Megan lives the dream

As one of 8TV’s Quickie entertainment live programme hosts, Megan Tan knows the importance of being truthful when appearing on the air.

“I think the best ingredient is to be yourself and not try to be someone you are not.

“Audiences are more knowledgable these days and they can spot someone who is putting on an act.

“When you are honest and genuine, people can see that and will naturally be drawn to you. You must also being able to speak and carry yourself well,” the 24-year-old said in an interview.

That said, she is an easy going personality in the fast paced entertainment industry she has been a part of for a few years.

And the go-getter loves the life, saying the best part of being an entertainer is that it doesn’t feel like a job even although there’s lots of hard work.

She won a 8TV’s Quickie search competition about two and a half years ago which pretty much launched her career today.

“I studied psychology at the varsity and so if I weren’t an entertainer, I would probably pursue a career in psychology.

“Either that, or work in a magazine or something fashion related. I don’t have a contingency plan right now because I really love what I do,” she said.

Originally from Penang, Megan who also speaks Hokkien, said her family moved to Kuala Lumpur when she was six.

“I went to school and practically grew up in Kuala Lumpur because Dad got a job in this big city! And I am really thankful and blessed for that because I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing if it wasn’t for that move.

Being a television host also comes with perks and memorable experiences.

“If I had to pick one, at the top of my head right now, I would say the most memorable experience was meeting and interviewing the cast of Harry Potter in London. I was star struck!” she said.

But of course, there were also the occasional awkward moments in appearing live where the audience were unresponsive.

“I would say the most terrible experience would be blanking out in mid sentence. Thankfully, I always have a co-host to back me up,” she laughs.

Besides hosting and emceeing, Megan is also into television commercials and acting.

She has appeared for Nesvita, Pantene, Munchy’s Oat Krunch and Watsons TV commercials.

As for acting, Megan appeared in a TV3 telemovie last year called Sakura where she played the titular character.

“It was a really good experience, a very stressful one but I learned a lot and given the opportunity, I would definitely give acting another shot.

In the telemovie, young Japanese girl Sakura was asked by her soldier grandfather to find a family in Malaysia and apologise for the atrocities committed against them during World War II.

However, Megan admitted that she avoids horror movies.

“I love all type of movies but have to give the horror genre a pass. I have a weak heart and a pretty crazy imagination,” she said.

Megan dreams of getting a role in a romantic comedy.

“I am a sucker for romance and it seems like it will be a lot of fun to shoot.

“Either that, or a strong character who kicks butt like Kate Beckinsale’s Beretta-totting Selene character in the Underworld series.,” she said.

In a way, Megan said extreme and headstrong characters would strip off her next door sweet girl image.

“This should show the world that I can be tough too,” she said.

Another dream of her’s was to own an Audi TT sports car although it is something that has remained beyond her reach.

“I first saw the car when I was just 18. The original version then had nice curves that appealed to me.

“Although the current generation has grown a bit more muscular in looks, it still retains the curves that I like,” she said.
She once visited an Audi showroom with a few friends to get a closer look at the TT.

“But we did not take a test drive because we were afraid of damaging the car as we were new drivers,” she said.

For this shoot, local Audi distributor Euromobil Sdn Bhd loaned us one for her to drive.

The Audi TT.

And for Megan, it was an exciting and almost surreal experience.

“The TT is like a little rocket that is easily much faster than my Myvi. It just takes off so quickly if I am even a little eager on the throttle,” she says gleefully as she comes to grips with the 211bhp from the 2.0-litre turbocharged engine that gives this small car its punch.

The interior is a lot more compact than her Myvi’s, not that Megan minds as the TT’s striking good looks render that a moot point.

“The rear is cramped and the headroom is limited but I don’t think my girl friends will mind going out with me in this,” she said of the RM355,000 car.

Will she get one? Well, that would involve a lot of hard work. For now, suffice to say that she will be gunning for assigments involving fast cars and motorsports.