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With just a few more days before this year's Star Awards, fans have been going all out to ensure their idols bring home a trophy on July 6.

Of the 165 nominees for the Top 10 Most Popular Artistes and Most Popular Rising Star awards,  there are a few who are pretty much shoo-ins. Hello Carrie Wong, Romeo Tan, Ayden Sng, and Chantalle Ng!

Then there are those who have been waiting for years but have gone home empty-handed every single time?

Can this year be their year?

Dawn Yeoh 

She was one of Mediacorp's Seven Princesses but unlike her peers has never won a popularity award. But it may all change this year thanks to her breakout role as the annoying Kang Si Li in Mediacorp blockbusterEmerald Hill. While the drama is not in contention this year, its cast is surely riding on the Emerald Hill popularity wave.

Dawn, 39, was up for Best Newcomer in 2006 and Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes in 2007, 2009, 2019 and 2021, but did not manage to clinch any of those awards.

"I would be lying if I said I didn't feel dejected. I’m only human and it hasn’t been just a few years or a handful of times, it has been an epic 20-year wait. But I’m just doing what I like, and that's to be an actor," she tells 8days.sg. 

Does she think her odds of winning has increased because of Emerald Hill though? 

"Yes definitely. It’s kind of strange and ironic but people actually like my role in Emerald Hill, even though I was one of the villains," she says.

"I’m hopeful but also keeping things in perspective. My primary focus is still on my acting and honing the craft".

Is that why she hasn’t done much to help herself canvass for votes until now?

"But as the Awards drew closer, I felt it was time to at least make one call-out for myself. I finally posted something on my socials, hoping it might help me garner some support and votes," she laughs.

When asked how she would thank her fans if she makes it, Dawn says: "There will definitely be lots of celebrations, and maybe it’s time I start considering setting up a proper official fan club this time? I want to be able to reward and take care of my fans who’ve stood by me through everything," she shares.

Photos: Dawn Yeoh/Instagram

Richard Low

This may be out of personal bias but if there’s anyone this writer really wants to see on stage, it's the one and onlyLimpeh.

After all, Richard, who has been acting since 1986, has been in the running for the Top 10 award since 1997. He is also the actor who’s been nominated the most number of times — 17, mind you — without a win.

In fact, the actor has waited for so long, that he has learnt to take things in stride.

"I just celebrated my 73th birthday, so my frame of mind is to just do my job well and go with the flow," he says.

"I’ve been nominated for the Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes so many times that I don’t want to appeal to the audience to vote for me anymore. We shall let nature take its course," he says.

Photo: Mediacorp

Tyler Ten

Since entering showbiz as a Star Search contestant in 2019, the 29-year-old has seen his career thrive. It's his third time vying for the Most Popular Rising Star award and also the last time he's eligible for the category. Next year, he's moving on to fight with the big boys to be one of the Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes.  So is Tyler, who's also nominated for Best Rising Star this year and is enjoying a surge in popularity thanks to his role as lovable gangster Bai Ah Li in Emerald Hill, going all out with his guns blazing? Surprisingly no.. 

"So far, I’ve just been posting the steps to vote. I don’t believe in overdoing it. I trust the journey, fate, and the people who’ve supported me from the start," he says. 

He also shares that while there was a bit of disappointment in the past when he went home emptyhanded, he's "come to see it as part of the journey". "I believe my time will come when the moment is right," he says.

If he does win this year, he would treat his supporters to a meal. 

"A small gathering just to say thank you in person. It means a lot to have their support, and I want to show that," he says.

Now that we’re putting this out there, will his fans see it as motivation to vote more?

Photos: Tyler Ten/Instagram

Andie Chen

When it comes to going home empty-handed at the Star Awards, no one is more familiar with that than Andie Chen.

The 39-year-old hasn’t won a single Star Award in his 27-year acting career. The Star Search 2007 champ was even nominated for Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor and Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes in the same year, not once, but twice (in 2017 and 2024) and still went home without a trophy.

This year, he’s again in the running for three awards — Best Actor, Top 10 Most Popular Male Artistes as well as BYD Favourite Male Character — though he admits he "doesn't harbour much hopes of winning". 

He sounded almost resigned to his fate when we reached out to the four-time Best Actor nominee over the phone.

"I'm not sure if I’m the best person to ask regarding the Top 10 award because I don’t do anything," he says monotonously. 

"Basically, I think maybe this game is more suitable for other artistes but for me I just try to focus on doing every role to the best of my capabilities. The rest I don’t really get myself involved in it that much." Someone throw Andie a bone, please! Photos: Andie Chen/Instagram

Apple Hong

Not winning is one thing but can you believe the 46-year-old former Mediacorp actress has never even been in the running for Top 10 until this year?

So much so that Apple, who was a Star Search 1999 finalist, admitted she was "honestly very surprised" when she was informed about the news.

The Malaysian-born actress tells 8days.sg us that she did feel disappointed in the past and even wondered if she simply wasn’t "good enough". 

"This nomination feels like a reminder that no effort is ever wasted," she says. "I’m deeply grateful for this moment.⁠"

Despite this being her first nomination, Apple says she hasn’t done anything particularly special to garner votes except for sharing a few heartfelt posts to express her gratitude. 

"With two weeks left, I’m still figuring out a gentle and sincere way to encourage everyone to keep voting. I guess I feel a little paiseh asking for votes (laughs). But I’m truly touched by all the love and support I’ve received so far," she adds. 

Like Dawn, Apple is also thinking of finally starting a fan club if she gets to bring home a trophy.

"A few fans have asked if they could start a fan club for me, but I always politely say no. Sometimes I wonder if I made the wrong decision. If I’m blessed enough to win this time… I think it’s finally time to say yes," she laughs.

Photos: Apple Hong/Instagram

Huang Shinan

This is his 41th year in showbiz and also Shinan’s first time in the running for Top 10.

The news was so surprising to the 64-year-old ex-Mediacorp star, he thought it was a scam. 

"Initially someone called me and told me I was nominated for some award and asked me to email them a photo. I ignored them 'cos I thought it was a scam," he says.

And he still couldn’t believe it even after receiving a WhatsApp message from his wife, Mediacorp actress Pan Lingling. 

"I called her saying: ‘Hahaha, you must be kidding right'," he says. 

Lingling then told Shinan to go online and check it for himself, and he admits he was "stunned and happy for a really long time" after seeing his name on the list.

His experience with the Star Awards, he says, is only limited to asking his friends and family to vote for Lingling every year.

"This is the first time I'm asking them to include me while they’re voting for my wife. I have also posted on Instagram, Facebook and asked some of my fans to vote for us," he laughs.  Shinan says that for some of his colleagues, getting the chance to go on stage may be a very common occurrence, but it's a very rare and precious opportunity for him. 

"I really cherish this chance and I dream to one day stand on the Star Awards stage with my wife," says Shinan. 

He, however, thinks his chances are slim given the sheer number of nominees this year.

Photo: Baike

Fans can vote for the stars here before the polls close on July 6. Catch the Backstage LIVE event of Star Awards 2025 from 3.30pm - 10.30pm on mewatch or Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube Channel on July 6 (Sunday).

The Walk Of Fame will be from 5pm - 6.30pm, on mewatch, Ch 8, Ch U, and Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube Channel on the same day.

It will be followed by the Star Awards 2025 Live Show from 7pm - 10pm on mewatch, Ch 8, Ch U, and Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube Channel.

The night will end off with the Post-Party from 10pm – 1030pm on mewatch, Ch U, and Mediacorp Entertainment YouTube Channel.

Catch Star Awards 2024 on mewatch or in the video below: