Anna

1. How did you realize your interest in Tennis? 

At school. I was always taller, bigger, and basically more athletic looking. So my teacher chose me for the tennis team even though I hadn’t gone to the rehearsal. But I didn’t want to disappoint any of my teachers and I ended up going, and there has been no looking back ever since. I sometimes think what if Mr. Johnson hadn’t urged me to participate in the rehearsal and then the team selection, I would’ve missed out on everything I have today.

2. How do you handle fame?

By not taking it seriously. I am just a regular person who wakes up, goes to her job, gets back to her family, and got a pretty normal routine going on. Yes, my job involves millions of audience watching me from across the world, but that’s an external factor. To me, I’m just someone who loves tennis and am lucky enough to get paid for it. I’m really focused on performing well, so fame is the last thing I’m concerned about. Even when I get surrounded by crowds, I don’t get annoyed because I know it's part of the deal and I just roll with it.

3. Tell us one thing we don’t know about you?

I’m a big-time foodie, and I’ve really struggled with eating disorders during my teen years and early adulthood. I’d binge eat junk food, whenever am anxious, nervous, or even happy and excited… basically, any extreme emotion would end up in me indulging in a really unhealthy snack. I still am a foodie but in a much healthier sense. I talk about this because I want young girls to be able to get help for these conditions and there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. 

4. What brings you joy or makes you happy?

Seeing the pride in my mom’s eyes. Growing up, I was a mediocre kid. Not that my mum ever made me feel that way, but I did not know what it is like to make her feel proud up until I got selected in the national team. So, yea I guess that is what true happiness is for me. Apart from that, there is the freedom to travel wherever I want to, gift my family with some pretty rare things, etc. I’m generally a grateful person, and I think that just attracts more blessings your way.

5. What do you like the most in Star Chef 2?

It’s the salads! Salads are generally bland, even in the fanciest of restaurants in Paris. But Star Chef 2 seems to know its way around what its customers want. So, it’s definitely their salads, to be more specific, it’s the dressing on the salads… it’s just *chef’s kiss*. I’m also good friends with the salad chef, Ming. I can’t always visit Star Chef 2 and I travel and stay in hotels a lot, so he’s teaching me how to make easy salads on the go and I’m really proud of myself for learning those.