RIP Big Hair Lady, Catherine Tan Siew Ling 🕊️

Rest In Peace to Miss Catherine Tan Siew Ling. Sadly, she passed on 28 March 2025 at the young age of 50 years old. To many, she may just be "big hair lady". However, there's more to her than meets the eye.

Miss Tan, frequently spotted at Pasir Ris and recognized for her massive wig

News of her passing began to circulate widely on social media after comments from netizens stating they had not seen her in awhile. Miss Tan's cremation will be held on 30 March 2025 at the Mandai Crematorium Hall 3.

Glory days in showbiz

In her younger days, Miss Tan was a calefare actress and held supporting roles in Chinese and English dramas from 2000 to 2013. Some of these dramas are household names, such as Under One Roof, Police & Thief and Phua Chu Kang.

She was also a model, appearing in photoshoots and gracing magazine covers. Aside from her beauty, she was known for being kind-hearted and close to her family.

Tragedy strikes

However, Miss Tan's world came crashing down following a series of tragic losses which took a heavy toll on her. First Miss Tan lost her father, and then her fiance all within a short span of time.

Her father, Mr John Tan Lock Yong, 56, was an LTA site inspector who died in the Nicoll Highway Collapse on 20 April 2004. The collapse of a temporary retaining wall of the tunnel along the Circle Line MRT caused the disaster. Her father has been hailed a hero who gave his life for Singaporeans.

Miss Tan arriving at the mortuary following the passing of her father, Mr John Tan Lock Yong

Within two weeks of her father's death in the Nicoll Highway tragedy, Miss Catherine Tan's fiance ended their four-year relationship, leaving her abruptly at the lowest point in her life.

Grief that never healed

Sadly, Miss Tan never recovered from the tragedy of her beloved father's passing. She was diagnosed with PTSD and depression after the incident and largely kept to herself. With such heavy emotional baggage, it is likely Miss Tan resorted to certain eccentricities such as the big wig as a coping mechanism for herself.

Many netters have expressed sympathy for Miss Tan upon understanding her backstory. There was an outpouring of condolences and prayers for Miss Tan and her father following news of her passing. We hope she has found her much-deserved peace and is in a happier place, reunited with her dear father.

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