Why Anna Shay is the true star of Netflix’s Bling Empire: she’s classy, down to earth and generous – gifting co-stars Kelly Mi Li and Kevin Kreider a Boucheron ring and Dior shopping spree

Jan 29 , 2021

In a reality TV show filled with trendy, moneyed millennials, 60-year-old Anna Shay is the unexpected breakout star of Bling Empire. Photo: @annashay93/Instagram

Move over Kane Lim, Christine Chiu and Jaime Xie – when it comes to the hit KUWTK meets Crazy Rich Asians reality TV series, we only have props for the 60-year-old millionaire heiress

We’ve finished watching Bling Empire, Netflix’s newest binge-worthy reality series, and our mind is made up: Anna Shay is who we want to be.

Forget her rich millennial co-stars with their shaman readings and champagne brunches – we want to inherit a billion-dollar company, pretend to be an air hostess on our private jet to Paris, let it all hang out while a Dior rep dresses us, and take a sledgehammer to our wardrobe shelves.

We all want to do it like Anna Shay. Tell me I’m wrong.

Anna Shay on Netflix’s Bling Empire. Photo: Netflix

Here are four reasons why the millionaire matriarch is the real MVP of Bling Empire.

She’s loyal (and generous) to her friends

In just eight episodes of Bling Empire’s first season, audiences witnessed Shay’s tremendous generosity on at least three occasions.

In the first episode, Shay organises a surprise trip to Paris for Kelly Mi Li’s birthday. She takes Mi Li and then-boyfriend Andrew Gray on a private jet, treats the birthday girl to a lunch at Maison du Caviar, and gifts her a luxurious friendship ring.

The ring is from Boucheron’s Quatre Radiant collection, set with pavé diamonds in pink gold. The price? We estimate about US$7,100.

Another birthday bash is arranged for her French BFF Florent Bonadei, during which she presented him with a gift of diamonds.