Meet Ivory Chia, the 9-year-old Singaporean sensation who made history at the 2025 Asian Academy Creative Awards (AACA). She became the youngest actor to win in the Best Actress In A Supporting Role (Asia-Pacific) category, leaving seasoned stars in her wake. But it wasn't easy. Ivory faced off against the likes of Oscar winner Youn Yuh-jung and Hong Kong's Yoyo Chen, both renowned for their dramatic performances. The competition was fierce, with Ivory ultimately prevailing after a tense extra round of judging. The judges recognized her talent, awarding her the same score as Indian actress Garima Vikrant Singh, resulting in a tiebreaker. Ivory's triumph is all the more remarkable considering her young age and the depth of talent she competed against.
Her journey began with a breakthrough role in Mediacorp's blockbuster drama series Emerald Hill: The Little Nyonya Story (2025), where she played a street-smart younger version of Tasha Low's Xinniang. Her performance was so compelling that it earned her the AACA's Best Actress In A Supporting Role (Singapore) in October, leading to her nomination in the prestigious Asia-Pacific category. This wasn't her first taste of success, though. Ivory has already appeared in numerous local shows, including Love At First Bite (2022-2023), Soul Detective (2022), Family Ties (2023), Shero (2023), All That Glitters (2023), Once Upon A New Year’s Eve (2024), Moments (2024), Hope Afloat (2024), and I Believe I Can Fly (2025). Her talent has been recognized twice by the Star Awards, earning her nominations for the Young Talent Award in 2023 and 2024.
But Ivory's success extends beyond acting. The AACA, an annual event that recognizes works from 17 nations and regions, including Australia, China, Japan, India, New Zealand, and South Korea, also acknowledged her contributions. Singapore, the nation she calls home, won five other prizes, tying with Japan for the most awards of the night. These included Best Short Form (Non-Scripted) for the documentary series Diablo: Father Antonio Beyond The Veil (2024), Best Branded Programme for Monumental Macao (2024), Best Direction (Non-Fiction) for Rowena Loh's documentary Karikal Mahal: A Silent Witness (2025), Best Documentary Series for Addicted – The Synthetic Curse (2025), and Best Theme Song or Title Theme for Bebas by Andy Gan and Zalelo for drama series Korban Part II (2025).
Ivory's acceptance speech was a heartfelt display of gratitude. Dressed in a kebaya, she thanked the producers, cast, and crew of Emerald Hill for their trust and guidance. She also paid special tribute to her on-screen 'nya nyas' (maternal figures), Chen Liping and Jesseca Liu, crediting them for giving her warmth and confidence. This young star's journey is just beginning, and the world is watching with anticipation.
