Youyi was born in Hong Kong, raised in Taiwan and Singapore. Her father is an Indonesian and her mother Vietnamese of Chinese descent. Youyi has a sister, Julina Halim, a behavioural coach. Youyi spent her childhood in Taiwan, where she completed her elementary studies. She had then relocated, spending her adolescent years in Singapore, where she completed her high school at Chung Cheng High School and tertiary education in Temasek Junior College, and eventually pursuing a bachelor's degree in accountancy at Nanyang Technological University in 2003. In 2008, Youyi decided to pursue her second university degree in translation and interpretation at SIM University and was awarded the bronze award for academic excellence in “SPH Awards of Excellence”.
Career
2003 to 2008 It all began with having a keen interest in the radio industry, where Youyi signed up for the DJ Hunt audition organised by radio station YES 933 when she was in junior college. She came in as the first runner-up in the competition to Lim Peifen, but has decided to complete her university education after A’ Levels. In 2003, Youyi signed up for radio DJ audition organised by JIA 883 before she graduated from Nanyang Technological University ; her wits and impressive articulation won her a full-time contract as a presenter on radio at JIA 883. During her stint in the radio scene, she has helmed the morning and evening drive time programmes on radio, before she was invited to an audition for presenter role on TV in 2008. 2008 to present Youyi landed her TV debut in 2008 on Mediacorp TV's Channel 8, a current affairs presenter for “Good Morning Singapore” and is currently one of the anchor hosts for Channel 8's evening prime time current affairs programme - “Hello Singapore”. She pocketed her first TV award as the “Best Current Affairs Presenter” award in Star Awards 2012. Her quick and sharp-witted mind has earned her Live hosting opportunities for large scale shows and events such as Community Chest TV Charity Shows in 2011, 2013 and 2014, and hosted Chingay Parade Singapore 5 times between 2013 and 2018. Her versatility has made her of the most sought after female TV hosts on Channel 8 and Channel U, particularly sought for travelogues, which has attained high viewership ratings on Channel U. Apart from hosting, Youyi was introduced into acting and was cast in various drama series, movies and even in stage plays between 2007 and 2016, where she stepped out of her comfort zone and was one of the female leads in musical, Cresendo. She made a breakthrough in her screenplays when she took the role as “Xiu Zhen” in drama series, “Hero”. In 2017, Youyi decided not to renew her full-time artiste contract with MediaCorp, which ended in June that year, to assist her sister, Julina in her business. Besides retaining her presenter role in “Hello Singapore” and a freelancer TV host, Youyi is currently working on her Live video programme on Facebook, namely Youyi Live, as she speaks with business owners / entrepreneurs of various industries and other renowned personalities and celebrities.
Personal life
Youyi was married for two years from 2013 to 2014, who together, both ran the now-defunct Outpost No 903 Gastrobar from May 2012 to December 2013.
