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Eunice Olsen

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Eunice Olsen
Born
Eunice Elizabeth Olsen

(1977-10-24) 24 October 1977 (age 47)
Singapore
Occupation(s)Actress, host, musician, model, businesswoman
Years active2000–present
Websiteeuniceolsen.com

Eunice Elizabeth Olsen (born 24 October 1977) is a Singaporean actress, politician and beauty pageant titleholder. She Nominated Member of Parliament and also the winner of the Miss Universe Singapore 2000 pageant.[1]

Olsen is a vocal supporter of women rights.[1][2][3]

Early life and education

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Olsen was born in Singapore. She is the only child of Alice Yap and Francis Olsen. She is a Eurasian Singaporean; her mother is Chinese and her father is of Swedish descent. Olsen speaks in English, Swedish and Mandarin. Her parents enrolled her in Yamaha music school when she was three years old. She attended Woodlands Primary School, Singapore, St. Margaret's Secondary School,[4] and the Anglo-Chinese Junior College. Olsen graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy at the National University of Singapore.[5]

Career

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Miss Universe Singapore

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In 2000, Olsen won the Miss Universe Singapore pageant.[6]

Social causes

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Her work with "at-risk" youth began with work at the Toa Payoh Girl's Home[6] and the Andrew and Grace Home.[citation needed] In 2002, she became a member of the advisory council for the People's Association's youth movement T-Net Club (Teens Network Club). In 2001, she became a member of the Kebun Baru Youth Executive Committee. Olsen has worked with the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre and with Beyond Social Services' BABES program for pregnant teenagers.[7] She promotes awareness of cervical cancer and for the Singapore Red Cross.[8] She has also been a goodwill ambassador for World Vision, Habitat for Humanity,[9] and the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Singapore.

She created the annual All Smiles Day in 2013 as a day of respite for caregivers of the Rare Disorder Society.[citation needed]

Olsen has worked in rural Cambodia building sanitation facilities for evacuated communities.[6] She co-produced a movie about sex trafficking titled 3.50.[10]

She developed a feminine hygiene program, Project Precious, to educate women in rural communities. The program has been adapted for use in Cambodia, India, Nepal, and the United States.[11]

Olsen has served as a goodwill ambassador for the Embassy of Sweden in Singapore.[citation needed]

Media

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In 2002, Olsen was selected to be the co-host of Singapore's version of the TV game show Wheel of Fortune.[12] She went on to co-host three seasons of FRONT, an Arts Central production that examined Singapore's arts scene. In 2007, she was a judge on Channel 5's youth debate program, The Arena. She hosted Rouge in 2008, a talk show concerning Singaporean women, featuring a mix of celebrity interviews and real-life stories.[13] Olsen made her English acting debut on Channel 5's first long-form English drama, Red Thread,[14] and co-hosted a men's magazine lifestyle show on AXN, The Duke.[15]

In August 2013, Olsen founded WomenTalkTV, an online talk show featuring extraordinary women from all over Asia. The show's goal is the social empowerment of Asian women. WomenTalkTV was nominated for an International Emmy Award in the Digital Program: Non-Fiction category in 2014. She hosted Channel NewsAsia's "Becoming Singapore", the flagship documentary for the Singapore Bicentennial in 2019. In 2020, Olsen hosted a web documentary series, Mundane Glory, which celebrated the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China for Mango TV.[16]

Olsen has represented, in various capacities, commercial brands such as Omega,[17] Motorola Electronics,[18] Goldheart Jewelry,[19] Redken,[20] Nescafé Gold,[21] Shell Petroleum Fuel Save Ambassador,[22][23][24][25][26] BlackBerry Messenger,[27] Physiogel,[28] L'Oréal Lancome Genefique,[29] The Body Shop.[30]

Politics

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In November 2004, Olsen was appointed a Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) in Singapore. Her main role as an NMP was to highlight issues pertaining to youth and volunteerism. In the course of her term, she touched on issues like access to public transport for the disabled, legislation for child sex tourism, enhancing supervisory guidance for voluntary welfare organisations, and sex education in schools. In the 2005 parliamentary debate on Integrated Resort, Olsen called for stronger measures to address the social problems of compulsive gambling, including mandating a loss limit for casino patrons and requiring the casino operator to provide responsible gambling counselling services.[31] She championed inclusivity for people with disabilities and called for the captioning of the Channel 5 English news program. Olsen served two terms and remained an NMP until 2009. She did not apply for a third term in parliament.[32]

