Former SIA Cabin Crew Turns Fishmonger to Revive Ex-Boyfriend’s Failing Seafood Business

A former Singapore Airlines cabin crew member has rebuilt her life and business after a painful breakup left her struggling to keep a seafood wholesale company afloat. Amber Tan, 35, now runs Pao Ge Seafood alone at Jurong Fishery Port after starting the business in 2023 with her ex-boyfriend. The pair met while she was working as a model after leaving SIA in 2019.

Tan said she trusted her then-partner when he told her he knew business well. She invested her life savings of $170,000 into the venture, while he contributed $60,000. At the time, she had originally intended to use the money to buy a house. But the company quickly ran into problems as her ex-boyfriend failed to keep up with supplier payments and operating costs, leaving her to shoulder much of the burden.

During this difficult period, Tan became pregnant and later stopped adding money into the business at five months, hoping to save for her child. She said her partner became disengaged, even dropping her off at the fishery port before going gambling. By 2025, the business was close to collapse, and their relationship had also fallen apart after repeated cheating, according to reports.

After the breakup, Tan said her ex-boyfriend left suppliers unpaid, forcing her to deal with the outstanding debts because the company was under her name. She also went through postpartum depression after giving birth to her daughter, but said she remained determined to keep the business alive. In December last year, the company account reportedly had only $300 left, and she briefly thought about giving up. Instead, she decided to continue, believing she could not recover her $170,000 if she walked away.

To save the business, Tan poured more of her savings into settling supplier bills and keeping seafood shipments moving. She also worked part-time at a wet market for two months to learn how to handle fish properly. Today, she manages seafood sorting, online orders, and livestream sales, using social media to reach a wider customer base. She also makes deliveries herself, even carrying loads of more than 10kg when needed to cut transport costs.

Tan said she dismissed her hired employee and began going to the fishery port herself to reduce expenses, a move she believes helped prevent the company from closing. Along the way, she said she received encouragement from workers at the port, many of whom initially seemed surprised to see a young woman working in the male-dominated environment. Over time, she said, some vendors offered support and kindness once they learned her story.

Now, Tan hopes her experience will encourage others facing hardship to keep going. She said she wants the wet market trade to continue thriving, describing it as honest work built on skill, care, and perseverance. Above all, she hopes her journey reminds people to love themselves, believe in a better future, and keep going because, as she said, there is always light at the end of the tunnel.