Hong Kong’s former model Connie Ng has become a powerful cautionary tale after her shocking weight dropped to just 22 kilograms — a result of extreme dieting triggered by toxic beauty standards and emotional trauma within her marriage.
According to Global Times, Ng’s story continues to circulate in Hong Kong media as a sobering reminder of the physical and emotional costs of chasing unhealthy ideals of perfection — especially for women trying to marry into wealthy families.
A Dream Marriage That Turned into a Nightmare
Blessed with beauty and intelligence, Connie Ng was once the ideal of many suitors and easily found success as a commercial model. At 16, she met Edwin Kwok, a Harvard-educated heir to Wing On International Holdings. By 21, she had married into a life that resembled a fairy tale — showered with luxury and affection.
But soon after moving in with her husband, things changed. Ng, desperate to please her wealthy in-laws, became obsessed with maintaining her appearance. One offhand comment from her husband during a meal — “You’ve gained weight” — triggered a dangerous spiral.
Life-Threatening Dieting and Physical Collapse
Driven by fear and insecurity, Ng plunged into extreme and improper dieting, leading to anorexia and severe health deterioration. She had to have half her stomach and colon removed and became so frail that she could no longer walk unaided.
Her dreams of studying abroad vanished. Although her husband initially took care of her, his affection waned as Ng’s condition worsened. With her teeth and hair falling out, and her body wasting away, he eventually began an affair. In 2006, he filed for divorce. Ng received an alimony of 42,500 yuan per month.
The emotional and physical shock of the divorce caused her health to deteriorate even further. At one point, she weighed just 22 kg and physically resembled a 70-year-old woman. In 2021, Edwin Kwok terminated the alimony payments, pushing Ng into further hardship.
However, thanks to the medical care and emotional support from her doctor parents, Ng has gradually regained some strength. Although she cannot return to her former beauty and remains dependent on nutritional solutions due to her removed stomach, her condition is no longer life-threatening.
A Message of Healing and Caution
Now living a quieter, more peaceful life, Ng has shared recent photos and messages online.
Though she may never recover her past appearance, her words resonate deeply, “Cherish yourself. Don’t lose yourself trying to meet someone else’s standards or chase unhealthy ideals of beauty.”
Connie Ng’s story is not just a tragedy, but a hard-earned testament to resilience — and a powerful warning against letting self-worth be dictated by others.