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SINGAPORE : Charlyn Lin is one busy girl. These days, the MediaCorp host is either jet-setting or pounding the tracks, all in the name of work.
Currently working on a travelogue entitled “Coming Home”, Lin brings foreign-born MediaCorp artistes back to their hometowns to relive their childhood memories, and in some cases, confront their fears.
Her next stop: China, where she will be visiting veteran host Guo Liang’s hometown of Shanghai.
The itinerary includes taking Guo to revisit places of his past such as his school, and to reunite with the people in his life whom he has lost touch with, the 30-year-old told Channelnewsasia.com.
“For some artistes, I would call it an emotional journey,” Lin recounted.
She added that many of the artistes have either forgotten about some of these places or wouldn’t think of visiting if not for the show.
After Shanghai, Lin will head to Chang Chun with actor Yuan Shuai in December, which they had scheduled specifically for the winter season.
“I’m looking forward to that, I have never experienced minus 30 degrees weather,” Lin mused.
So far, Lin has visited four countries with her guests: Taiwan with host Quan Yi Feng and actor Jeff Wang, Sichuan, China, with newcomer Zhang Zhen Huan, Malaysia with newlyweds Shaun Chen and Michelle Chia, and Bangkok with host Pornsak.
“After their [Chen and Chia’s] honeymoon, I went back to Malaysia, Shaun’s hometown [with them],” Lin said.
“It’s a lot of lovey-dovey, very sweet stuff... it was such a blissful trip.”
Lin enjoyed hosting the travelogue so much that she wished someone would take her to revisit her childhood memories so viewers can get a glimpse into her world.
“For an artiste, you always want people to know about you. So that’s why you are in this job!”
Besides the travelogue, the 30-year-old is also hosting “Lose To Win”, a reality television programme where overweight contestants compete to lose pounds and inches in the healthiest way.
It is a great match for Lin who loves to run, and keep fit and limber through Pilates.
In fact, this sporty lass took part in several races last year and even managed to clock a personal best of ten kilometres in 40 minutes.
However, Lin has a bigger goal in mind – completing the full 42 kilometres of a marathon.
“When I touch the finishing line, there is this sense of achievement,” Lin described the feeling of euphoria she gets from running.
It is not hard for Lin to get motivated, as her boyfriend is a triathlete who has completed gruelling events such as the Ironman Triathlon, and it also helps that her family practices healthy living.
“Sometimes I run with my family… sometimes we bring [my] nieces and nephews and we’ll go to the park... I think it’s family bonding at the same time.”
But “Lose To Win” is no walk in the park. Lin told Channelnewsasia.com that she has had to go through three boot camps together with the contestants, in addition to conducting surprise home visits, and a hawker centre “raid”.
“Initially, we thought that we were just there to do a bit of interviews,” Lin confessed.
“We were like wearing sports wear and were looking good and everything. I thought we’ll just ask questions and that’s it.”
Little did Lin and her co-hosts, Pornsak and Yuan Shuai, expect to be made to participate in exercises such as circuit training and kickboxing, to get a feel of the training.
Lin breezed through the first week of boot camp but as the second week came, the intensity increased and she admitted that she began to feel the heat, as well as admiration for the contestants’ tenacity.
“I’m impressed with them,” Lin said.
“I would consider myself as someone who exercises more than them, but I still find it quite tedious.”
With so much exercise, Lin is more than ‘fit’ to be the host of “Lose To Win”, but she says that there is a “secret” to her slim figure.
“The trade secret is pressure,” she declared.
“When you see a female artiste beside you who is skinner, and can fit into clothes you cannot fit, you’ll be motivated!”
And passion and motivation is what got Lin this far since winning the "SuperHost" competition in 2006.
She gave up a career that she had spent 10 years building - she was working as a regional business development and project manager - and not to mention, a five-figure monthly salary, to venture into the unforgiving and unpredictable world of showbiz.
Lin has proved to herself and her detractors that it was the right decision to leave her comfort zone and pursue her dream.
Her report card says it all. Since winning the SuperHost crown, Lin has hosted several mega variety programmes such as "SuperBand" and "Project SuperStar" competitions and has showed that she can hold her own beside veteran hosts like Dasmond Koh and Quan Yi Feng. And the best result of all, MediaCorp has renewed its contract with the bubbly host.
But Lin is not resting on her laurels and is constantly working on improving as a host.
When brought to her attention about new games on the Internet such as Celeb-daq, and FAME on Facebook, that allow celebrities to be bought and sold like shares on a stock market, Lin is unfazed.
In fact, she welcomes the idea of being listed with other MediaCorp artistes on the games, despite the chances that her stock price might drop instead of grow.
“For us [artistes], it might be negative stuff, but it is just that it’s a growing stage, it pushes you,” Lin said.
“Being in this job, you have to have that tolerance to accept all sorts of criticisms. If people tell you that you’re not good, then you work at it, to be better, then you change people’s opinion.
“That is what we live to do everyday, in our profession.”
Catch Charlyn Lin on “Lose to Win” on October 23, 8.30pm, on Channel 8. “Coming Home” debuts December 17.
- CNA/il
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