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A: Both competitively and recreationally, I was a volleyball player for a time in school, but my focus was mainly on running cross country. I competed in interscholastic careers in college.
Then I tried a lot of things as I got older, like netball, pilates, and yoga. Now, I love working out in the studio to fuel the energy in the room.
Jia En came in second place at the 2018 Miss Singapore Universe pageant. (PHOTO: Cheryl Tay)
Miss Singapore Universe 2018 was my first and only pageant. Back then, I wanted to see how far my courage could take me, and I finally went a little further than I expected and got second place.
It was a surprise because I had no real modeling experience and the runway was something really new to me. I learned that when the going gets tough you just have to smile, shake yourself, lift your head up, have fun … and everything will work out.
No way. Initially, I was a little aware of that tattoo that I got at 17 on my back, thinking that it was not suitable for the industry. But the theme of MUS 2018 was to embrace ourselves so that the preconceived concept was quickly denied. The girls were very supportive from start to finish. I actually helped some girls with their workout routines and that was very rewarding.
I studied at the National University of Singapore and did a double major in New Media and Geography. Keeping myself in college was something expected of me from my humble family, so it was an idea that I readily accepted. I tried many types of jobs: I was a tutor after school, a waitress at Restro Bar at night, sometimes an event planner, and at night I worked as a waitress (again), but this time in a club.
Jia En believes that the greatest joy in being a fitness trainer comes from seeing her clients progress and improving their day. (PHOTO: Cheryl Tay)
The idea was to maximize the 24 hours I had in a day so that I could earn enough. I would say that I balanced myself through sacrifice and sheer determination. I barely slept and couldn’t socialize with my peers. But that’s life, you have to work hard for what you want and good things will come later.
I left after a year because I wanted to do something that was more challenging and put a big smile on my face every day. As a physical trainer, sometimes you forget that it is work … and that is incredible.
The greatest joy comes from watching your clients progress and enhancing their day with adrenaline. And of course it is also a challenge. It gets really mentally and physically exhausting, particularly with the spinning, where we teach and ride throughout the class, roughly 10-15 times a week. Creating quality sequences and lesson plans that are different in each class also takes a lot more time than most people imagine.
I’d say during the days when I had to juggle two college majors and four part-time jobs. Looking back, grinding every hour made my mind susceptible to negative thoughts. I had little confidence externally, rather it was in my mental space.
Many times I wished I could have a different birth lottery; I couldn’t understand why I had to work so hard and not enjoy life like my peers. He wasn’t sure he could get out of it. However, this awareness of negative mental space got me out of there. My mind is my home. When I changed my perception of my luck and my life, my environment changed.
Jia En started and sold her own line of bikinis. (PHOTO: Cheryl Tay)
Of course I work my body so hard every day teaching fitness, I better love it for all the work it is doing for me. I am healthy, I am mobile, what is there not to love?
It is an integral part of being a public figure on social media. Too skinny, too thin, too veiny, the chest is not real … many things. But it’s the same concept: your way of thinking controls your world.
I love the sun and wanted to make bikinis to fill the mid-range market that was pretty stale years ago. I wanted to do something fun and crazy and I did. In fact, it turned out very well, but my passions always grow and I thought it was time to pass it on and explore something new.
People see me as the human being that I am, sometimes complacent, sometimes sleeping, sometimes feeling sore, rather than a fitness trainer leading a “perfect” lifestyle; This makes staying and looking fit more accessible to many more women.
Singapore #Fitspo of the Week: Tiong Jia En. (PHOTO: Cheryl Tay)
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