Radio DJ and hostess with the mostest, Sonia Chew is embracing a new chapter of her life with simplicity

If you&rsquo;ve hopped on a taxi or Grab car in the morning, you may have been greeted by our February digital cover star, Sonia Chew&rsquo;s smooth voice and bubbly personality. She has been the voice keeping us company on our rides for a decade now, on local radio station 98.7FM, and a familiar face on stage at major events, including National Day parades. Sonia never takes herself too seriously and doesn&rsquo;t worry about being polished and perfect. She&rsquo;s unabashedly herself and isn&rsquo;t shy about sharing her life experiences, both good and bad. This sense of familiarity and relatability is what sets Sonia apart.&nbsp;
Since winning the 987 Radio Star competition back in 2012, Sonia has gone from strength to strength and branched out beyond the realm of radio. Whether she was hosting her award-winning TravelSSBD series or trying her hand at podcasting with her series Men Explain, which led to her winning Best Host at the 2023 Asian Television Awards, accolades seem to follow wherever Sonia goes. They are not something she actively chases though. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s all about connection,&rdquo; she says, when asked why she continues to do what she does.
Away from work, Sonia is entering a new chapter as she prepares to marry her long-time partner later this year. When the topic of wedding plans comes up, Sonia does not go into details, regaling about a dream wedding. &ldquo;I just want everyone to have a good time,&rdquo; she says. That sentiment captures where she is right now. Family, meaningful relationships and lived experiences take priority, grounding both her life and our conversation.
That doesn&rsquo;t mean she&rsquo;s slowing down. Instead, Sonia is redefining what hustle looks like, creating more space for herself and the people who matter most, while continuing to live life on her own terms. Dressed in versatile UNIQLO pieces, she sits down with us for an honest and reflective conversation about where she&rsquo;s been and where she&rsquo;s headed next.

Hi Sonia! How has your 2026 been so far?&nbsp;
It has started quite strong, with a couple of major projects underway. I tend to lead with career matters first, which is very Capricorn of me, so work is always top of mind. That said, the question everyone keeps asking is about my wedding. How is the planning going? Am I stressed yet? It has definitely started to take up a lot of headspace in the first quarter of 2026. I probably should be getting myself more organised by now.
What's your mindset like for this year?&nbsp;
It is interesting because every year, there is a lot of talk about setting resolutions and goals. I may come across as a very goal-oriented person, but the truth is that I do not actually set goals at all. I never have. I believe more in going into the year with the right energy and trusting that things will unfold as they are meant to. That is also why I refuse to read horoscopes or Chinese zodiac predictions. I don&rsquo;t want external expectations shaping how I feel about the year ahead.
Even when predictions are positive, they create pressure. You begin expecting the year to be exceptional, and if it does not meet those expectations, the disappointment feels heavier. I prefer to start with a blank slate and trust that everything happens in its own time.
Did you find yourself refreshing your wardrobe for the new year? What are your tips for people looking to revamp their look without reworking their entire wardrobe?&nbsp;
For context, my wardrobe was overflowing with clothes that I did not even wear. I tend to keep statement pieces because they are interesting or cute, even though I rarely reach for them. Things reached a breaking point when the pole in my wardrobe collapsed from the weight of everything hanging on it. That forced me to do a proper clear-out.
Going into 2026, I am keeping more classic and well-tailored basics. At this stage, it is really about fit, structure, and form. Just like exercise, proper form makes all the difference. When clothing fits well, you can rework the same pieces in multiple ways and still look polished. That is why I gravitate towards brands like <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/fashion/uniqlo-spring-summer-2026-lifewear-urban-lifestyle-fashion-colour-style-clare-waight-keller" title="UNIQLO : C's Spring/Summer 2026 Gives Refined, Comfortable Style for Modern Urban Living" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UNIQLO</a>. Their Asian cuts, from the length of trousers to the proportions of tops, make a noticeable difference. Fit is always the most important factor.
Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials! What are you most excited about when it&nbsp; comes to this new phase and what kind of bride is Sonia Chew?&nbsp;
I&rsquo;m probably the most &ldquo;non-bride&rdquo; bride you will ever meet. I swear. We are only a few months away from the wedding, and I&rsquo;m still very chill about it. What I&rsquo;m looking forward to the most is the afterparty. But of course, at the heart of it, I really hope my family and friends have a good time. That&rsquo;s honestly my main mindset going into wedding planning, I just want everyone to have a good time.&nbsp;
Details such as flowers and dinner are important, but I leave those decisions to the professionals. I communicate what I like, and fortunately, I am very aligned with my wedding planner. The celebration will be intimate and cosy, centred around close family and friends.

