Inside the Tatler Ball Asia 2025: honouring visionaries, icons and trailblazers

The evening began in spectacular fashion as Tatler’s distinguished guests made their arrivals at Resorts World Sentosa’s Grand Ballroom. Attendees made their debut dressed to the nines—ladies in sculptural gowns and high jewellery that caught the light with every step, and gentlemen in impeccably tailored tuxedos and daring interpretations of black-tie.

Leading the procession—and marking one of the evening’s most anticipated highlights—was global icon and Squid Game star Lee Jung Jae, who made a stylish entrance in a Mercedes-Maybach EQS 680 SUV. The all-electric flagship, with its whisper-quiet drive, luminous Maybach detailing and handcrafted interiors, was a vision of electric luxury and refinement—an arrival perfectly befitting Lees status as the night’s Chaplin Award recipient.

The celebration began long before the first toast. Before entering the spectacular ballroom, guests mingled and connected at the cocktail foyer–a sprawling immersive welcome experience bathed in a dramatic red glow. Beneath the vaulted ceiling and glittering chandeliers, the space pulsed with Tatler’s signature glamour–think three-metre tall backdrops and elegant displays that set the tone for an evening of sophistication and connection.

Around the cocktail foyer, a constellation of displays and premium bars awaited discovery. The Switzerland Tourism photo wall quickly became a favourite photo moment for guests—an eye-catching installation that invited snapshots and stories.

Just steps away, the energy carried over to a series of curated bars where guests sipped, savoured, and socialised. At the Switzerland bar, a bespoke beverage experience awaited. Guests were treated to the Swiss Alpine Essence, created exclusively for Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) by award-winning bartender Sarah Madritsch from IGNIV Zurich by Andreas Caminada. This signature cocktail—a light and floral take on the White Negroni featuring dry white vermouth, elderflower, white cacao, citrus, and herbal notes—was an a sophisticated homage to Swiss flavours, captured in a single sip.

The Moët & Chandon champagne tower dazzled as flutes of Imperial Brut were raised in the night’s first toast. Hennessy offered guests a masterclass in cognac elegance with bottles of Hennessy Paradis, VSOP, and XO on display, while over at the Hennessy bar, mixologists served Hennessy XO in three distinctive ways: on three rocks, on a single rock, or over ice—allowing each guest to savour the iconic spirit according to their personal taste. For those who prefer vodka, mixologists poured Belvedere 10 on the rocks or with soda. 

The Zacapa bar offered a curated selection of signature serves for those drawn to the allure of rum. Guests could enjoy Zacapa XO neat or on the rocks, savoring its complex flavour in its purest form. Zacapa mixologists also served lighter concoctions: the  Z Spritz (Zacapa 23 with fresh lime juice, simple syrup, and club soda, finished with a twist of orange peel) and the playful El Zinger (Zacapa 23 with ginger ale and a lemon wedge).

For a lighter, refreshing interlude, the Evian bar offered pure hydration and a selection of sparkling creations. Guests toasted with the Golden Hour, a bright and floral mix of yuzu syrup, chamomile cordial, lemon juice, and Evian sparkling water. Meanwhile, the Blush Affair combined wild strawberry purée, Tahitian vanilla, lemon, and Evian sparkling water. Of course, classic Evian still and sparkling water were also on hand, providing a crisp option throughout the evening and at dinner.

In his opening address at An Odyssey to Harmony, Michel Lamunière, chairman and CEO of Tatler Asia, reminded the audience of their collective significance: “Each of you is here tonight because you matter. You matter to the people you lead and inspire. You matter to your community, and of course, you matter to Tatler.”

He also gave a moving tribute to the late Jane Goodall, recipient of the Humanity Award at the Tatler Asia Ball 2024, the visionary English primatologist and anthropologist. She was best known for her decades of work on the social and family life of wild chimpanzees at the Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania.

“She devoted her life protecting our planet, inspiring generations and she showed us the difference between simply excelling at what you do and using that excellence to create true impact,” said Lamunière in his speech. “This is why we created the Tatler Impact Awards.”

