Hannah Tan

HANNAH TAN, also known as 'hannah t' and Hannah Sarah Tan to some of her fans, is a Malaysian citizen and could be the poster child of the 21st century woman who has everything – brains, beauty and a great personality. While her Kelabit-Chinese parentage has produced beauty that is only too evident, all we need to do is to scratch the surface just a little to reveal a plethora of achievements – academic or otherwise – that is pretty impressive for the unassuming Penang-born girl.

Voted by FHM as Malaysia’s sexiest woman in 2006, Hannah was catapulted into the limelight when she represented Malaysia in the 2002 Miss Global Petite World Finals in Montreal where she won Second Runner Up and the “Miss Congeniality” subsidiary title.

A Valedictorian and graduate in Computer Science, Hannah acquired her first of two music Diplomas at the age of 13 and has also appeared alongside Hong Kong star Karen Mok in a popular Lux TV commercial besides other advertisements for Nescafe, Maybeline, Panasonic, Digi and Maxis, among others. She can also be seen on the covers of magazines such as Her World, Female, FHM, Newman, Stuff, Health Today, Hot!, Hypertune, KL Lifestyle and Off The Edge. Hannah has also proven her versatility on television by hosting What Women Want(8TV), “Motorsports@Petronas” (Astro Super Sports), “Ringgit Sense” (TV3), “Girls’ Club” (NTV7), “Looking Good Feeling Good” (NTV7) as well as being part of the cast for “Sketches” (NTV7). Being the first Malaysian celebrity to appear on the cover of Lime and Shape magazine, it is evident that this multi-talented lady is making waves even beyond the Malaysian shores.

As reflected in CD sales, her first album, CROSSING BRIDGES created a buzz even right up to the United States. Being woman of vision, she intends to work towards putting Malaysia on the global map as an Asian hub for music and has initiated it by unconventionally positioning herself as a brand, instead of merely being a singer-songwriter. By collaborating with the same internationally acclaimed composers/writers that wrote chart-topping songs for Natalie Imbruglia, Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears, Hannah has created a gateway for Malaysia’s visibility among the global major players within the industry.

In addition to the three songs Hannah personally wrote and composed, CROSSING BRIDGES which was mastered in the United States included seven original songs contributed by big names like Jorgen Elofsson, Phil Thornalley, Andrew Fromm and Chris Rojas. Having an international flavour topped by an all-star team of producers and writers, the album employed a fresh concept which was never before been done by a local artiste. Her first Single In Between'''Bold text' was already fourth on the Hitz.fm and No. 1 on the X-Fresh charts during the first week of its release before finally winning an award in the Best Pop/Dance category at the 2006 Hitz.fm MET10 Awards.

She is currently working on her 2nd album, scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2008, and intends to employ a fresh new concept and direction for both music and image to cater for her pop-culture fan base – young, funky, sassy, trendy and bold yet approachable. Ultimately, HOT is the word. Her influence among that segment of the market is undeniably strong. Through communication with her e-savvy fans via her blog, it is evident that Hannah is very much looked up to among the youth, with them wanting to emulate not just her style and dress sense but even her drive for excellence. Above all, she appears as a mentor and counselor on the teen dominated blog, addressing their personal problems and issues without discriminating even the working-class adults.

Music aside, Hannah has nurtured an interest in motor sports and was even invited to race with the Formula BMW team in the MME race in 2007, following an impressive drive in their open-wheeler Formula BMW car during one of their PR exercises. Having her own kart equipped with a 125cc Rotax Max engine and indulging herself in other extreme sports makes it evident that Hannah also has fitness on her list of priorities. Once a state sprinter, this 25-year old has proven herself to be a multi-talented lady with a burning determination and drive for excellence in all her endeavors. Diligent and passionate about all her undertakings, Hannah never fails to impress and inspire. Above all, it is her love and faith in God and her compassion for the people around her that makes Hannah different from the rest. A fighter and survivor, she has come a long way to be here today and is living proof that there is hope for the diligent, even in the worst and most unfortunate situations.