Advisory boards

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Olsen is an advisor to Space for Humanity, a non-profit organisation headquartered in Denver, Colorado.[33] She is currently a member of the National Museum of Singapore's advisory board and a management committee member of Club HEAL.[citation needed]

Author

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Olsen published the children's book "I'm a Girl. See what I can be!" in 2018, which consists of a series of poems about ten women from the video series WomenTalk. The book is illustrated by 10 autistic Singaporean artists and designed by HATCH design. It was successfully crowdfunded on Indiegogo.[34]

Speaker and moderator

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Olsen has been engaged to speak globally on a wide range of topics from women's empowerment to leadership, resilience, and various social issues. She is a keynote speaker and has spoken at international events such as the Cartier Women's Awards, the United Nations, and LH Forum in France, as well as in educational institutions around the world such as Harvard and universities in India, and in various parts of Southeast Asia including Vietnam, the Philippines, and Singapore.

Olsen had also moderated various forums and events with high-profile individuals such as Helle Thorning-Schmidt, the former Prime Minister of Denmark, and panelists from the Swedish Embassy's Disability Forum.

On 6 May 2020, Olsen moderated an online webinar for Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) titled "Live Chat on COVID-19: How MSF Responds to a Pandemic."[35]

On 31 October 2020, Olsen co-hosted the first digital edition of The Purple Parade, which was streamed live on Facebook.

Music

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In university, Olsen was part of a band and was president of the Electronic Music Lab at the Centre for the Arts.[36] In 2004, she released an album in South Korea entitled Believe.

Olsen was part of a duo called 7 States. She was joined by music producer and sound designer Rennie Gomes[37] of Yellowbox. Together, they have written a Christmas song, produced a kids' album, and scored a short film for one of Singapore's most acclaimed film directors, Royston Tan, titled Anniversary.[38] 7 States has also written a song titled "Light" that they dedicated to the athletes of the 2010 Singapore Youth Olympic Games.[39] 7 States recently performed, featuring Humaa Rathor, at the "From Singapore with Love" benefit concert 2011. This was in support of World Vision's earthquake relief work in China, Myanmar, and Japan.[40]

Personal life

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Olsen discovered through a TV program called My Roots that her great-great-grandfather Oskar Pontus Olsson was born in Röra, Orust, Sweden in 1862. He became a sailor on ships that traveled back and forth to England. He eventually settled in Malaya around 1885 and lived in Malaya for 54 years. On 20 November 1928, he was naturalised as Oscar Olsen, a British citizen in Singapore.[41]

While filming a bicentennial special of Becoming Singapore, she also learned that her grandfather from her mother's side, Yap Swee Kang, was an auxiliary fire service volunteer after World War 2.

Olsen is Catholic.[42]

In 2018, she filed a police complain over sexist remarks against Circles. Life advertisement, the ad, which was displayed at Raffles Place MRT station as part of a campaign by the digital telco operator, featured the words "@euniceolsen Would you rather French Kiss or take me out for the French Film Festival?"[43]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2008 Sing to the Dawn Voice acting [44]
2010 Hunting Tales Grace
The Smartemizer Felicia [45]
2011 Red Numbers (红字) Number 8 (8号的妈咪) [46]
2012 Ghost on Air Pauline [47]
2013 3.50 Rebecca Wilson [48]
2016 The Last Night Inn Miriam [49]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2003 A Child's Hope Dr. Joanne Su [50]
No Place Like Home Felicia [51][52]
2009 Red Thread Carol Chong
2010 Before I Was Awesome Vivi

Variety Show

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2002–2003 Wheel of Fortune Co-host
2006–2007 FRONT Co-host [53]
2007 The Arena Judge
2008 Rouge Host TV talk show [54]
Show U Are The One Judge
Fourplay Host [55]
2009 The Duke Co-host TV talk show
2011 Beauty Firstwhat the heck Host [56]
2013–present Womentalk TV Host TV talk show [57]
2019 Becoming Singapore Host Documentary [58]
2020 Mundane Glory (闪耀的平凡) Host Web documentary series

Bibliography

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  • Olsen, Eunice (2018). I'm a Girl. See what I can be!. Eunice Olsen Media. ISBN 978-981-11-7524-4.

