Stephanie Zubiri-Crespi (The Philippines)

Food, lifestyle, and travel journalist Stephanie Zubiri-Crespi is the youngest daughter of the current governor of Bukidnon Province, Jose Ma Zubiri Jnr. She founded catering business Epicurus in 2009 and Mediterranean Filipino restaurant Atelier 317 in Makati in 2012. Her column in the Philippine Star, “Feast With Me,” has been running for more than six years. She hosts two TV shows, one of which, Modern Living TV, is on its 6^th season. Stephanie married Jonathan Crespi, president of Europ Continents, the Philippine distributor of French coffee brand Malongo. They have two sons. She has degrees in history and geography from the University of Paris IV-Sorbonne.

Top by Tory Burch; trousers by Burberry; earrings by Chopard; Bracelet and rings, Stephanie’s own | Shot at the grand canal entrance to T Fondaco Dei Tedeschi by DFS 

Melissa Zuo (Mainland China)

Melissa Zuo spent her formative years in Canada, where she graduated from the University of Toronto before returning to Mainland China to join her family’s business, the property conglomerate China Tian Yuan Group. In 2015, combining her passion for art and film, she founded Tian Yuan Culture and Media Communications to produce and distribute films, television content, and music. She is currently working on producing her first film, which is being shot in London. Melissa supports a number of philanthropic causes, including the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation and charities that help children and the underprivileged in remote regions of China. 

Dress by Valentino; earrings, ring and watch by Chopard | Shot on the balcony of T Fondaco Dei Tedeschi by DFS 

Valerie Chow (Hong Kong)

Valerie Chow is the founder of Mama Kid, a store specialising in designer clothes, footwear, and accessories for children. She had a successful career as a model and actor before creating the brand, starring in more than 30 film and TV projects, most memorably Wong Kar-wai’s acclaimed Chungking Express, which earned her a nomination for Best Supporting Actress at the Hong Kong Film Awards in 1995. Valerie left the city in 1997 after gaining a law degree from the University of Hong Kong to pursue her career in Hollywood, where she became the first Chinese spokesmodel for Revlon. She returned home in 2000 to join Lane Crawford, leaving the brand a decade later as vice-president of marketing. 

Dress and booties by Christian Dior; earrings by APM Monaco

Christina Lim (Indonesia)

High-flying Christina Lim, the holder of a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern California, has been the head of investor relations at Bumitama Agri, an oil palm plantation company, since 2012 and is the president commissioner of Harita Securities. She was a member of the discipline committee of the Indonesia Stock Exchange from 2004 to 2009. 

Blouse, bow, skirt, and heels all by Gucci

Zaida Ibrahim (Malaysia)

The youngest child of former politician and diplomat Ibrahim Saad and his wife Zainab Abdul Kader, Zaida Ibrahim has had two of the busiest years of her life. Last year she married her beau, Arif Zikri Azizi, in a lavish ceremony in Bali, and in April 2015 she launched her own business—a cold-pressed juice brand called Impressed. Zaida has always been a health and fitness buff and she hopes to encourage more Malaysians to adopt healthier habits. She’s also a director at construction company Citra Gigih and is set to launch a beauty business later in the year. 

Gown by Fendi; earrings by Chopard

Ho Ching Lin (Singapore)

Ho Ching Lin is a sought-after ophthalmologist at the Singapore National Eye Centre, where she is a senior consultant and head of glaucoma services. A mother of one, she is also chairwoman of the organising committee for the Eye Ball hosted annually by the Singapore Eye Research Institute. Ching Lin has received numerous accolades for her achievements, including the Parmigiani Fleurier Woman of Exception award in the science category in 2013. When she’s not restoring sight, she can be found coiled in complicated yoga poses or enjoying a spot of dim sum. 

Top, skirt, and fur scarf by Fendi; heels by Jimmy Choo; ring by Tiffany & Co | Shot at T Fondaco Dei Tedeschi by DFS

Patty Tsai (Taiwan)

Patty Tsai is the daughter of Lu Fong Tsai and Jane Tsai, founders of the Red Bean Dining Group, one of the biggest Shanghai restaurant chains in Taiwan. Patty is also the wife of Sean Lien, the eldest son of Lien Chan, a former vice-president of Taiwan. She moved to Canada when she was 14. After graduating from McGill University, she headed to the US to gain a master’s degree in biology and medicine from Brown University. Patty has been a leading supporter of Estée Lauder’s Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign for several years. She is also a columnist for TVBS Weekly and Taiwan Tatler.

Jumpsuit and belt by Elie Saab; heels by Jimmy Choo 

Vatanika Patamasingh na Ayudhya (Thailand)

Fashion designer Vatanika Patamasingh na Ayudhya graduated from Central Saint Martins and London College of Fashion before launching her eponymous label, Vatanika, in 2011. She artfully plays with luxurious fabrics and feminine silhouettes, and her label is known for its outstanding prints. The style influencer, who divides her time between the UK and Thailand, has 215,000 followers on her personal Instagram. 

Top, skirt, and belt by Ralph Lauren; heels by Versace 

Read more about this year’s Asia’s Most Stylish in the January 2017 edition of Philippine Tatler. Available in all leading newsstands and bookstores. Download it on your digital device via Zinio, Magzter, and Pressreader