At just nine years old, Ivory Chia has shattered records and captivated hearts, becoming the youngest actor ever to win at the prestigious Asian Academy Creative Awards (AACA). But here's where it gets even more remarkable: she didn't just win—she tied with an established Indian actress and then clinched the victory after an extra round of judging. This isn't just a win; it's a testament to her extraordinary talent and the bright future ahead of her.
Held on December 4 at Singapore's iconic Capitol Theatre, the 8th edition of the AACA celebrated the best in Asian creativity. Ivory's breakthrough came with her role as the younger, street-smart version of Tasha Low’s Xinniang in Mediacorp’s hit drama series Emerald Hill: The Little Nyonya Story (2025). Her performance was so compelling that she not only tied with Garima Vikrant Singh from the Indian series Gram Chikitsalay (2025) but also outshone industry heavyweights like South Korea’s Oscar winner Youn Yuh-jung (Pachinko, 2022–2024) and Hong Kong’s Yoyo Chen (D.I.D. 12, 2025).
And this is the part most people miss: Ivory’s journey to this historic win began with her local triumph as AACA’s Best Actress In A Supporting Role (Singapore) in October, which propelled her into the Asia-Pacific category. Dressed in a traditional kebaya, she gracefully accepted her award, thanking the Emerald Hill team and her on-screen ‘nya nyas’ (maternal figures), Chen Liping and Jesseca Liu, for their guidance and warmth. Her humility and poise on stage left the audience in awe.
But Ivory’s rise to stardom didn’t happen overnight. She made her acting debut in the local drama Love At First Bite (2022–2023) and has since appeared in a string of shows, including Soul Detective (2022), Family Ties (2023), Shero (2023), All That Glitters (2023), Once Upon A New Year’s Eve (2024), Moments (2024), Hope Afloat (2024), and I Believe I Can Fly (2025). Her talent hasn’t gone unnoticed—she’s been nominated twice for the Star Awards’ Young Talent Award, in 2023 for Love At First Bite and in 2024 for All That Glitters.
The AACA, which honors works from 17 nations and regions including Australia, China, Japan, India, New Zealand, and South Korea, is judged by a panel of industry professionals. This year, China dominated with two major wins: Best Feature Film for Mumu (2025) and Best Drama Series for Strange Tales Of Tang Dynasty: To The West (2024). Singapore, however, wasn’t far behind, bagging five awards and tying with Japan for the most wins. These included Best Short Form (Non-Scripted) for Diablo: Father Antonio Beyond The Veil (2024), Best Branded Programme for Monumental Macao (2024), Best Direction (Non-Fiction) for Rowena Loh’s Karikal Mahal: A Silent Witness (2025), Best Documentary Series for Addicted – The Synthetic Curse (2025), and Best Theme Song or Title Theme for Bebas by Andy Gan and Zalelo in Korban Part II (2025).
But here’s the controversial question: Is Ivory Chia’s success a one-off phenomenon, or does it signal a new era for child actors in Asian entertainment? Her win has sparked debates about the role of young talent in the industry and whether they’re being pushed too hard, too soon. What do you think? Is Ivory’s achievement a celebration of early talent, or does it raise concerns about the pressures on child stars? Share your thoughts in the comments below—this is a conversation worth having!
