Want To Have A Taste Of Living Abroad?

Always wanted to have a taste of living abroad? Three women tell us what inspired their moves and how their experiences have shaped them.

- Adora Wong

Content creator ISABEL TAN (@prettyfrowns), 26, relocated to New York City in 2019 in pursuit of a more fulfilling career, and spent three years preparing for the big move.

“The first time I explored the idea of living in NYC was during my first year in art school. My lecturer showed the class a video of an advertising agency that had a huge office – the whole floor of a building – and it was decorated with all the campaigns they’d done. It was like nothing I’d ever seen before!

At the time, being a content creator was a new concept, but I knew I wanted to be in a position to help brands execute creative campaigns. However, when I was working in Singapore, I often felt like I didn’t have the creative freedom I needed, and was at times told that the concepts I had pitched were more suited for the US market.

This made me seriously think about moving as I wanted to challenge myself. I hired an immigration lawyer to learn more about my options, but in order to apply for a visa, I needed to have a sponsor, a few job offers from potential clients and an impressive portfolio, so I began shuttling between NYC and Los Angeles to build my network. It helped that a few of the brands I’d worked with in Singapore wrote me recommendation letters, and I’m currently on an O-1 Visa: Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement.