Barbie Hsu facts for kids

Shi-yuan "Barbie" Hsu (born October 6, 1976 – died February 2, 2025), also known by her stage name Big S, was a famous Taiwanese actress, singer, and TV host. She started her career in 1994 with her younger sister, Dee Hsu, as part of a music group called S.O.S (Sisters of Shiu). Later, they changed their group name to A.S.O.S (Adult Sisters of Shiu) and became popular TV hosts.

The sisters hosted fun variety shows like Guess (1996–2000) and 100% Entertainment (1998–2005). After a while, Barbie decided to focus more on acting.

Barbie Hsu became very famous across Asia for her main role in the TV drama Meteor Garden (2001–2002). This show was a huge hit and helped start the "idol drama" trend, which was a golden age for Taiwanese TV. She also starred in other popular dramas like Mars (2004) and Corner with Love (2007), and in movies such as Connected (2008) and Reign of Assassins (2010). After her first marriage in 2010, she spent more time with her family.

Barbie Hsu was also recognized for her success, ranking high on the Forbes China Celebrity 100 list several times between 2010 and 2012.

Quick facts for kids Barbie Hsu
徐熙媛
Hsu in 2010
Born	(1976-10-06)6 October 1976 Taipei, Taiwan
Died	2 February 2025(2025-02-02) (aged 48) Tokyo, Japan
Resting place	Chin Pao San Cemetery, New Taipei City
Other names	Tiger Hsu; Shanshan
Alma mater	Taipei Hwa Kang Arts School
Occupation	Actress singer television host
Years active	1994–2025
Agent	Famous Records (c. 1991–1997) Golden Star Entertainment (c. 1997–2010) Taiping Entertainment (2010–2025)
Notable work	Meteor Garden
Spouse(s)	Wang Xiaofei ​ ​ (m. 2011; div. 2021)​ Koo Jun-yup ​ (m. 2022)​
Children	2
Relatives	Dee Hsu (sister)
Awards	Golden Lotus Award for Best Actress for Croczilla
Musical career
Also known as	Big S (大S; Da S) Barbie Shu
Genres	Mandopop
Labels	Pony Canyon (1994–1997) Skyhigh Entertainment (2001–2002)

Early Life and Education

Barbie Hsu was born in Taipei, Taiwan, on October 6, 1976. She was the middle child of three sisters. Her older sister was Hsu Shi-hsien, and her younger sister was Dee Hsu.

When Barbie was young, her family faced some challenges. Her mother worked hard as a real estate agent to support the three sisters. Barbie's father had some financial difficulties, but he later improved his relationship with his daughters. He passed away in 2012.

In 1994, Barbie and Dee went to Taipei Hwa Kang Arts School. Barbie studied drama and learned Chinese opera kungfu, which involves martial arts and acrobatics. At school, the sisters became good friends with classmates Pace Wu and Aya Liu, forming a group of friends known as the "Seven Fairies."

Career Beginnings

Barbie Hsu first appeared in a film as an extra in The Sea Plan in 1987 when she was 11. At 14, she started working in commercials to help her family financially. She even appeared in a beverage commercial with Takeshi Kaneshiro when she was 17.

The Hsu sisters caught the eye of a music label, Famous Records. Barbie and Dee were signed as a pop duo. Their first album, Occupy Youth, was released in 1994. The duo was named S.O.S. (Sisters of Shiu), and Barbie became known as Big S, while Dee was Little S.

S.O.S. became popular in 1995 with their song "Ten-Minute Love." They tried to enter the Japanese music market and appeared on Japanese TV shows. In 1996, they met TV producer Wang Wei-Zhong, who offered them hosting jobs.

Rise to Stardom in Hosting

After signing with Wang Wei-Zhong's company, the sisters changed their group name to A.S.O.S. (Adult Sisters of Shiu). They shifted their focus from singing to hosting. They co-hosted popular variety shows like Guess (1996–2000) and 100% Entertainment (1998–2005).

As hosts, Barbie and Dee were known for their natural and funny style. They often shared personal stories, which was new for TV at the time and made their shows feel like early reality TV. In 2010, they started their own studios. Barbie then focused more on acting in mainland China and Hong Kong, while Dee continued hosting in Taiwan.

Musically, A.S.O.S. released their last album, ... Girls, in 2001. Barbie also released some solo songs and duets, including "Let Me Love You" with Vic Chou and "Sweetheart" with Richie Jen. These songs were often theme songs for her TV dramas and films.

Acting Success

Barbie Hsu became a huge star in Asia with her leading role as Shan Cai in Meteor Garden (2001). This show was based on a Japanese comic and was incredibly popular, leading to many remakes in different countries. Her performance earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the 36th Golden Bell Awards.

