Zheng Ge Ping’s daughter Tay Ying takes showbiz plunge

​The new generation is in town, and they’re raring to go. Following the introduction of a number of  second-generation celebrities, who will be starring in the upcoming Channel 8 drama, While We Are Young, Tay Ying, the oldest child of local actors Zheng Ge Ping and Hong Hui Fang throws her hat into the fray, having signed an artiste contract with celebrity hairstylist Addy Lee’s 3X Media Production.

Tay Ying met the media for the first time as a signed artiste yesterday at the opening party of Addy’s new salon, M Nature, where she was also announced as the new ambassador for hair care brand Shisedo Professional’s latest Airy Flow line, aimed at young millennials. The bustling party was also given an added dose of star power courtesy of Zheng Ge Ping, Hong Hui Fang, Quan Yi Fong and Zhang Zhen Huan, just to name a few.

In an interview with Toggle, the 21-year-old shared more about her decision to enter the entertainment industry, her upcoming plans, and the effect her celebrity parents’ reputation had on her.

“I didn’t enter this industry earlier because I was in school, and I was 110 percent committed to my studies. I also had certain expectations of myself, and I didn’t feel like I had the proper skills [at that time]. After all, my parents are in this industry, and they have a reputation [to uphold]. I felt like I couldn’t just come in and experiment [with what I want to do], because it might spoil their [reputation],” she trails off, adding an embarrassed laugh at the end.

However, one year on, the fledgling actress is now confident that she will be able to step out into the limelight on her own, with the skills gleaned from her time spent as a dancer at Temasek Polytechnic.

“I’ve known from the start that I’m not someone who can work in a nine-to-five job, because I’ve personally tried it, and [it wasn’t for me]. I enjoy performing, and before this, I’ve done dance and commercial shoots,” the Hospitality & Tourism Management diploma graduate shared.

Of course, with her younger brother, Calvert Tay in the industry—and same artiste agency—as well, comparisons are inevitable. The 17-year-old had shared in a previous interview that he was negatively affected by comments that his older sister had more star-power than him, which Ge Ping also addressed recently.

When asked for her thoughts on these, Tay Ying was full of support for her younger brother.

“I know that deep down, he has this insecurity, but I beg to differ, and in my opinion, I think that he’s a lot more passionate [about acting], between the both of us.  He has the right attitude and a very very good heart,” she shared, adding that it’ll be cool if they could act alongside the other one day.