Do These Celebs Born In The Year Of The Horse Match Their Zodiac Traits?

Horses are strong, powerful and elegant animals, representing heroes and talents in Chinese culture. 

People born in the Year of the Horse are said to have the traits of being brave, strong, talented, and independent — they bolt forward with speed, visibility, and high-stakes leadership, thriving when commanding attention. And when it comes to famous faces, local celebs such as Aileen Tan, Apple Hong and Eelyn Kok prove that horsepower runs deep in showbiz success. Scroll on to find out which Singaporean stars were born in the Year of the Horse.

Aileen Tan

Birth date: Oct 18, 1966

Aileen Tan, a Fire Horse, embodies the lively, charismatic energy of her zodiac type, known for overflowing enthusiasm and stubborn determination that fuel her versatile career. 

First runner-up and Miss Photogenic in Star Search 1988, the 60-year-old actress has starred in iconic Mediacorp dramas like Mata Mata, Mr Kiasu, 3 Women And A Half (Best Actress, Star Awards 2001), and The Day It Rained On Our Parade (Best Supporting Actress, Asian Television Awards 2013). 

Married to Hong Kong-born director Gerald Lee since 2002, her bold adaptability shines in theatre (Long Long Time Ago and Long Long Time Ago 2), variety shows, and crossovers to English dramas like Growing Up.

Apple Hong

Birth date: Oct 31, 1978​

Earth Horses are said to be pragmatic, dependable, and quietly persistent, with Apple Hong reflecting these traits through her multifaceted career with unwavering duty.

Dubbed the ‘Malaysian Shu Qi’ after walking away as the first runner-up in Star Search Malaysia 1999, Apple has since become a Singaporean and married a Singaporean businessman in 2017. 

The 48-year-old’s career highlights include portraying the scheming, unforgettable Huang Meiyu in 2008 blockbuster The Little Nyonya. She then galloped on to star in dramas like Healing Heroes, My School Daze, and Mind Game.

True to her Earth Horse nature, Apple’s perseverance in showbiz shone through with a first-ever Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes nomination at the Star Awards 2025.

Though she didn’t win, she shared heartfelt gratitude: “Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all my friends, family, and fans who have been voting tirelessly for me. Though I didn’t bring home the award, your love and support mean the world to me and will forever stay in my heart.” 

Eelyn Kok

Birth date: Aug 12, 1978

Eelyn Kok, another Earth Horse, brings righteous tenacity to her edgy roles, channeling the sign’s bold independence even after leaving full-time Mediacorp in 2013.

First spotted in SPH MediaWorks’s talent show Route to Glamour in 2001, the actress was a contestant alongside Jeanette Aw and Adam Chen. Although she did not win, she was offered a contract with MediaWorks and later joined MediaCorp in 2005 when the two companies merged.

Since then, Eelyn has been nominated for several Best Supporting Actress awards for her role in Kinship (2007) and The Little Nyonya (2008) and Best Actress for Together (2009).

The 48-year-old is currently happily married with a son named Zane, who was born on April 1, 2013.

Jae Liew 

Birth date: May 29, 1990

Jae Liew, a Metal Horse, gallops with the sign’s brisk, free-spirited energy, mirroring her hustle in acting and beyond.

The 36-year-old made her acting debut in 2013 as the female lead in Michelle Chong’s film 3 Peas In A Pod alongside Felicia Chin, and went on to shine as Diana Tong, a tomboy with a heart of gold, in 2015 Channel 5 drama Tanglin. 

Other standout roles Jae played include twins Jessica and Cecilia in Derek 2 (2020), Sherry Yang in 128 Circle (2019-2023), and anxious mum Sophia in I Not Stupid 3 (2023). 

True to the Horse’s wanderlust trait, Jae has lived boldly — teaching English in Japan from 2023 to 2024, working with therapy horses, and championing for charitable causes.

Shawn Lee

Date of birth: Feb 11, 1990

Shawn Lee, a Metal Horse, charges with the sign’s high-energy charisma — who doesn’t love him? He’s a local crowd favourite and so many Singaporeans (us included) grew up watching him on screen.

His breakout role as Liu Kok Pin in I Not Stupid (2002) stole hearts. Pushed relentlessly by his mother (played by Xiang Yun) to excel in Mathematics despite his talent in art, the EM3 student facing school bullies and family woes resonated deeply with local audiences, earning him the Star Awards Young Talent Award alongside Joshua Ang.

Then came Homerun (2003), where he played Chew Kiat Kun — a kid in a poor family desperate to win his sister a pair of shoes by competing in a race. The emotional arc brought tears to cinema-goers nationwide, cementing Shawn as a star who could tug heartstrings.

Now 35 and low-profile, Shawn was last pictured attending Joshua‘s wedding in 2018. 

Shane Pow

Birth date: Oct 4, 1990

Shane Pow, a Metal Horse, harnesses the sign’s perceptive agility and charisma — from being a finalist in ManHunt 2011 to snagging the Star Awards Top 10 Most Popular Male Artiste for three straight years, from 2015 to 2017. 

His breakthrough came as cheeky hawker B-Niu in It Takes Two (2012), earning a nomination for Best Newcomer in the Star Awards 2013. He also acted in C.L.I.F. 2, Love At Risk, and Served H.O.T. In 2014, he ventured into hosting with Mediacorp’s Cheap & Good and Style Check-in 4.

However, the 36-year-old faced a major setback in 2021 with drink-driving charges — his second offence, resulting in five weeks’ jail, a fine, driving ban, and the termination of his Mediacorp contract.

Calling that incident a “wake-up call“, Shane went on to sign with Li Nanxing’s celeb management agency LNX Global after his release from jail. 

He came back stronger with roles such as Singaporean-South Korean film Ajoomma, and also starred in a series of Mediacorp dramas including My Star Bride, Love At First Bite and Family Ties. 

Kiki Lim

Birth date: Mar 28, 2002

Kiki Lim, a Water Horse, flows with the sign’s ambitious drive. From being a child dancer at Hong Kong star Aaron Kwok’s concert in Singapore to being one of Star Search 2019’s finalists, the 24-year-old has accomplished a lot. 

She kick-started her acting career when she was just 11, playing the lead role in Channel 8’s Little Detective. She has also appeared in Okto series Wizard of Honey Street and Channel 5’s Tanglin.

Her five-year stint with Mediacorp sparkled with roles in shows such as Last Madame, Live Your Dreams (2021), When Duty Calls 2, Healing Heroes, Kill Sera Sera and blockbuster Emerald Hill.

In March 2025, she announced her departure from Mediacorp for new horizons. 

“After five incredible years at Mediacorp, the time has come for me to move on to the next chapter of my journey. I’m immensely grateful for all the opportunities the company has given me to grow, learn, and connect with so many talented individuals,” she wrote.