Michelle Chia Gets Married After 2-Month Whirlwind Romance
The actress has tied the knot to her 41-year-old boyfriend
By Michelle Lee -
While the rest of us were celebrating Singapore’s 60th birthday, actress and host Michelle Chia, who turns 50 this September, had another reason to celebrate over the National Day weekend — she married her non-celeb boyfriend, Jackson Tan.
The news broke on Aug 9, courtesy of the Chinese-language evening daily Shin Min Daily News.
The couple, who reportedly dated for just over two months, exchanged vows on an Indonesian island on Aug 8. They chose the date for its easy memorability and the opportunity to celebrate their future anniversaries alongside National Day on Aug 9. The number eight holds special significance in Chinese culture, symbolising prosperity.
In an interview with Shin Min, Michelle added that she never expected “the greatest gift” (her husband) to appear so suddenly in her life. “The wedding on Friday was the best birthday gift I could have asked for.”
The wedding venue and guests
From the pictures on social media, the venue looks to be the Sekisah Pavilion of Hotel Indigo Bintan Lagoi Beach, which opened in late 2024. The couple chose the dreamy beachside destination for its deep personal significance as they’d celebrated Jackson’s birthday there in February.
In attendance were around 40 close family members and friends. Among the guests at the intimate ceremony were fellow actresses Jesseca Liu, Apple Hong, Priscelia Chan, and Jayley Woo — Michelle’s co-stars from the 2016 local TV series The Queen — along with radio DJ and personality Yasminne Cheng.
Who is Michelle Chia’s husband, Jackson Tan?
Jackson, 41, is currently a real estate consultant. Though he’s no longer in the entertainment industry, Jackson once had a brief stint in it. He participated in Mediacorp’s talent contest Star Search in 2007, where he won the Mr Personality title, but left the station after just nine months.
He and Michelle first met in 2008, but they did not interact frequently over the years. Fast forward to Sep 2024, he sent her a birthday text, and shortly after, they caught up for coffee with a mutual friend. At this time, though, there was no spark between them.
It wasn’t until 2025 that the couple began spending more time together, with coffee meet-ups stretching for hours. “It felt like being a student again,” Chia shared. “We talked about everything— our ideals, philosophies on life, and we grew and learned from each other. We realised how much we’re alike: I’m the female version of him, and he’s the male version of me.”
Their first official date was at the National University of Singapore’s UTown, which also turned out to be the place where Jackson popped the question. His sister, brother-in-law, nieces, and nephews were all there to share the moment.
Despite the nine-year age gap, Michelle doesn’t feel like she’s nearing 50, be it in spirit or appearance (and we agree). She mentioned that she still has plenty of dreams, and feels energetic and positive as ever. As for Jackson, spiritual compatibility is the most important thing in a partner, and that nothing else really matters.
Jackson also reportedly covered the wedding costs, including a five-minute fireworks display at the reception that was “one of his wedding gifts”, Michelle Chia told Lianhe Zaobao. “I wept for a full five minutes while watching it.”
And while Michelle has once said, in a 2016 interview with Shin Min, that she had no plans to remarry, it’s Jackson who has changed her views on tying the knot again. She was previously married to Malaysian actor Shaun Chen, 46, between 2009 and 2011.
“Our relationship is like that of close friends,” Chia said. “We look forward to coming home every day after work, staying home together, watching TV, and chatting about life. We drink coffee together in the morning and can chat non-stop for one or two hours.”
“He takes very good care of me, and our communication gives me a strong sense of security as well as confidence in our marriage.”
As for a honeymoon, there isn’t one on the cards just yet. Chia is set to film in Beijing before heading to India with friends in September. “My husband can’t come with me due to work, but I’ll be back a few days before my birthday,” she said.