She continued to star in successful TV dramas like Meteor Garden II (2002), Mars (2004) where she reunited with Vic Chou, Corner with Love (2007), and Summer's Desire (2010).

Later in her career, Barbie also acted in films. She starred in the horror film The Ghost Inside (2005) and the Taiwanese film Silk (2006). She also appeared in Hong Kong films like Connected (2008), for which she was nominated for Best Actress at the 28th Hong Kong Film Awards. Her last film role was in My Kingdom (2011). For her role in the monster film Croczilla (2012), she won the Golden Lotus Award for Best Actress.

Other Ventures and Later Career

Besides acting, Barbie Hsu was also a successful author. She published a popular beauty guide called Beauty Queen in 2004, followed by a sequel in 2007. These books helped popularize many beauty brands in China. She also co-wrote books with her sister Dee about their teenage years and a travel guide to Tokyo. In 2005, she released a collection of poems called Penny Dreadful.

After her first marriage, Barbie took a break from her career to focus on starting a family. She had two children, a daughter born in 2014 and a son born in 2016. She continued to appear in variety shows and advertisements. In 2018, she voiced the character of Elastigirl in the Taiwanese version of the animated film Incredibles 2. She also hosted the Chinese variety show Miss Beauty and participated in the reality show Happiness Trio with her then-husband.

Personal Life

Barbie Hsu's personal life often attracted public attention. She was known for her relationships and two quick marriages.

She dated actor Lan Cheng-lung from 2001 to 2005. After that, she dated actor Vic Chou from 2005 to 2008.

In late 2010, Barbie met Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei. They fell in love quickly and got engaged after knowing each other for a short time. They announced their engagement on October 29, 2010, and officially registered their marriage on November 16, 2010, in Beijing. They had a wedding ceremony in Sanya, Hainan, on March 22, 2011.

Barbie and Wang Xiaofei had two children: a daughter born in April 2014 and a son born in May 2016. Both children were born and raised in Taipei. The couple divorced on November 22, 2021.

After her divorce, Barbie Hsu reconnected with South Korean singer Koo Jun-yup, whom she had dated many years before. They registered their marriage on February 8, 2022, in South Korea, and then in Taiwan on March 28, 2022. They did not have a big wedding ceremony but shared a wedding photo and matching ring tattoos. Their reunion was seen as a romantic fairy tale by many.

Health and Interests

Barbie Hsu was open about her health journey, including her experience with depression in 2000. She also had other health issues like asthma and a history of anorexia. She faced health challenges during her pregnancies and experienced a serious complication during the birth of her son in 2016.

She was very interested in beauty treatments, especially hair care and skin whitening, earning her the nickname "Beauty Queen." She loved shoes and had a collection of over 700 pairs. Barbie was also a fan of science fiction, the supernatural, and UFOs. She had several tattoos and was a lifelong fan of Japanese star Takuya Kimura.

Charity Work

Barbie Hsu was very active in charity work, supporting women's and children's rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and animal rights. She and her sister Dee worked with World Vision Taiwan, helping over 50 children worldwide. She also supported PETA Asia. She often made donations anonymously.

Death

Barbie Hsu passed away in Tokyo, Japan, on February 2, 2025, at the age of 48. Her family was with her during the Chinese New Year holiday. She died from pneumonia related to influenza.

Her sister, Dee Hsu, confirmed Barbie's passing on February 3, 2025, stating that Barbie had caught influenza-related pneumonia during their family holiday in Japan. Dee expressed her gratitude for having Barbie as her sister and said they would always love and remember her.

Barbie's passing led to many people sharing their memories and tributes across Asia. Her death also brought attention to the importance of flu vaccinations. Many celebrities and fans mourned her, remembering her impact on entertainment and her kind spirit.

Barbie Hsu's family chose not to hold a public memorial service, respecting her wish for a low-key farewell. She was laid to rest at the Rose Garden of Chin Pao San Cemetery in New Taipei City. Her husband, Koo Jun-yup, designed a sculpture for the cemetery in her memory.

Discography

As SOS and ASOS:

Filmography

Film

Television series

Variety shows

• Chao Meng XYZ: 1995
• Qingchun Baomazai: 1995
• Guess Guess Guess: 1998 to 2000
• 100% Entertainment: 1998 to 2005
• Weekend Three Precious Fun: 2001
• Gourmet Secrets of the Stars [zh]: 2007 to 2008
• Let's Dance [zh]: 2008 to 2009
• Miss Beauty: 2018
• We Are Real Friends: 2019
• After Becoming Mother: 2020

Awards and Nominations

Images for kids

• 

  Hsu in 2010

See also

In Spanish: Barbie Hsu para niños