There are two sides to Mel Chen, 35 : gentle wedding dress designer and spunky skateboarder. Photo by Laura Chia.

 

On most days, Ms Mel Chen can be found at Caramel & Co, her bespoke bridal gown studio at Paya Lebah, working on sketches, meeting brides-to-be and crafting their dream dresses. 

But by evenings, the 35-year-old would have changed into her sports gear, whizzing around the course at East Coast Park with her skateboarding crew.

The two loves of her life couldn’t be more different from each other. As a bridal gown designer, she deals with fine fabric, delicate lace and her clients’ sweet anticipation for their big day. But once she’s in the skatepark, her feminine charm takes a backseat and it’s her gritty, spunky and sporty self that shines.  

While skateboarding remains largely a male-dominated sport, more women like Ms Chen are now active in Singapore’s skateboarding and longboarding scene. 

Ms Mel Chen at the Xtreme Skatepark in East Coast Park. Photo by Laura Chia.

 

In this video interview, Ms Chen tells us how she balances risks and responsibility as she finds joy in skateboarding. Check it out!

https://youtu.be/5_oEHHNsJRg