The year has seen a wave of nostalgia with the &lsquo;2016 trend&rsquo; (where&nbsp; people post photos from that year) on our social media feeds. You recently hopped on that as well. Looking back on those photos, how has your personal style evolved over the decade?&nbsp;
I&rsquo;m very grateful that my style has evolved. That said, I do not regret that era at all. The 2010s were a time of experimentation. That period was defined by chunky Jeffrey Campbell shoes, cut-out silhouettes, sequins, metallic fabrics, and holographic finishes. At the time, I was still new to the industry and experimenting with what worked on screen, particularly when it came to colour.
I also went through a phase of dyeing my hair light brown simply because everyone else was doing it. In hindsight, it probably did not complement my skin tone, but experimentation was part of the learning process.&nbsp;
As someone who loves experimenting with trends and different looks, do you have any fashion regrets?&nbsp;
I generally do not believe in regrets, although I do occasionally look back and question my choices. There was one metallic mini dress I wore to an awards show, only to realise another artiste had arrived in the exact same outfit. It unintentionally turned into a comparison moment. That dress has since been donated, discarded, or removed from my life entirely. Unintentional twinning is probably my only true fashion regret.
The &lsquo;2016 trend&rsquo; also showed that you have been hosting and being a regular on the radio for a decade. What has been the biggest lesson you learnt from being a public figure and what is it like navigating the media landscape today?&nbsp;
The biggest lesson has been understanding that people are always watching. I learnt that the hard way. There were moments when I felt close to being cancelled or questioned whether this career was right for me. Looking back, I am grateful for those low points. They humbled me and pushed me to grow in ways I otherwise might not have.
I have made many mistakes, both publicly and privately. In radio especially, there will always be people who disagree with what you say. However, silence usually means no one is listening. Engagement, even in disagreement, means impact. I have learnt to be more mindful without losing myself. I still live fully, but I am more intentional about what I choose to share and what I keep private.
As social media is such a big part of your life, how do you balance authenticity and&nbsp; vulnerability online while also setting boundaries?&nbsp;
I share aspects of my family and personal life because I want to feel human online. I do not want my platform to feel like a constant stream of advertisements. Social media is a double-edged sword. You want to be aspirational while remaining relatable. For me, it is about allowing people in without giving everything away.

You started your career with radio. In an increasingly digitalised world, what does radio mean to you and what is it about radio that has made you stick with it all this time?&nbsp;
People think radio is old-school or traditional, but for me it&rsquo;s never been about the medium. It&rsquo;s about communication. The skills I&rsquo;ve learnt in radio such as public speaking and expressing myself can be applied across all platforms. Hosting, content creation, everything.
Radio also grounds me. I treat my listeners like friends and share real moments from my daily life. When someone tells me they laughed because they experienced the same thing, that connection feels genuinely meaningful. The live and unedited nature of radio makes it special. Once something is said, it cannot be taken back, and that honesty is powerful.
You&rsquo;ve hosted many big events, including Singapore&rsquo;s 60th National Day Parade. What are some of the highlights of your hosting career that you&rsquo;re most proud of and why?&nbsp;
I&rsquo;m most proud of building things from nothing. Starting shows or projects from scratch, with no existing audience, and growing them is incredibly challenging but rewarding. Awards are great, but the non-tangible things matter more to me. When I started, I lacked confidence and masked it with overconfidence. I didn&rsquo;t even know who I was yet. Now, I&rsquo;m much more self-assured. Being able to share that journey with people who reach out and say they feel inspired makes the work deeply fulfilling.
Travelling has been a big part of your life for years. How do you approach packing as a jetsetter and what are the pieces you pack for your trips?
Shoes. Always shoes. Half my luggage is footwear. I need options like boots, heels, sneakers or slip-ons. It makes a difference to each look. I also overpack skincare. These are the top two things. Beyond that, I plan outfits based on my itinerary. I bring at least one party outfit, just in case. And I always pack a few good pairs of jeans because you can rotate tops and outerwear around them easily.
Last year, you got to fly to New York with <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/fashion/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-uniqlo-c-fall-winter-2025-collection" title="Everything To Know About the UNIQLO : C Fall/Winter 2025 Collection" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UNIQLO</a>. Tell us about that experience and your best memory from the trip?&nbsp;
It was actually my first proper New York experience, despite visiting once or twice before. I&rsquo;d never even been to the Brooklyn Bridge before. We debated shooting there because it is such a tourist-heavy location, but once we did, I completely understood the appeal.
The area was crowded, but we found the right angle. The sunset was stunning, with colours you rarely see in Singapore. It also happened to be our final opportunity to shoot, which made the moment feel even more special. We met members of the <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/fashion/here-first-look-at-uniqlo-x-jw-anderson-fall-winter-2025-collection-fashion-collaboration-essentials" title="Here's Your First Look at UNIQLO x JW Anderson Fall/Winter 2025 Collection" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UNIQLO</a> team, learnt about their design and technology processes, and met <a href="https://www.lofficielsingapore.com/fashion/cate-blanchett-uniqlo-global-ambassador-celebrity-fashion-news" title="Cate Blanchett Named Global Ambassador for UNIQLO" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cate Blanchett</a> and Roger Federer. What stood out to me most was their encouragement to be present, without phones or constant filming. It was really refreshing.

With such a busy schedule of hosting gigs, radio shows and events, do you have time for hobbies?&nbsp;
I have never been particularly good at maintaining hobbies, which is probably a result of being a workaholic. That said, I have been doing more Pilates because it is low-impact but effective. My partner also introduced me to padel. I am extremely competitive, even though I am still learning. He signed me up for lessons, which I took as a polite way of telling me I needed improvement.&nbsp;
Finally, what&rsquo;s next for Sonia?
This year, I want to focus more on experiencing life, not just working through it. I still love my career, and that will not change, but I want to be more intentional and present. My mother turns 70 this year, and I am planning our first-ever mother-daughter trip together. That feels especially meaningful to me. I think this year marks a new phase of my life with more experiences, more presence, and a little more living for me.

Photography STEFAN KHOO Styling TOK WEI LUN Executive Production IAN LEE Hair and makeup BENJI OO Photography assistant ALIF Styling assistant MEGAN LIM All outfits UNIQLO

Digital Cover Story: Sonia Chew Lives Life on Her Own Terms

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