and gold wedding bands, worth $3,000 a pair, are sponsored by a jewellery company, which plans to give away another pair of rings as a prize in a lucky draw to be held during the banquet.
Celebrity hairstylist Addy Lee has also offered his services for free.