Awards and accolades

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  • 2000 Miss Singapore Universe[59]
  • 2006 Singapore Youth Award[60]
  • 2008 ASEAN Youth Award[61]
Year Ceremony Category Nominated Work Result
2014 International Emmy Awards Digital Program – Non Fiction WomenTalk TV Nominated
2016 Hollywood Independent Documentary Award Women filmmaker WomenTalk TV Winner[62]
Hollywood International Moving Pictures Film Festival Documentary Short WomenTalk TV Winner[63]
Hollywood International Moving Pictures Film Festival Women filmmaker WomenTalk TV Winner
Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards Documentary Short WomenTalk TV Winner[citation needed]
Best Shorts Competition Women filmmaker WomenTalk TV Award of Excellence
Best Shorts Competition Documentary Short WomenTalk TV Award of Excellence
Indiefest Film Awards Documentary Short WomenTalk TV Award of Merit[64]
Raindance Film Festival Web Series WomenTalk TV Official Selection[65]
Best Shorts Competition Humanitarian Award WomenTalk TV Award of Distinction
2017 Best Shorts Competition Women filmmaker WomenTalk TV Award of Merit
Taste Awards Mini Film or Documentary Tripvid Official Selection[66]
2019 Independent Publisher Book Award Independent Spirit Award I'm a Girl. See what I can be! Winner[67]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Eunice Olsen". The Edge Singapore. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Speakers | AFCC 2018". Asian Festival of Children's Content (AFCC) 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  3. ^ "In Search of Purpose Talks". www.cdc.org.sg. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  4. ^ Leung, Wai-Leng (15 December 2004). "ST Media Club members grill NMP Eunice Olsen". The Straits Times. pp. H9 – via NewspaperSG.
  5. ^ "NUSSU The Ridge Magazine | Exclusive Interview: Featuring NUS Alumna Miss Eunice Olsen". NUSSU The Ridge Magazine. 7 April 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  6. ^ a b c Low, Tracy (17 August 2016). "She's a queen with a heart of gold". The New Paper. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Pregnant teens turn to Babes hotline". Today Newspaper. 1 March 2005.
  8. ^ "Donorweb: 2 youth ambassadors for National Blood Programme". Archived from the original on 27 March 2012.
  9. ^ "HFH Singapore's First-Ever "Women Build" Team Works on Batam (22 April 2009)". Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  10. ^ migration (26 October 2013). "Sex trade exposed on reel in 3.50". The Straits Times. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  11. ^ "A gift for the givers of lives". Youth.SG. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  12. ^ ""Wheel of Fortune" Spins into Singapore Homes (26 March 2002)". Archived from the original on 30 May 2008. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  13. ^ "Fashionably March on Channel 5 – Rouge". Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  14. ^ "Carol Chong (Eunice Olsen)". Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  15. ^ "Welcome to the Big Boys' Club! (31 January 2009)". Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  16. ^ MarketersMedia (4 August 2020). "Chinese Top Entertainer tells Real China Stories through new show "Mundane Glory"". Associated Press News. Retrieved 4 November 2020.
  17. ^ "Eunice Olsen, Omega ambassador of Singapore". Getty Images. 27 March 2009. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  18. ^ "Motorola hones 'fashion' angle for new Razr | News". Campaign Asia. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  19. ^ "Goldheart Jewelry". Time Out Singapore. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  20. ^ "Olsen Spruiks Redken". Archived from the original on 2 October 2011.
  21. ^ "McCann Heightens Emotional Connection in Latest Nescafé Gold Brand Campaign with Eunice Olsen as First Ever Brand Ambassador". Archived from the original on 1 October 2011.
  22. ^ "FuelSave Ambassador Eunice Olsen's 1 litre Challenge". Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  23. ^ "Shell Rewards 100,000 Drivers Globally for Learning How to Save Fuel for Like". Archived from the original on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  24. ^ "Shell FuelSave Challenge". Archived from the original on 27 June 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  25. ^ "Shell Launches Massive Fuel Promotion To Educate Motorists About Fuel Economy". Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  26. ^ "Eunice Olsen joins Shell as FuelSave Ambassador to help Singapore Drivers Get The Most Out of Every Drop". Archived from the original on 30 December 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  27. ^ "BlackBerry Messenger: Eunice Olsen". Archived from the original on 27 March 2012.
