6 facts about actress Barbie Hsu’s life before her passing at 49

Taiwanese actress Barbie Hsu. Photo from Barbie's Weibo

Barbie’s family confirmed her death at age 49 on Monday through a statement released by her younger sister, Taiwanese host Dee Hsu.

"Thank you for all the concern," Dee stated. "During the Lunar New Year, our entire family traveled to Japan for a holiday, where my dearest and kindest elder sister, Barbie, contracted influenza-related pneumonia and sadly passed away."

"I am grateful to have been her sister in this life, thankful for the mutual care and companionship over the years. I will always hold gratitude and memories of her," Dee added. "Shan [Barbie’s nickname], rest in peace. We love you always. Forever remembered together."

Leaked medical reports revealed that Barbie missed two crucial opportunities for life-saving treatment while in Japan.

According to The Straits Times, here are six critical elements of Barbie’s life, characterized by fame, love, and dramatic twists:

1. Early stardom with SOS

Barbie made her mark in 1994, at the age of 18, as part of the pop duo SOS, alongside her sister Dee Hsu. The group’s name, standing for Sisters Of Shu (an alternative way to write Hsu), led to their stage names: Big S and Little S. They later renamed the group ASOS due to contractual disputes.

The sisters initially captured hearts with their catchy bubblegum love songs, such as "Ten Minutes Of Love," released in 1995. Their music careers eventually took a backseat as their vibrant personalities and wit led them to success in TV hosting.

Barbie also achieved fame through her roles in TV dramas like "Meteor Garden," "Mars," and "Summer’s Desire."

2. Variety show success

The Hsu sisters made significant contributions to the popularity of the Taiwanese entertainment program "100% Entertainment," which aired from 1997 to 2024. They started hosting in 1998, though Barbie exited the show in 2005, followed by Dee in 2006.

3. High-profile relationships

Barbie’s romantic life was highlighted by her relationships with numerous prominent men. She reportedly began dating South Korean musician DJ Koo, who she met on "100% Entertainment," in 1998 and separated in 2000 due to a dating ban from DJ Koo’s management agency.

After DJ Koo, Barbie dated Taiwanese actor Blue Lan, whom she met on the set of "Meteor Garden." They broke up in 2005 after a tumultuous relationship, including a notable incident in 2003 when Barbie left before a live filming of "100% Entertainment" due to a disagreement with her family over Lan, leaving Dee to cry on camera.

Shortly after her relationship with Lan, Barbie dated another "Meteor Garden" co-star, Vic Chou. Their relationship became public when Chou was involved in a car accident, and Barbie rushed to visit him. They parted ways in 2008.

4. Whirlwind marriages

Barbie married Chinese businessman Wang Xiaofei in 2011, just 49 days after their first date. They divorced in Nov. 2021, amid Barbie’s allegations of Wang’s infidelity and physical abuse during her pregnancy.

After her divorce, Barbie reconnected with DJ Koo, who reached out to her upon seeing the news of her divorce. They got married in Feb. 2022, just three months after her divorce.

5. Vegetarian turned advocate

Barbie disclosed during a 2015 episode of the variety talk show "Mr. Con & Ms. Csi" that she became a vegetarian in response to her pet dog’s severe illness, promising to switch diets for its recovery.

The actress maintained her vegetarian diet for over a decade but abandoned it after marrying Wang. She revealed that she struggled to conceive for about three years before her first child was born in 2014, leading her mother-in-law Zhang Lan to pressure her into eating meat, believing she was too thin to have a child.

6. Tattoo enthusiast

In a 2022 Vogue Taiwan video featuring her and DJ Koo, Barbie disclosed that she had 10 tattoos at the time, including one on her left thigh inked by DJ Koo himself. The couple also had their wedding rings tattooed, a task DJ Koo undertook as well. Barbie noted that the thigh tattoo covered a burn mark from years past.

Additionally, they both have tattoos that read "Remember together forever"—Barbie’s is located on her collarbone, while DJ Koo’s is on the side of his neck.