More than just being known for her role as the feisty but endearing Shancai in the 2001 hit series Meteor Garden, actress Barbie Hsu was the complete package, on and off screen.

Taiwan's Barbie Hsu, hugely popular in East Asia, dies of flu

Longtime fans of the series Meteor Garden are in mourning with the passing of the Taiwanese star. At the age of 48, Barbie reportedly succumbed to pneumonia while on a family trip to Japan during the Chinese New Year period.

Barbie was already 25 years old when she gave life to the role of the spunky yet compassionate Shancai onscreen. But even before (and after) playing an iconic character on the first live-action television adaptation of the Japanese manga series Boys Over Flowers, Barbie had already achieved so much in her career which you might not yet know about.

Here are five facts every Barbie Hsu fan should know about the talented star:

1. She was in a pop duo called S.O.S (Sisters of Shu)

Prior to being cast as the female lead in Meteor Garden in 2001, 17-year-old Barbie had already been part of a pop duo originally called S.O.S (renamed to ASOS — All Sisters of Shu — when they changed management) along with her younger sister Dee. Their duo was launched in 1994. To their fans, Barbie is often referred to as “Big S” while Dee is “Little S”.

2. She was a popular TV host in Taiwan

After being launched as a musical artist, Barbie and her sister also delved into the world of hosting. They were co-hosts in a  variety show called Guess Guess Guess, an entertainment news program called 100% Entertainment, a cooking show called Gourmet Secrets of the Stars, and a makeup reality show called Miss Beauty, all broadcasted in Taiwan.

3. She is a published author

Four years after rising in popularity because of Meteor Garden, Barbie released a beauty book under the name Mei Rong Da Wang called “Beauty Queen: Secrets of Beauty Treatment”. Published only in Chinese, this book is where the actress shared her personal beauty advice.

4. She has a hotel in her name

While married to her first husband, he named four-star boutique hotel S Hotel after his wife, after her “Big S” nickname from her pop duo days. The hotel is located at the Songshan district in Taipei, Taiwan and was designed by French designer Philippe Starck. The hotel announced its closure in August 2024.

5. She is a hopeless romantic

Not unlike the rollercoaster romance her character Shancai went through onscreen, Barbie’s love life is also screen worthy, having gone through whirlwind weddings. She first wed Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei in Beijing in 2011 after just 20 days of dating. They were together for 11 years and have two children. Three months after the divorce, she married DJ Koo (Koo Jun-yup) in 2022.

6. She had a life-threatening third pregnancy

Growing up in the public eye, Barbie has always been open about her medical difficulties. She has always felt blessed to have her 10-year old daughter Wang Hsi-yueh and 9-year old son Wang Hsi-lin with her first husband. After getting pregnant last year, Barbie’s condition proved to be life-threatening where she  suffered an epileptic fit caused by a cold when she was just seven weeks on the way. The pregnancy ended up being terminated as it was later found out that no fetal heartbeat was found.

As the world mourns the passing of the beloved Taiwanese star, Barbie’s legacy as a passionate and talented artist will continue to live on in the indelible mark she has made on and off screen with everyone she has touched after all these years.