At present, when mentioning the names that are causing the most discussions among netizens, it’s hard to overlook Tran Thanh Tam – the princess known for her “flirting” that has become a trademark: “Fried eggs need fat / Buttered corn / Love needs no reason / Need you, babe”. With a cute face in the clips and a somewhat “slurred” voice, Tam has truly managed to stand out from other social media phenomena.
However, with fame comes challenges as she is now surrounded by controversies involving leaked provocative photos, a striking contrast in looks compared to her posted images, and her careless remarks suggesting it’s better to earn money without good grades than to score only 30 points and not make any money… But what hits Tam the hardest is the excessive scrutiny of her face, even in her newly released music video with streamer Viruss; people still dissect every detail and analyze it together.
To be honest, no one likes to be criticized like that, especially a girl just in her twenties like Tam. Recently, she has opened up about her life behind the sudden fame and revealed many surprising details about her personal life in hopes that more people will understand her better.
Tam Confidently Says, “You Need Flour to Make Dough”
Hello Tam, how have you been lately, after being surrounded by a series of controversies, from leaked behind-the-scenes photos to criticism of your appearance in the music video?
Hi sister, I’ve been healthy and working normally lately. Regarding this issue, at first, I was quite upset and uncomfortable, but gradually I got used to it because no one looks good in unflattering photos. Some netizens even distorted my images to discuss them. Knowing this, I don’t pay much attention to it because that’s not the real me. I just let them be; in the end, people will realize what is truly mine.
During this tumultuous time, I’m really lucky to have friends and family who encourage and comfort me. They give me strength to keep going and help me understand that anyone who becomes famous has their share of anti-fans; as long as I live authentically, I don’t think anything can make me step back.
As a girl, Tam often faces the most scrutiny regarding her appearance; do you think about why this happens to you?
I think no one in this world is 100% perfect; there must always be something that’s not quite beautiful, and I’m no exception. I will always accept people’s criticisms to improve myself every day.
Additionally, as I mentioned in a previous interview, I’m 80% confident in my real-life appearance, so any insults aren’t too serious for me. You know, if I didn’t have some charm, how could I be determined to pursue an art career? As the saying goes, “you need flour to make dough,” I believe the online community is just temporarily focusing their criticism on me; once my talent is recognized, they will surely understand me better.
Do Tam’s parents read the comments from netizens about you? How do they react to your current level of fame?
They have read some negative comments about me on social media. Initially, my parents were not very happy, but later they always encouraged me to overcome public opinion and show my talent, being careful with my words so that netizens would have a different view of me.
I heard that Tam’s parents are very strict; why did they agree to let you enter the showbiz industry?
My parents raised me very carefully. They always paid attention and instilled me with unchanging principles from a young age. In many situations, they are indeed very strict, but I promised them I would balance my studies and artistic pursuits, so in the end, they agreed. This has been my dream since I was little, so since they love me, they let me participate.
Flirting is just acting; in real life, Tam is very shy
Let’s talk more about your life behind the fame, what does a day in your life look like?
Right now, during the pandemic, my day mostly revolves around home; I wake up in the morning, do yoga or exercise, then cook, film clips, take photos, livestream… sometimes I call home to talk with family, and finally, go to bed!
Before the pandemic, outside of events and livestreams, I usually stayed at home to shoot commercials, take photos, and hang out with friends. Generally, I don’t let myself rest at all; I’m an active girl! (laughs)
Do you have many friends? How have they treated you since you became famous? Have you lost any relationships over time?
I have many friends, most of whom are also popular on social media, so when I gained recognition, everything remained normal. They also share a lot of experiences and encourage me when challenges come my way. I feel happy to have such friends.
Behind the fame of many people often lies loneliness; have you ever felt that way?
I only feel lonely when I’m alone because during this pandemic, I couldn’t go home and had to stay alone, sometimes it feels empty. During such times, I often video call my family or friends to ease the loneliness.
As for the loneliness of being famous, I think I’m still young and haven’t encountered too much pessimism. I will try my best not to fall into that state because if I do, it will be quite sad!
There are many famous girls who rose to fame around the same time; do you know why the online community chose you as the focus? Because let’s face it, people only scrutinize you if they care, right?
Honestly, even now I still don’t know why I have received so much attention, and I hope to find out the answer from everyone soon. As for the scrutinizing comments, as I said earlier, I don’t care much; as long as my work is well-received, that’s my happiness.
Being famous also means you will have less time for family. How do you feel about this shortcoming towards your parents?
I think my parents might be a little sad because their daughter is so busy. But I believe they understand and empathize with me. Since I can’t go home to visit, I often video call my parents to feel less homesick.
Why did you choose to enter showbiz while you are studying pharmacy, a field unrelated to what you are doing now?
Because I have two passions at the same time! I’m trying to study well while also wanting to step into showbiz as soon as possible. I know that the pharmacy field has nothing to do with art, but since it’s my interest, I still want to maintain it. It’s also very beneficial for my life later on.
Flirting is just what Tam shows on TikTok; what about the real Tam in real life? Are you as bold as that or are you the shy type?
According to my friends, in real life, I’m also a bit “goofy” just like online! But let’s be honest, no girl would dare to flirt so openly; I also feel shy and a bit timid.
But what’s strange is that many people jump to conclusions about me based on my flirting without knowing that it’s just acting. If given the chance, I would love to meet more people who aren’t familiar with me so they can understand me better.
But there are also many strong girls; what do you think about girls taking the initiative to confess to guys?
I think if a girl confesses first, she might feel embarrassed if the guy doesn’t agree, and even if he does agree, he might not value her later. Boys prefer to conquer rather than be conquered, that’s what I think.
But that’s only theoretical; in reality, it also depends on the circumstances and feelings of the couples. Whatever works, as long as the love story ends well and they are happy, that’s what matters.
Not Earning as Much Money as People Think
Recently, netizens shared a clip cut from your livestream in which you said: “I may not study well but I earn money, better than those who score high but don’t make any money.” This clip received a strong backlash; do you really think that way or was it just a momentary remark?
Honestly, at that moment, I couldn’t control my behavior; after saying it, I reflected and realized I made many mistakes, so I posted an apology to everyone. I promise to be more careful with my words in the future.
Additionally, everyone knows that I’m still continuing my studies as a pharmacy student. This demonstrates that my family and I still take education seriously as it provides me with more knowledge and thinking skills in life. I will never take for granted the privilege of sitting in a classroom, and I will always strive to improve myself as positively as possible.
Tam started earning money early, many people think you must be very rich. So what is your current income like?
I just started in this profession, so I have some income, but it’s not much. I use that money to save, buy essential items for myself, and cover my educational expenses.
Money is important to me right now, but it’s not my main goal. What I need is to accumulate experience and live well to build my brand. Just like other artists, once they have a solid footing, they won’t have to worry much about money later on.
And to achieve that, I really hope everyone will accept me and my products in the near future!
Thank you, Tam, for this conversation. I wish you health and may you achieve everything you desire.