Emerald Hill’s Ivory Chia Has Topped An Oscar Winner — What To Know About The Child Star

One of the buzziest shows of the year was Emerald Hill, the much-anticipated spin-off of The Little Nyonya. And while the main cast (such as Tasha Low, Chantalle Ng, Zhang Zetong, and Tyler Ten) soaked up plenty of attention, the young child actors certainly left quite the impression, too. One of them is Ivory Chia, who plays a younger Xin Niang, a plucky, sharp-tongued street urchin who made a living as a con artist along with her adoptive mother Ah Zhu (Chen Liping).

The nine-year-old left us absolutely fangirling impressed with her sassy mannerisms and delivery, and now, she’s just bagged a Best Actress in A Supporting Role win at the Asian Academy Creative Awards. Here's what went down, and what else to know about her.

1. Ivory edged out an Oscar Winner and other strong contenders at the Asian Academy Creative Awards

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Catch her acceptance speech from 2:55:00.

At the Asian Academy Creative Awards (AACA) that took place on Dec 4, 2025, Ivory pulled out a stunning win over a strong slate of nominees, including Aisha Dee (Apple Cider Vinegar) from Australia, China’s He Ruixian (Feud), Hong Kong star Yoyo Chen (D.I.D. 12), and Youn Yuh-jung (Pachinko S2), who’d bagged an Oscar in 2021. Plus, at just nine years old, she’s also the youngest actor to win at the Asian Academy Creative Awards. How’s that for bragging rights?

It was a tense moment for Ivory, who found herself in a tiebreaker with India’s Garima Vikrant Singh (Gram Chikitsalay). But she ultimately clinched the win and took to the stage dressed in a charming Nyonya kebaya that paid homage to her role.

In her acceptance speech, the young star thanked the AACA, Mediacorp, the show’s director, executive producer, scriptwriter, and crew, along with her family. All while being adorably breathless (we gather, from a mix of excitement and nerves. Awwww.). Of course, she dedicated a moment to her on-screen nya nyas, played by Jesseca Liu and Chen Liping, for giving her “warmth and confidence in every scene”.

We’ve no doubt it’s just the beginning for this young star.

2. She has acted in several other TV shows

If you've been keeping up with local dramas, Ivory's likely a familiar face. She kickstarted her acting journey at just six years old, making her first onscreen debut in Love at First Bite, which also starred fellow Emerald Hill cast members Tasha Low, Chantalle Ng, and Romeo Tan — except this time, she acted as the younger version of Chantalle's character.

Her list of credits includes Soul Detective (2022), Family Ties (2023), Shero (2023), All That Glitters (2023), Once Upon A New Year's Eve (2024), Moments (2024), Hope Afloat (2024), and I Believe I Can Fly (2025) — not shabby at all considering how she's only been in the scene for three years.

3. She's enrolled in an acting school

So where did she hone those acting chops? The young actress is a student at Zoom! Academy, a notable academy that offers acting and hosting courses for adults and kids. She's not the only Emerald Hill star there either — Charlotte Yue, who plays the younger An Na, is a fellow student.

Fun fact: One of the trainers is none other than actress Priscelia Chan, who also appears in Emerald Hill as one of the ma jies!

4. She's not just a star on screen

Acting hasn’t slowed her down in the classroom either. In April this year, the primary schooler shared an Instagram post of her CCC-CDC Education Merit Award 2024, which is administered by the People's Association, recognising students for their academic achievements and personal qualities. The achievement earned her praise from various celebrity seniors, including her on-screen nya nyas Jesseca Liu and Chen Liping, and Ya Hui.

5. She's a two-time Star Awards nominee

Given her flair for acting, it’s no surprise that Ivory earned Young Talent Award nominations at the Star Awards — first in 2023 for Love at First Bite, and again in 2024 for All That Glitters. She didn’t take home the award on both occasions, and Emerald Hill’s release date fell outside the eligibility window for the 2025 awards. But we’re looking forward to seeing her shine next year!

6. Ivory considers her and Xin Niang to be pretty alike

In a live appearance on Love 972's morning show The Breakfast Quintet's Facebook Live on April 8, she revealed that stepping into the role of Xin Niang wasn't too difficult as their characters aren't too far apart. The only exception is that she's a little more shy than the spirited Xin Niang, adding that she gets quiet around strangers.

7. She already has a celebrity fan and her own fan club

If you're charmed by the talented actress, you're not the only one. Among her fans is Love 972 DJ Chen Biyu, who, as revealed on The Breakfast Quintet’s Facebook Live, has been a supporter of Ivory’s onscreen performances, even before Emerald Hill.

And yes, she also already has her own fan club, the Ivory Chia Official Fanclub, which started last November. It sure looks like Ivory is well on her way to building a loyal following.

This article was originally published on April 11, 2025, and updated on Dec 5, 2025.