It’s been 10 years since the Vancouver native was crowned Miss Hong Kong in 2013, a feat that was soon followed by her win at the Miss Chinese International pageant the following year. Chan became an overnight sensation in the industry, her name on everyone’s lips. Yet, as she reveals, a career in pageantry wasn’t always on her radar.

“Even though I studied journalism and broadcasting when I was younger, I didn’t actually anticipate myself to be so involved in media and entertainment,” the 31-year-old remarks. Before landing the major titles, Chan was a communications major at Simon Fraser University.

Chan was born in Hong Kong and moved to Vancouver, Canada, with her parents when she was five years old. She fondly recalls how her overseas childhood shaped her into the person she is today.

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“I think being in Vancouver gave me more of a chance to be creative and enjoy being outdoors, while Hong Kong has a more traditional approach to schools and studying.” Her parents played a vital role in nurturing her free spirit with a more liberal childhood.

While many pageant winners in the Fragrant Harbour turn to acting and singing to capitalise on their new-found fame, Chan realised very quickly that it wasn’t the path she wanted to pursue after starring in a handful of local stints, including Raising the Bar, Blue Veins and Keyboard Warriors.

“It made me realise acting is a lot of fun, but it takes hard work and talent,” she says, “I think if I were able to put more time into it, maybe I would get better as an actress.” Instead, her focus has been on hosting, which is something she plans to continue for the next decade or so. Last year, she hosted a dating talk show on Pearl TV, Love Matters with Grace.

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Now fully based in Hong Kong, Chan lives with her family – her husband, TVB actor Kevin Cheng (from G Storm, Ip Man and Hong Kong Graffiti) – and their three kids, Rafael, Yannick and Carlos, the youngest of whom was born this January.

“It’s funny, I was talking to a friend the other day about how the more kids you have, the less you notice the difference,” she recalls. “Now I have three kids, I’m like – who told me this? It is a big difference!” Most of her immediate family from Vancouver has also migrated back to Hong Kong.

With over 750,000 followers on Instagram, Chan’s influence is colossal. Not only is her feed a picture-perfect visual smorgasbord of enviable experiences but she’s also regularly sought after by brands including Clarins, Christie’s, L’Oréal, FWD and more.

As with most celebrity figures, however, there’s more to it than meets the eye and behind this glossy veneer, Chan acknowledges fame as a double-edged sword. Fan criticism and media scrutiny can be exhausting and hurtful, she says. “I’m someone who cares so deeply about what others think of me. I’m still learning to overcome it, but I would say that this is something that’s a constant battle.”

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In addition to hosting and media work, Chan serves as an ambassador to LoveXpress, a non-profit charity organisation that works with autistic children and their families. “I think definitely there’s a place in my heart to work with kids,” she reveals. “As any typical parent, when you have a child, they become your entirety and you just really want to see them grow up in a way that’s happy and healthy.”

As for Chan’s future plans, her focus will continue to revolve around family and exploring her career further in MCing and hosting. Vancouver’s laid-back lifestyle may be a stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong, but Chan loves it. “I’m really happy to be living in Hong Kong and will be staying put right now,” she says.