The evening’s most resonant moment arrived with the Tatler Impact Awards, where five accolades—including the prestigious Chaplin Award—were presented to honour individuals whose work extends far beyond their fields. The atmosphere was electric as Korean actor and global icon Lee Jung Jae received the Chaplin Award, a tribute to his profound influence on international entertainment and his role in reshaping global perceptions of Asian talent. 

“Receiving the Chaplin Award makes me even more nervous and I certainly feel the weight of this award—even compared to receiving the Emmy Award. It’s a strange mixture of feelings because Mr Chaplin is someone I have deep respect for and deeply love. He was an amazing artist and fellow filmmaker. Having received this award in Singapore is such a meaningful occasion for me,” Lee said on stage via a translator. 

And ever the gracious, humble star that he is, Lee told the audience: “I’d like to thank all the guests who have shown me the warm welcome in Singapore, if you would like to have more photos with me later—please come by and I’ll take them with you!” 

Indeed, there were throngs of guests who were in line to take photos with Lee, who remained unfazed by the sheer amout of attention and was happy to speak to anyone that approached. An exemplary star who truly elevates the meaning of being a celebrity and is all the more deserving of the award bestowed on him. 

The Tatler Impact Awards celebrated modern-day heroes. Amanda Nguyen, a civil rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, was honoured with the Humanity Award for her pioneering work in advancing human rights.

“50 years ago, the Vietnam war ended. When my family looked up in the sky, they saw bombs but earlier this year, when my family looked to the sky, they saw the first Vietnamese women in space … My mother, my family are boat refugees from Vietnam and it was so meaningful to have them with me at the rocket launch. We came on boats and now we’re on spaceships. And that gulf of dreams is one I want everyone to know is possible to bridge,” she said.

 The Sports Award went to Lhakpa Sherpa, celebrated for her awe-inspiring record of ten Mount Everest summits.

“Anybody who wants to go hiking on Mount Everest or the Himalayas, I would love to share my experience … never give up, keep going. Life is very difficult but keep going and you can [climb any] mountain,” said Sherpa in her thank you speech. 

Finally, the Global Impact Award was presented to investor-philanthropists Ray and Mark Dalio of OceanX, whose groundbreaking work in marine exploration is a powerful call to environmental stewardship. 

“At OceanX, we really hope to inspire, educate and really galvanise an audience around the world. Being able to [do so] with the next generation to be the future explorers, scientists and storytellers is of huge importance. Therefore we place immense importance and work towards the education, as well as the data that we collect that we can bring to museums, science centres and also the public to care and conserve the world’s oceans,” said Mark Dalio.

The evening was a who’s who of Asia’s most dynamic leaders. From Indonesia’s entrepreneurial leaders and Thailand’s tech pioneers to the Philippines’ celebrated hotelier Tina Cuevas and Taiwan’s renowned jeweller Cindy Chao, the guest list was a constellation of talent.

Singapore was well-represented by futurist Parag Khanna and DBS CEO Tan Su Shan alongside household names such as actress Rebecca Lim and singer-songwriter Dick Lee, while creative entrepreneurship from Hong Kong was embodied by 88Rising co-founder Jaeson Ma.

Beyond Asian stars like Gulf Kanawut and Miss Universe Thailand Anntonia Porsild present, American rapper Saweetie also graced the occasion. Each presence underscored the event’s powerful narrative of connection and collaboration. 

Under the creative vision of Hugo Belloy, founder of Dreams and Dreams Ltd, the evening unfolded as An Odyssey to Harmony. Resorts World Sentosa was transformed into a spectacular showcase, with immersive stage design and ballroom lighting that blended traditional artistry with cutting-edge technology. The entire experience felt like a journey, reflecting Tatler’s cultural vision of collective growth and unity.

Adding to the evening’s allure, a Mercedes-Maybach display captured the attention of guests with the SL 680 Monogram Series taking centre stage.  Guests admired the car’s sleek lines, bespoke finishes, and the Monogram Series’ emblematic design, making it not just a display, but a statement of ultimate elegance and innovation within the immersive odyssey of the night.

