Physical activity makes people feel good—and something else that makes people feel good is the freedom to be authentically who you are. However, if you are plus-size, especially in Asia, something as simple as showing up and working out at a gym can became a challenge because of diet culture and the fatphobia they face on a daily basis. Tatler talks to three plus-size influencers and body-positive activists on how they have fought mockery and abuse to forge their own paths to confidence, health and fitness.

Other examples from this week’s stories of those who pave the way by being unapologetically who they are include Mui Cheuk-yin, a dancer who fuses classical and modern dance, and choreographs for Keung To, Andy Lau and more; Filippina entrepreneur and co-founder of trendy brand Sunnies Studios, Martine Ho, who is advocating for inclusivity and Southeast Asian representation in the beauty and lifestyle industries; and Richard Ekkebus, the culinary director of the Landmark Mandarin Oriental whose approach to nurturing talent has turn the acclaimed restaurant Amber into something of a finishing school for the world’s best chefs.

Other newsletter highlights this week:

• Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! Here’s how to pair mooncakes and wine perfectly.
• Check out the most stylish Asian celebrities spotted at the Milan Fashion Week.
• A look ahead at what next week holds for every star sign.
• A look at the meteoric rise of K-pop and the hallyu wave through the lens of those behind the scene.

Dear Tatler readers, don't forget to be true to yourself while enjoying this weekend’s festivities surrounded by loved ones. Jung cau zit faai lok!

Salomé Grouard
Deputy Digital Editor

Fashion Week’s runways aren’t the only place where all the stylish action unfolds. The front row, filled with celebrities in designer outfits, can be just as glamorous as the runway.

It’s no surprise then that at the Milan Fashion Show, which took place over September 19-25, the front rows were filled with stylish Asian celebs who brought their A-list game to the spring-summer 2024 showcases of major fashion brands. Here are 10 who caught our eye.

READ HERE

Since exploding on the international scene, all things from Korean culture—from fashion to food—has continued to fascinate and rise in popularity worldwide.

From Blackpink’s songwriter Danny Chung to Brad Pitt’s tattooist Doy, Fiona Bae’s book Make, Break, Remix: The Rise of K-Style sheds light on those shaping Korean culture from behind the scenes.

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It’s certainly not a man’s world anymore, especially not for these female artists

By depicting women—in every sense of the word—and refusing to look at femininity through rose-tinted glasses, these artists capture the raw essence of what it is to be female.

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If you think that pairing mooncakes with wine or spirits is a bit too fancy or too much of a luxurious indulgence, this guide might change your mind.

Whether you’re on team traditionally baked or team frozen snowskin, there’s an alcoholic pairing you can enjoy alongside your decadent mooncakes.

READ HERE

Seoul's Seongsu-dong has now become a hip playground full of trendy and contemporary collections from fashion and beauty to art and gastronomy, and with creative pop-up stores opening almost every week.

Although one day is not enough to fully enjoy the neighbourhood, which some call the “Brooklyn of South Korea”, these five venues should be a good enough start to this former industrial area.

READ HERE