Mention ‘90s Hong Kong Category III stars and Amy Yip will probably be one of the first names that come to mind.
Known for her voluptuous figure and tiny 21-inch waist, which the now 58-year-old claims she still has today, Amy was one of Asian cinema’s biggest sex symbols.
Her famed bosom even inspired the XL-sized Amy Yip Pau, a steamed pork bao the size of a man’s palm popularised in Malaysia.
You can still get the pau today, with Nam Kee Pau being one of the F&B brands to offer it in Singapore.
And if you’re wondering, Amy is aware of the oversized buns named after her.
Amy, who was in Penang last week to officiate the opening of The Leith, a boutique hotel in George Town she has invested in.
She shared with local media that her friends in Malaysia had informed her about the baos and even sent her pictures of it.
Her friends asked why she didn’t sue the businesses for copyright infringement for using her Chinese name 叶子楣 or Ye Zi Mei. However, Amy noted that businesses used 叶子媚, which also reads as Ye Zi Mei, but the last character is a different word altogether, so she has no legal basis for suing.
When reporters asked if she wanted to start a similar business, Amy replied: “It’s something to consider, sounds good!”
During her interview, Amy shared that this was her first time visiting Malaysia and she finds the locals warm and sincere, just as her friends had described.
She even joked that if fate allows, she might find herself a “Malaysian husband” as many of her friends have offered to set her up.
When asked about her criteria for a partner, Amy said that mutual attraction is important. The guy also has to love and take care of her.
She laughed, adding: “It wouldn’t be right for me to marry someone and end up supporting him!”
Amy has remained single since the passing of her longtime boyfriend, orthopaedic surgeon Sammy Lui, in 2018. He suffered a heart attack on a plane flying to the United States.
The couple met in 1992, and in 1997, Amy bowed out of the spotlight reportedly to spend more time with Sammy.