S'porean actress Michelle Chia, 49, marries real estate agent boyfriend, 41, a month before her 50th birthday

Singaporean host-actress Michelle Chia got married in a ceremony held overseas on Aug. 8, about a month before she turns 50 on Sep. 19.

Chia, best known for her roles in Mandarin dramas and variety shows on Mediacorp's Channel 8, told Shin Min Daily News that the marriage came as a surprise to family and friends as the couple had been dating for just over two months before making the decision to get hitched.

Marriage was not originally on their minds, Chia said, as they considered being comfortable with each other enough, but changed their minds after getting into a relationship.

"When fate comes it really cannot be stopped," she explained, calling her marriage "the best gift for [her] 50th birthday".

First met 17 years ago

Chia's husband, known as Jackson B., is reportedly a 41-year-old real estate agent who is not from the entertainment industry.

He did, however, participate in Mediacorp's 2007 edition of "Star Search", but only stayed in the industry for nine months, Chia disclosed.

The pair had allegedly met for the first time in an artiste lounge at Mediacorp in 2008, though Chia claims to not remember the encounter.

They met again briefly in 2013, but had minimal contact until 2020.

It was not until this year when they began to meet frequently, chatting for hours at a time, that they realised how similar they were in terms of their personalities.

Jackson added that the decision to marry happened as it "was just the right time".

"We trust and support each other very much," he told Shin Min.

Auspicious wedding

The couple said they chose to tie the knot on Aug. 8 because of the auspicious number eight in Chinese culture.

The date also fell on the 15th day of the month in the lunar calendar, a symbol of luck and prosperity.

Numerically written, Aug. 8 is also an easy date to remember, they said.

The wedding party was held abroad, where the couple was surrounded by about 40 close friends and family in an outdoor setting.

Chia said honeymoon plans would take a backseat for the time being due to her work commitments in Beijing, China, and India, though she would be back home before her 50th birthday.

This is Chia's second marriage.

She was previously married to fellow Mediacorp actor Shaun Chen in 2009, but the couple split in 2011.

Top image via Shin Min Daily News