Dancing Queen

Raised in Taipei and currently dividing her time between Jakarta and Singapore, Taiwanese socialite Chiang Yu Lan shares her story with Maina A. Harjani

oised in a cropped dress and sneakers, the ever-youthful Chiang Yu Lan waltzes her way into the grandeur of the Majapahit Suite at the Grand Hyatt Jakarta. As a mother of four grown-up girls and a grandmother to little Liam, Chiang is delighted to share with Indonesia Tatler some of her life tips, plus her passion for fashion, the arts and ballroom dancing.

Being surrounded by her three sisters, two brothers and parents while living in Taipei, Chiang Yu Lan has always maintained a close relationship with her immediate kin. Two of her own girls are married and live in Jakarta, while her twin girls have just recently graduated with MBA degrees from Switzerland.

“I have a 2-year-old grandson who is the apple of everyone’s eye,” she adds. “The whole family showers him with love and attention, hoping he will grow up to be a caring and kind individual.”

Chiang moved to Jakarta after marriage and she admits it was a huge transition as far as language, culture, food and lifestyle are concerned. However, she loves the fact that Indonesia is a country filled with rich heritage and resources and that it is one of the most exciting emerging economies in the world. She also goes on to say that Indonesia is known for its beautiful islands, beaches and majestic volcanoes and that staying in Jakarta reminds her of Taipei, where the locals are warm, kind-hearted and place a great emphasis on family values.

“That said, living in Singapore also has its pros,” she says. “It has been transformed into a beautiful garden city with high standards of living, education, cleanliness, efficiency, and law and order. Even though there are many different ethnicities in Singapore, they are all able to live in harmony,” says the lovely lady who recently moved into a beautiful home in Sentosa Cove.

Chiang Yu Lan is a big believer in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and eating well. She is also a keen yoga fan who lives by the motto of having the correct attitude towards life and a passion for constant learning. On this note, she originally took up ballroom dancing as a hobby, although it later burgeoned into a burning passion after she saw a competition in Singapore. The participants’ elegance and poise, together with the classical music they swayed to, were inspirational to her.

And so it was that Chiang eventually secured international championship titles at The Hour Glass Open Asian Open Dance Championship 2008, the 15th Penang International Ballroom Dancing Championship 2008 and the 2012 US Open to the World Pro/am Ballroom Scholarship.

“Ballroom dancing has taught me qualities such as perseverance and grace. With hard work and determination, nothing is impossible.

Chiang Yu Lan is a big believer in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and eating well. She is also a keen yoga fan

And besides the skills and techniques, ballroom dancing also embodies social etiquettes,” she says.

With an eye for the visual arts, Chiang is also a collector of watercolour paintings featuring Chinese landscapes, and she shares with Indonesia Tatler some of her favourite artists: Lee Man Fong, Wu Guanzhong and Qi Baishi. Other than the arts, she is also keen on fashion and believes that one must dress accordingly to one’s age and status.

“We should not follow fashion blindly, but must find a style that suits our personality and body type,” she explains. “A few of my favourite brands are Chanel, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Balmain and Fendi; I prefer clothes that are elegant and sexy.” During the photoshoot with Indonesia Tatler, Chiang looked elegant in her two dresses from Alexander Mcqueen.

To end our time together, we asked Chiang to share some of her personal tips for keeping fit and in shape. “I work out regularly and eat wisely,” she told us. “I also avoid wheat and grains, and consume a lot of vegetables and fruit. I drink plenty of water to hydrate myself and I use a daily facial mask to keep my face supple. Having sufficient sleep and avoiding the sun and alcohol are also some of my tips for a healthier lifestyle.”

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