For anybody who has had the pleasure of being within a 30cm radius of Desmond Tan like this writer, the first thing one will notice is electricity crackling up his own body. The 33-yearold’s eye contact is intense – one part masculine swagger, one part boyish charm – and he answers questions without a moment of hesitation.
While one can chalk it up to savviness accrued from a 13-year career in the media industry, talking to Tan feels more like catching up with a friend. He is interested in what one has to say (his eyes will light up), he is curious when one talks about a topic he is unfamiliar with (his eyebrows wriggle), and he is refreshingly earnest with his words.
“A line on your Instagram profile says ‘1/7.5 billion’. That is quite a high level of self-awareness,” this writer posits. While other celebrities might be affronted by such a question, Tan shrugs it off and answers matter-of-factly.
“7.5 billion is actually the worlds’ population. That line simply points out how, individually, we are a small part of the whole, yet unique.”
What else is Tan interested in besides the cosmic machinations of humankind? How about longboarding – a hobby he picked up as a tropical extension of his love for snowboarding. “I recently got a longboard, and I really enjoy the experience so far! I enjoy learning new stuff which could possibly be elements I could use for future roles. I usually watch loads of videos and dig hard into reading materials online.”
Longboarding has been a point of contention in the past for some skateboarders who claim that it is a way for the “less apt” to hop onto their culture, but Tan does not seem to bother. Instead, it is a way for him to relax after a gruelling filming session, to feel a sense of freedom from the hyper rigidity of his career and to have some quiet moments to himself.
This story is from the March 2020 edition of MEN 'S FOLIO Singapore.
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This story is from the March 2020 edition of MEN 'S FOLIO Singapore.
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