Mae Tan moves with precision, fuelled by clarity and discipline. Pictured alongside the McLaren Artura, with its twin-turbo V6 and hybrid system engineered for instant response, the tastemaker and multi-hyphenate channels speed with restraint and power with purpose.
“Being bold means trusting your gut, even when it doesn’t make sense to others,” she says. “It’s about holding your ground for the things that move you, and making a statement with every move and intentionality in both my loudest and quietest moments.” In other words, courage isn’t noise; it is direction.
Tan follows a similar style philosophy. She embraces new trends, but only if they respect her identity. “Always ask yourself if it represents your soul and your values,” Tan advises.
“The goal is to wear the clothes, not let them wear you. I’ll try something trendy if it resonates with me, but I never let it take over.” The Artura embodies that same spirit—modern and expressive, yet always true to McLaren’s core identity.
Micro-choices matter. The way a shirt falls. Where a strand of hair rests. “Before any occasion, I think of the first impression I want to make… I like when things look naturally put together, even if they are a little lived-in, a little unfinished. That’s where I see beauty.”
To Tan, polish isn’t about perfection, but about quiet control—the kind that makes everything feel effortless. In the Artura, that spirit lives in the way driver and road meet in seamless harmony.
In her view, style serves both as a message and as a shield. “Your projection is your protection. Each decision you make subconsciously creates your style. I believe style is your blueprint. In a crowded room, it is what makes you stand out… Some days, it’s like a layer of armour; on other days, it’s a way to speak without speaking.”
This could also be a design brief for a supercar: make sure the purpose is clear and let the form follow the function. As an entrepreneur navigating fast-paced environments, Tan is often seen as a risk-taker. Her perspective, however, is more nuanced. “Actually, I consider myself to be quite conservative when it comes to risks, but I lead with my heart. There are no regrets when decisions are made from the heart, even if things don’t turn out as you intended. We only have so much time to live!
“Following your heart gets stronger every time you trust it. Keeping creatively alive is essential to me. You learn to become comfortable with discomfort.” She does not advocate recklessness, but rather confidence rooted in preparation and high standards.
The discipline she values extends to personal growth. “There have been many versions of me—the one who played small, the one who sought validation. Letting go wasn’t easy, but each attempt became an opening to improve and grow, creating space for a version of myself that feels more aligned and grounded.”
She has shed psychological burdens just as an engineer lightens a load: everything becomes lighter, faster, and more purposeful. Along the way, she unlearned a common anxiety: “I used to worry that people were talking about me. They’re not. I’ve realised that being rooted in who you are is more powerful than seeking approval through performance.”
If her journey had a theme song, it would be Erykah Badu’s Didn’t Cha Know. Its lyrics, “Free your mind and find your way”, serve as both a guiding principle and a life motto. They also capture Tan in her element—light, focused, and fearless; engineering her emotions with intent, and proving that boldness isn’t about loudness, but about staying true.
Creative direction Chia Wei Choong
Video director Belle Chew
DOP Hoya
Hair Junz Loke
Makeup Kim
Special thanks QT Singapore
Video production Tonami Film