The theme “An Odyssey to Harmony” extended to the evening’s menu, where three of Resorts World’s acclaimed chefs—Quynh Brown from Syun, Aitor Gonzalez from Sugarra, and Antonio Benites from Pierre Hermé Paris—collaborated on a three-course menu that united their distinct culinary traditions through creative exploration.

Read more: Inside Resorts World Sentosa’s luxury transformation

Brown set the tone with a bright and refreshing Japanese starter: sashimi flounder adorned with momotaro tomatoes, dashi jelly and amazu ponzu. Gonzalez followed with two equally compelling mains—a sustainable Chilean sea bass with impeccably crisp skin nestled in Catalan seafood stew and lobster ragout, alongside fork-tender Spanish-style veal cheek accompanied by a luxurious parsnip-potato purée and baby spinach. For the finale, Benites presented a deconstructed interpretation of Pierre Hermé’s iconic Ispahan: delicate macaron shells paired with fresh raspberries and berry ice cream.

Vegan guests enjoyed a thoughtfully curated menu featuring heirloom tomatoes with black truffles, potato and vegetable tagine, and a vibrant dessert of seasonal fruits with lemon ice cream and basil sorbet.

Throughout the evening, free-flow servings of Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir and Te Koko wines complemented and elevated the flavours of each dish. 

The immersive vision of “An Odyssey to Harmony” was spectacularly realised through a lineup of world-class performers who transcended boundaries of genre and form. The night opened on an intimate note, with Singapore’s own Kin Leonn crafting ethereal soundscapes that wove ambient textures with electronic compositions, evoking both melancholy and hope.

Momentum shifted as two performances unfolded in tandem: Japanese musician Kenta Hayashi electrified the stage with a transformative fusion of sound, spectacle, and performance, while Malaysian choreographer Faris Azim unveiled a work for dance crew Zeppo Youngsterz, who joined Hayashi on stage to showcase their raw power and razor-sharp synchronicity.
 

The sense of wonder peaked with magician Anna DeGuzman, whose innovative cardistry intertwined pop culture references with immersive screen content to draw the audience deeper into the theme of harmony. The journey came to a close with Swiss cellist Jodokcello, whose deeply emotional performance bridged the classical and contemporary, leaving the evening suspended between tradition and reinvention.

The convergence of many leaders from diverse industries—from Lee Jung Jae to the Dalio philanthropists—was palpable. Ultimately, the Tatler Ball Asia was a powerful statement that showcased how Asia’s most brilliant minds are not just succeeding individually, but collaborating to shape the collective future.   

This year’s Tatler Ball Asia was an event that did more than mark a date on the social calendar; it set a new benchmark for what a celebration of purpose can truly be.

“In the last past decade we have been transforming and evolving our brand to better represent changing needs and priorities of our audience and our community, all of you—the reason why we do all of this,” said Tamara Lamunière, President of Tatler Asia during her opening speech.

“And so we have been expanding into mega cultural, sport and culinary events, into new markets like the Middle East and Central Asia, and into new sectors like technology and longevity—all while retaining the world class sophistication, elegance and the ability to create communities that we at Tatler have become known for.” 

The night concluded with a clear affirmation of influence used with intention. From the exquisite multi-course dining, curated by award-winning chefs, to the immersive, high-tech performances—every detail reinforced the event’s stature as the region’s pinnacle of cultural celebration.

The Tatler Ball Asia is proudly presented by Resorts World Sentosa, with Mercedes-Benz as the exclusive automotive partner and Ion Orchard and Switzerland Tourism as the experience partners. Supporting partners include Bacha Coffee, Belvedere 10, Cloudy Bay New Zealand, The Conscious Festival, Eu Yan Sang, Evian, Hennessy, JetQuay, Lindt, Moët & Chandon, Pop Mart, Prada Beauty and Zacapa.

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