Curley Gao, the celebrated Chinese singer known for winning the Chinese girl group survival show Produce Camp 2020, recently returned to Singapore, revisiting her formative years and cherished memories. Gao, who debuted as part of the popular group BonBon Girls 303, moved to Singapore with her parents at the tender age of nine. Her visit brought her back to familiar grounds, including her alma mater, Dunman High School, where she once honed her skills and aspirations.
During her time in Singapore, Curley Gao reminisced about her educational journey which began at Macpherson Primary School and continued through Dunman High School. Her experience at Dunman High was particularly pivotal; it was here where she took Mandarin classes that significantly contributed to shaping her identity. Reflecting on this, Gao expressed gratitude for her educational foundation.
"To learn Mandarin in Dunman High School played an important part in making me who I am today." – Curley
Gao also dedicated time to volunteering with the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS), spending two to three weeks engaging with mentally-disabled children. This experience was a meaningful chapter in her life, reflecting her compassion and commitment to community service.
After completing her schooling in Singapore, Curley embarked on a journey to the United States to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music. Her ambition and talent were evident early on when she auditioned for the Sing! Chinese singing competition in both 2016 and 2017. Despite not passing the 2016 audition, she persevered and reached the final showdown performances in 2017.
Curley's recent visit to Singapore was marked by heartfelt nostalgia as she visited Dunman High School. Here, she was warmly recognized by her former teachers and students. She also retraced her steps on the MRT from Woodlands to Bugis, reminiscent of her first audition journey for Sing! at Bugis Junction in 2016.
"This is like where [my] dream started and all… I remember memorising lyrics as I was queuing, because I only knew how to hum the song." – Curley
Her trip down memory lane included meeting a secondary school friend, May, at Causeway Point, where they enjoyed a meal together. Curley also visited familiar childhood spots like the Katong Community Centre and two nearby convenience stores.
Upon returning to Singapore after six years, Curley took the opportunity to explore heartland locations such as Marina Bay Sands and Merlion Park. Her journey was enriched with simple pleasures, including a visit to McDonald's for fries—an experience she found uniquely delightful.
"It's really better than anywhere else and it's crispy," – Curley
In addition, Curley shared a moment of candidness when opting to pay with Singapore dollars after a long hiatus.
"No, it's okay, we want to pay, I haven't paid in Singapore dollars for a long time." – Curley
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