‘The man who defied ageing’: Singapore photographer Chuando Tan’s 60th birthday pics leave internet stunned

Singaporean fashion photographer and former model Chuando Tan has turned 60, but the internet is once again struggling to believe it.

The Singapore-based creative celebrated the milestone on March 3 with a series of photos on Instagram, posing with 60 balloons, and quickly sent social media into a frenzy. Within hours, the post racked up over 1.5 million likes, with thousands of users expressing disbelief at how youthful he looks.

Tan paired the birthday pictures with a reflective caption about time and ageing.

“Today, on my 60th birthday, I am reminded that time is the only real wealth. Each sunrise arrives as an inheritance, not a guarantee. I am grateful to stand on this Earth still. The wiser path now is simple: return daily to nature and sunlight, and align myself with what endures. I wish for peace on earth,” he wrote.

But while the message was philosophical, the internet was busy reacting to his appearance.

“60 and looking 35! Truly remarkable,” one user commented.

Another joked, “I know he’s a vampire, but I can’t just prove it.”

A third wrote, “SIXTY?!! Are we talking in human years or elf years?”

Someone else chimed in: "The man who defied aging".

Tan first went viral in 2017, when photos from his Instagram account began circulating widely online. At the time he was 51, but his sharply defined physique and youthful features stunned viewers worldwide and made him a social media sensation.

Before his internet fame, Tan had already spent decades in the fashion industry. He started out as a model in the 1980s, later briefly pursued music as a pop singer in the 1990s, and eventually transitioned into photography, co-founding the creative studio Chuando & Frey.

Over the years, he has photographed celebrities including Janet Jackson, Rita Ora and Shu Qi. The global fascination with his appearance has also led to constant questions about his lifestyle and routine. Tan has consistently said there is no miracle formula, crediting a disciplined lifestyle instead. In past interviews, he estimated that diet accounts for around 70 per cent of physical and mental wellbeing, with exercise making up the rest.His typical routine includes protein-rich meals, hydration and regular workouts. Breakfast often consists of protein shakes or oatmeal with eggs, honey and avocado, while lunch and dinner usually feature steamed or grilled chicken or fish with broth and rice.He also follows a strict sleep schedule: going to bed by 11 pm, avoids alcohol, smoking, coffee and sugary drinks, and works out three to five times a week with a mix of strength training, cardio and swimming.“The activities you do during the day should equal the calories you burn, and the food you eat equals the calories you put in your body,” Tan previously explained while describing his balanced approach to health.Despite his seemingly ageless appearance, Tan has acknowledged that ageing is inevitable. “I do feel the pressure. Deep inside I know I’m not that young. I’m ageing,” he said in a previous interview, adding that he does not want to create the impression that he is “forever young”.Still, his latest birthday photos prove that the internet remains fascinated, and perhaps a little bewildered, by the man many fans insist doesn’t seem to age at all.