Annie Yi Explains Why She’s Participating In A Reality Talent Show At 51
You’re never too old to do what you love.
Taiwanese star Annie Yi’s participation in Chinese reality show Cheng Feng Po Lang De Jie Jie (literally “Older Sisters Who Brave the Winds and Waves”) has been making headlines for a number of reasons. While contestants are required to be above the age of 30, she is the oldest contestant at 51. Some netizens have said she's “too old” for the gig, but as we all know, the mother of two does not back down from a fight.
Ever the straight-talker, Annie revealed her thoughts on this matter with this Weibo post; “When they first talked to me about the programme, I thought they were making up a fantasy. The other 30 women are so charismatic and confident (…) among them, it seems that I’m the only housewife. I rarely think about the glory days. I’ve released 23 albums, and the first and last person I collaborated with are Namie Amuro and Jay Chou respectively.”
She continued, “All the glorious achievements were accompanied by insults, bullying from the media, and controversies. From [my showbiz debut] at 15, so many people have left my side, and yet I’m still here (…) I’m the strongest survivor, and I’m also a lucky survivor who has a sharp tongue.”
Annie added that leaving showbiz was a no-brainer for her once she started a family, as she felt that she had enough of the glitz and glamour, and would be happy living the rest of her life as a homemaker.
This led her to reject the casting director’s initial proposal, but something he said touched her so deeply she decided to say yes. “He asked me if I’ve ever enjoyed my time on the stage. He asked me if I wanted to truly enjoy myself for once,” Annie said. “When I first started out in showbiz, it was to earn money to put food on the table. Performing on stage was never a dream for me, but a way for me to survive.”
Back then, Annie had used all her income to pay off her family’s debts, and so she had no savings. To cut costs, she would even sew her own costumes. But even at the peak of her popularity, she wasn't happy and would cry every night. She never believed fans who told her that they would adore her for life, and she felt that whatever she did was wrong.
“My son told me that I’ve supported everyone [in the family] to have courage to be themselves, and that he wished the same for me, and that I would enjoy myself [on the show],” she wrote. “He held my hand, wrote songs for me and taught me how to dance. My family is rooting for me, and my fans who loved me then are still cheering me on.”
She ended her post encouraging her followers to chase their dreams. “I hope that every woman will never give up [on achieving their goals]. Ignore your age, and be the captain of your own ship. I hope that you’ll always be able to safely navigate the seas of life this way.”
Photos: PBE Media