Nearly every celeb has been hated on at some point or another in their career, and Taiwanese singer-actress Ella Chen knows this too well.

When she first started in showbiz, Ella was often criticised for her androgynous looks, with netizens calling her a “tomboy” and the “ugliest” member of her girl group S.H.E.

During a recent episode of Chinese reality talent search Youth With You 2020, where Ella is a mentor, the 38-year-old dished out advice to the idol hopefuls on how to deal with being a target of bullying and online trolling.

“If you are feeling uncomfortable, just block them! Like what I did, just block them! Everyone must have some conscience. Don’t be so cruel because everyone’s heart is made of flesh and [what you say] will hurt. Everyone has a mother and a father, so you don't need to be so cruel,” she said.

Ella also opened up about the tough times she had been through, like how she was so busy with filming dramas and with other work commitments that she had no time to rest. Ella said that she often had to force herself to stay awake and once was so overworked, she fainted.

The pressure soon took a toll on Ella and the rest of her S.H.E bandmates, Selina Jen and Hebe Tien, and Ella said the trio once broke down in tears while they were waiting for their turn to perform at a show in Beijing.

Back then, it felt like there was no freedom. It was also very difficult for us to make friends, so we cried,” Ella recounted.

Although Ella could have easily been consumed by all that negativity, she recalled something Taiwanese musician and producer Jonathan Lee taught her: Every step counts. It’s because of what you’ve been through that's why you are the person you are today.”

Wise words indeed.

Ella’s now one of the most popular stars in the business and she's also happily married to her husband, Malaysian businessman Alvin Lai. They have a three-year-old son who is affectionately called Jin Bao.

Photos: Ella Chen/Instagram and PBE Media