Local nail artist gives actress Tilda Swinton a manicure ahead of Chanel show in Singapore
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Nail technician Fiona gave Tilda Swinton a clear gel overlay manicure when the Scottish actress was in Singapore for the Chanel’s Cruise 2025/26 show on Nov 4.
PHOTO: NAILSBYFIONA_/INSTAGRAM
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SINGAPORE – How many Gen Zs can brag about being in the presence of the Sorcerer Supreme, let alone touch the hands of the Ancient One?
Singaporean nail technician Fiona Wijaya Khoo, the owner of local nail salon FNF Nail Artistry, nailed the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to give Scottish actress Tilda Swinton a manicure ahead of Chanel’s Cruise 2025/26 show at Raffles Hotel on Nov 4.
Ms Khoo told The Straits Times that the Chanel team in Singapore recommended her for the job as a few of them are her clients. The team reached out to her in October, but Ms Khoo received the confirmation only five days before the show.
“I was jumping around when I found out I would be doing Tilda’s nails,” said the 22-year-old, who has been a fan of Swinton, 65, since she first saw her as the White Witch in The Chronicles Of Narnia film series (2005 to 2010).
When the Chanel global ambassador – who played the Sorcerer Supreme known as the Ancient One in Marvel superhero movie Doctor Strange (2016) – mentioned her nails were brittle and tended to break easily, Ms Khoo recommended a clear gel overlay manicure to strengthen her nails and prevent breaking or chipping.
It also complemented the gold lurex Chanel trouser suit that Swinton later wore at the show.
Oscar-winning actress and Chanel global ambassador Tilda Swinton at Chanel’s Cruise 2025/26 show at Raffles Hotel on Nov 4.
ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
The session at a hotel villa in Sentosa, where the film star was staying, took about two hours.
“When I finished, Tilda showed her nails to her team and said she’d never tried anything like it before. She was amazed that it made her natural nails feel stronger,” Ms Khoo said, adding the Oscar winner seemed impressed that the manicure could last up to two months.
The self-taught manicurist, who picked up nail art when she was 15, was a home-based manicurist before setting up FNF Nail Artistry with her elder sister at shopping centre City Plaza in October 2023.
On Nov 5, Ms Khoo took to Instagram to share the “surreal experience”.
Posting photos of herself with Swinton, she thanked the French luxury house for the “incredible honour”.
“It was truly one of the most surreal and meaningful days of my career so far,” said Ms Khoo, who called her celebrity client an “icon” and a “gracious, inspiring woman”.
She wrote: “She was so kind and warm and even allowed me to take a photo with her – a moment I’ll always cherish.”
Ms Khoo added in the post: “When she commented on how impressed she was... I only wish I had captured her reaction on video. Hearing her speak highly of my work at that moment was something I will never forget.”