  28. ^ "GSK launches new campaign with Eunice Olsen". www.marketing-interactive.com. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  29. ^ "Behance". www.behance.net. July 2018. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  30. ^ "International Women's Day | Singapore Site". www.thebodyshop.com. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  31. ^ "Replies from DPM/Minister for Home Affairs Wong Kan Seng to MPs' queries on the Casino Control Bill". Archived from the original on 18 May 2006. Retrieved 18 March 2006.
  32. ^ "Channel News Asia: Eunice Olsen not applying for third term as NMP". Archived from the original on 23 October 2012.
  33. ^ joanna (3 November 2017). "Want to travel to space? Eunice Olsen can help". The Straits Times. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  34. ^ "I'm a Girl. See what I can be! A Book For Children". The New Paper. 27 August 2018. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  35. ^ "Live Chat on COVID-19: How MSF Responds to a Pandemic". Facebook. 6 May 2020.
  36. ^ "World Vision: Biodata of World Vision International – Singapore Goodwill Ambassador Eunice Olsen". Archived from the original on 27 March 2012.
  37. ^ "Yellow Box Studios: Rennie Gomes". Archived from the original on 18 July 2011.
  38. ^ "The Film". Archived from the original on 19 May 2010. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  39. ^ "7 States".
  40. ^ "From Singapore With Love Benefit Concert Press Release". Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
  41. ^ "Orustbo blev "snuskigt rik" på gummi". P4 Göteborg (in Swedish). Sveriges Radio. 29 December 2017.
  42. ^ Olsen, Eunice (12 April 2014). "Celebrity Chow with actress-host-former Nominated MP Eunice Olsen". AsiaOne (Interview). Interviewed by The New Paper.
  43. ^ Yan Han, Goh (29 November 2018). "Former NMP Eunice Olsen makes police report over 'sexist, derogatory' Circles.Life ad | The Straits Times". www.straitstimes.com.
  44. ^ "Sing to the Dawn". Archived from the original on 28 September 2011.
  45. ^ "The Talent Factory". Archived from the original on 27 March 2012. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  46. ^ Red Numbers (2013) - IMDb, retrieved 23 March 2020
  47. ^ Ghost on Air (2012) - IMDb, retrieved 23 March 2020
  48. ^ 3.50 (2013) - IMDb, retrieved 23 March 2020
  49. ^ The Last Night Inn (2016) - IMDb, retrieved 23 March 2020
  50. ^ "A Child's Hope". Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  51. ^ "No Place Like Home". Archived from the original on 27 March 2012.
  52. ^ "Eunice Gets Nasty". Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2011.
  53. ^ Front (TV Series 2006– ) - IMDb, retrieved 23 March 2020
  54. ^ "Eunice Olsen". Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  55. ^ "The New Paper". Archived from the original on 16 January 2011.
  56. ^ "Beauty First Episodes". meWATCH. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  57. ^ "Host". euniceolsen1. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  58. ^ "Becoming Singapore". meWATCH. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  59. ^ migration (6 August 2013). "Former NMP Eunice Olsen launches website celebrating empowerment of women". The Straits Times. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  60. ^ "One tough cookie". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  61. ^ "NMP Eunice Olsen gets Asean Youth Award". www.asiaone.com. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  62. ^ "Eunice Olsen of womentalk tv wins Awards in Best Shorts Film Competition". www.superadrianme.com. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  63. ^ "March 2016 Winners". A home for your amazing films. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  64. ^ "IndieFEST Film Awards (2016)". IMDb. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  65. ^ WomenTalk (1 September 2016). "WomenTalk TV accepted into the Official Selection of the 24th Raindance Film Festival, 21 Sept-2..." Medium. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  66. ^ "Original Programmes". Eunice Olsen Media. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  67. ^ "Announcing the Results of the 2019 Independent Publisher Book Awards". Independent Publisher - feature. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
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