Digital Cover #5: Phei Yong and May Ho on creativity, YouTube and family

And that makes them the perfect candidates for our October 2023 digital cover story, where the two were shot in the latest Tommy x Pendleton collection, a special collaboration between Tommy Hilfiger and Pendleton Woolen Mills that highlights the fashion house's signature TH Monogram and modern preppy style, reimagined for the great outdoor.

For our cover interview with Phei Yong and May Ho, we delve into their rise to YouTube's hall of fame, their creative process and how work becomes family.

Let's start from the beginning. How did you get started on YouTube?

Phei Yong (PY): I am quite a restless and energetic person. So, YouTube to me started as something fun, playful and personal.

May Ho (MH): I personally love watching video content, especially on YouTube. So, Allen (my partner) suggested that I should start my own channel since I have a very expressive personality. I was reluctant at first because while I love to talk, I wasn’t very comfortable being on camera. It took a while but it worked out in the end.

When did you realise that you have risen to fame on YouTube?

PY: Looking back now, I realised that there wasn’t an “aha moment” when I found out that I became famous. I just took it step by step and grew to what I am today and I am very proud that my channel has such a big audience now.

MH: I was quite lost at first because I did not have a specific direction for my channel. I did various genres of content including cooking, daily Vlogging, fashion, travel and beauty. Once I found my pace and my direction, I realised that I gained quite a great following from the female audiences (especially moms); plus I found out that even their significant others also love my content and subscribe to my channel.

What is your biggest achievement as a content creator?

PY: To me, nothing makes me feel prouder than seeing my audience being entertained by my videos. I’d like to take that I am the ‘fuel station’ that can recharge the energy of my audiences and cheer them up after their long, arduous day at work/school.

MH: I totally agree! I think the biggest achievement is definitely seeing how my content can bring joy and relieve the stress of my viewers. Whenever I see the comments they leave on my videos, it gives me so much drive and energy to push forward.

As YouTubers, you both always work with a big team. How would you describe your work dynamic with them?

PY: The team I have founded and created is amazing. They are the main driving force to realise my creative vision and content. With me, what I want to cultivate is a ‘mentor-mentee’ relationship where we can inspire and learn new things from one another.

MH: My team really do feel like they are part of my family. I feel that it is important to get a team that makes you feel that way because it makes work more enjoyable and fun. I am forever grateful for all the support and wonderful ideas that they always give me.

Do you remember when you first met each other?

PY: There’s a funny story to this. Earlier this year, we were on a trip to Singapore and started talking about how we first met each other. The conclusion? We totally forgot and just had a good laugh about it.

MH: Right? That was so funny. But I do remember when I first noticed you. It was when you first joined the industry through a certain talent competition and I thought, “Wow, he can really talk!”, and also, our running joke is he reminds me of Alex To, the Chinese singer and actor we grew up watching in the 90s and 00s.

What is your first impression of each other?

PY: With May, I think she is such a comfortable person to be around with. She has a friendliness that not everyone I know has and it makes her so much fun to be with. Aside from the fun and laughter she always brings, she is an earnest and passionate person who always gives 100% to everything she does.

MH: When I first knew Phei Yong (before we became close), I always thought he was such a soft-spoken gentleman. He is always courteous and polite to everyone he meets, but once we become closer as friends, he is a very candid and humorous man who speaks very fast!

Circling back to what he said about me, I can say the same thing about him because I’ve seen this man work. When he is in the zone, his concentration and passion to produce his content is one cut above the rest (claps).

Who inspires you in terms of fashion?

PY: I think my fashion ideology revolves around my daily life,  - what I see, hear and feel. I think every day when I wake up and walk out the door, I look at everything around me and they will always inspire me in unexpected ways.

MH: I always love to see how influencers and tastemakers abroad style their wardrobe. Every country has their own style and influence, which gives me a broader perspective on what I can do in fashion. My current favourites are Leonie Hanne from Germany and Kiwi Lee from Taiwan.

How do you keep inspired to create such amazing content?

PY: I personally don’t think I have any prominent talents (laughs) but I do think that I have a thirst for knowledge and curiosity above an average person, which drives me to explore and look for more unique ways to present my content.

MH: I think what drives me the most is my audience and followers because they are the ones I am creating content for. To me, presenting things that I love that are what they want to see is the balance I always strive to keep.

Are you working on any big projects? Can you give us a sneak peek at what's to come?

PY: Currently we are working on three major productions, which I cannot reveal any further (wink). But what I can tell you is one of them will be coming at the end of 2023 and I am very excited to share it with everyone. So stay tuned!

MH: Same here. There are many projects in discussion right now but all I will say is stay tuned for the updates on my YouTube and Instagram. You will be the first to know! Oh, and there will be a lot more travelling for me, so that’s something everyone can look forward to on my channel.