RIP Terri Holladay: Remembering the first lady I ever asked for a quote for my newspaper column

On this day, two years ago, I heard about the untimely passing of Terri Holladay and was immediately taken back to my intern days at SCMP, when I first wrote about this staggeringly beautiful lady for my Society and then "Lai See" column [which was shared with other writers].

Terri Holladay, born Teresa Anne Holladay in 1968, was a vibrant Vietnamese American model, designer, entrepreneur, and prominent Asian socialite whose life blended glamour and grace as she hopscotched over the pitfalls of fame and great fortune. She rose to prominence in the fashion world, was one of the first few Asian models who graced the cover of Vogue, before capturing headlines in Hong Kong tabloids for her scandalous, high-profile relationship and engagement to billionaire Cecil Chao Sze-tsung in the early 2010s. The couple welcomed a son together named Roman [Roman Holladay-- geddit?!], adding a deeply personal chapter to her public persona. Known for her elegance, passion for travel, cooking [think she had a cookbook out a la Nigella], love of animals, grace and glamour, Terri described herself as a multifaceted woman: a mother, creative force, and lover of life's finer experiences. 

After stepping away from the spotlight, despite several high-profile relationships [including a well-documented one in the papers with HK/Sindhi entrepreneur Dino Lalvani] that played out in print, in later years, Terri lived more privately in Hong Kong, focusing on family and personal pursuits. When she disengaged from the media, she completely cut off the trappings of fame, burnt by what the press was writing in the wild wild west days of tabloid sub-culture in the city; I remember a local colleague saying their newspaper office had more lawyers than reporters as the notorious press, pre-social media, sold millions of copies on the back of local celebrities. A friend featured in print often, famously told us in the magazine office, about the daily rags and tabloid hacks, "the story doesn't have to be truthful, it has to be interesting."   
Well, Terri was always truthful and interesting. 
She passed away on December 27, 2023, at the age of 55 in Hong Kong, but her tragic death remained largely unnoticed until February 2024, when an online memorial page surfaced, drawing media attention and tributes from those who remembered her warmth, remarkable spirit and red-carpet elegance. 
Terri was one of the first few ladies I featured—an early highlight in my Society column, that showcased her poise and charisma. She left an impression as someone who navigated fame with grace, embracing both its thrills and being perturbed by its challenges. I was chatting with a friend at The Mandarin Oriental, facing the buffet table (as usual!), when she tapped my shoulder and said something kind about what I had written about her in an earlier column. I remember being 19 and flabbergasted at how gorgeous and glamorous she was. Didn't even respond like a human being and made some strange esophagal sound and she quickly swanned away. #FacePalm  
Scrolling through the tributes online, friends and admirers recall her as a beautiful woman who led a full life filled with love, and resilience. She was deeply cherished as a mother and friend; her kindness and effortless elegance remains in the memories of many. 
Though she shunned the limelight later on, her legacy as a trailblazing, multifaceted celebrity will be her enduring legacy, along with the love she had for her beloved son, the young entrepreneur Roman. 
RIP Terri.