Cover Story: Twice the Fun with Desmond Tan and Carrie Wong
Playing around in Fendi’s breezy Summer 2025 collection, the longtime industry friends prove the power of platonic love.
Few things capture the spirit of summer quite like true friendship. Warm, spontaneous and full of joy, that energy was on full display when Desmond Tan and Carrie Wong reunited on set for our June/July cover shoot, dressed in Fendi’s stellar Summer 2025 collection. Between playful teasing and striking fashionable poses, their natural camaraderie stole the show, reminding us that the best kind of chemistry doesn’t need a script. With a bond forged over a decade in the entertainment industry, these forever friends (FF!) are totally in synch. It’s truly a sight to behold.
You two go way back — how long have you known each other?
Desmond Tan (DT): I’ve known Carrie since her first year in the industry. How long ago was that?
Carrie Wong (CW): 10 or 11 years, so since 2014.
DT: Wow, that’s a pretty long time.
CW: Feels like 50 years! [Laughs]
And what were your first impressions of each other?
DT: She looked young and fresh out of school.
CW: I was fresh out of school! [Laughs]
DT: We already had the same manager back then, so when we were booked for the same variety show, I was told to look out for her, make sure everything was fine for the new artiste on set.
“Desmond’s my comfort zone. He knows what kind of person I am, so I don’t have to worry and can just speak my mind. There are no walls.”
Carrie Wong
How would you describe your friendship dynamic?
CW: We just clicked naturally. I can’t really explain why.
DT: Somehow, we were paired quite a fair bit early in her career. She cameoed in a Channel 5 show that I was on, and I also started to do more Chinese dramas later on. But eventually it got less and less, until it became almost non-existent. It felt like it’s been some time since we’ve worked together until this cover shoot.
CW: We see more of each other at fashion events these days, but it’s been at least five or six years since we’re in the same drama.
What’s the best part about working together, in dramas or other projects?
CW: Desmond’s my comfort zone. He knows what kind of person I am, so I don’t have to worry and can just speak my mind. There are no walls. And because he knows me well, he also knows how to look out for me. I feel safe when I’m with him.
DT: Until I start lecturing her! [Laughs]
And for you, Desmond?
DT: It makes it a lot less like work for me. We always have a lot to catch up on between breaks or after work, because we’re so busy with our own lives.
CW: We don’t really see each other that often outside of work, but once in a while we’ll have a long catch-up session. Like from 6pm to 5am.
DT: Yeah I invited her to my place once, and she had so much to talk about. My entire family was waiting for her to go to sleep. [Laughs]
You’re both regulars at fashion events. How did your interest in fashion begin?
DT: It’s quite natural for us. We love dressing up and pretty things.
CW: Shopping makes me happy. Dressing well makes me happy.
DT: I enjoy the creativity of fashion, whether it’s pairing outfits or even pushing boundaries and exploring comfort zones. That, to me, is the epitome of fashion.
How would you describe each other’s style?
CW: Honestly, everything he wears looks great.
DT: I was about to say the same for her! She makes the most basic clothes look luxurious.
CW: It’s probably because of my height. It makes it easier to carry clothes.
DT: That’s why she’s “Carrie”. [Laughs]
Wow. Summer is upon us — if you had to travel together on a holiday, where would you go?
CW: I don’t know why, but Paris comes to mind. I think it suits us.
DT: Have we actually travelled together before?
CW: Not for work.
DT: Yeah I don’t think we’ve ever stepped outside of Singapore together. That’s something to look forward to. I mean, travelling together either makes the friendship tighter, or breaks it. [Laughs]
CW: I think ours will survive. [Laughs]
What else do you like to do in your downtime?
DT: I don’t mind hanging out at the beach. Have some drinks, enjoy the sand and sun. That’s the whole beauty of summer, right?
CW: But I don’t usually go out in the sun, so I’ll probably stay under the umbrella.
DT: As you can tell from our skin tones in the photos — I’m the sunny boy. [Laughs]
"People think of [Carrie] as a high fashion girl with a cool front, but there’s a warm side to her too. I can definitely see her being a great mother in the future."
Desmond Tan
Where do you see each other in 10 years?
CW: It’s quite obvious for Desmond, compared to myself where there are a lot more unknowns. He’ll probably have a third kid by then. How old are you now?
DT: I’ll be 39 in two months.
CW: Yeah I can foresee him being one of those stylish uncles driving a nice car, living in a big house…
DT: You can omit the word “uncle”. [Laughs] Please call me a “gentleman” instead!
CW: It’s normal for people to call you “uncle” once you reach that age.
DT: No no no, you don’t call George Clooney “uncle”.
CW: Anyway, I envision him as a stylish uncle with a nice car, big house, beautiful kids — generally doing well in life. It’s pretty straightforward for him.
DT: Thanks, I hope everything you said will come true. As for Carrie, she brought my daughter to the zoo recently, and I saw how she interacted with kids. People think of her as a high fashion girl with a cool front, but there’s a warm side to her too. I can definitely see her being a great mother in the future.
CW: I wouldn’t be against that. Ten years is a long time, and we never know what can happen. I’ll be 40 by then, so I hope to be in a different phase of my life than where I am now. Marriage, kids — I would love to experience them if I am meant to do so.
DT: The important thing about “10 years later” is the quality and meaning of life and happiness, rather than just taking on “roles” when you hit certain ages.
CW: Desmond really hopes to see me become a mother. That’s something he wishes for me to experience in life. And I agree with him, which is why he has been a witness to all of my relationships. Every time I meet someone new, I will be first to share with him.
DT: That’s how we end up having 5-hour long dinners at my place. I’m going to have to start charging for consultation. [Laughs] But she has definitely grown and matured a lot.
CW: Desmond has witnessed a lot about my life in the decade we’ve know each other, and I wish for him to witness me for another 10 years.
Share with us one thing you’ve learned from each other.
CW: Desmond is a very different kind of person from myself. He pays attention to the little details, and is aware of people’s feelings. He will go the extra mile to consider others before doing or saying anything. I’m the opposite; I will just speak my mind, and sometimes that unintentionally causes hurt feelings. So what I learned from Desmond is patience and taking that little step to account for others.
DT: Carrie’s openness and frankness is what I like about her. It taught me what it means to be brave. She is willing to show her true self, which not many of us would do, at least not immediately. When you meet Carrie, you’ll get the raw and real person. And I think that’s brave. I’ll share one example: we attended an event, and unfortunately there was an unflattering photo of her that received a lot of negative comments. I felt uncomfortable, so I asked her if we should take down the post or remove the comments. She just told me one thing: let them say whatever they want.
CW: I believe we shouldn’t respond to bullying, because all they want is a reaction. And I was telling Desmond that I was more amused than disappointed that most of these comments came from women — why are women attacking other women’s bodies? They should be responsible for their own words and actions, so we’ll just leave the comments there for the world to see what kind of people they are.
Photography STEFAN KHOO
Styling and Set Design TOK WEI LUN
Executive Producer IAN LEE
Hair for Carrie CHRISTVIAN WU using DYSON and REVLON PROFESSIONAL
Makeup for Carrie KAT ZHANG / THE SUBURBS STUDIO using DIOR BEAUTY
Hair for Desmond RYAN YAP / PASSION HAIR SALON
Makeup for Desmond ALISON TAY using DIOR BEAUTY
Photography assistant ALIF and SOLENN ROBERTS
Fashion assistant CRYSTAL LIM
