After winning the title of Miss Elegant and Miss Personality in Miss Singapore Universe 2002, Joanne was talent spotted and signed on as an artiste with MediaCorp. Despite having to juggle both work and her university studies at the same time, her excellent performances won her both the Most Popular Newcomer award and the Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes award at the Star Awards 2004, an annual award ceremony for TV personalities. After her graduation from the School of Communication and Information of Nanyang Technological University, Joanne continued her acting career with the station as a full-time actress. She impressed audiences with her natural acting in drama serials such as Like Father, Like Daughter, The Golden Path, The Little Nyonya and A Tale of 2 Cities. Her compelling portrayal of Yuzhu, the ill-fated girl with a heart of gold in The Little Nyonya, earned her rave reviews, as well as a Best Actress award nod at Star Awards 2009. Joanne’s foray into movies started as early as 2004, when she acted in Jack Neo’s movie The Best Bet. In 2011, she proved her versatility and potential as a movie actress in Raintree Pictures’ highly successful festive blockbuster, It’s A Great Great World.
