At the 60th Golden Bell Awards in 2025, Taiwanese television host, actress, and singer Dee Hsu (Little S) made an emotional and highly symbolic return to the public eye. After an eight-month hiatus following the death of her sister Barbie Hsu (Big S) in February, she appeared at the ceremony and won the Best Host in a Variety Show alongside her co-host Patrick Liu for their program Dee Girls Talk. The jury described their win as “overwhelmingly decisive”, emphasizing that the award recognized professional merit, not sympathy for her family’s loss.
This marked Dee Hsu’s first public appearance since her sister’s passing. She skipped the red carpet, letting her production team represent her there, and appeared directly on stage for the ceremony. Behind the scenes, she was described as relaxed and natural, even without makeup, “just like a child,” said one observer.
The evening was filled with tributes to her sister. Around her neck, Dee Hsu wore a necklace designed by her brother-in-law DJ Koo, containing a small portion of Barbie Hsu’s ashes. “I wear it when I miss her, so she can be with me for important moments,” she said. On the back of her neck, she had a tattoo of the character “媛,” Barbie Hsu’s given name, written in her own handwriting and inked by her close friend Mavis Fan.
During the ceremony, host Kevin Tsai, her longtime partner from Kangsi Coming, asked what she would say to her sister if she hadn’t won. Instead of answering, Dee Hsu softly sang Sisters of Shiu, a song written by Barbie Hsu, with the lyrics, “The road ahead may be hard, but we’ll never look back.” Fighting tears, she then said, “Sis, life without you is so hard, but I’ll keep moving forward. I love you.” She later dedicated her trophy to their mother, saying, “Mom told me that if I win, it might fill the hole in her heart left by my sister’s passing.” She asked for the award to be placed next to Barbie Hsu’s photo at home.
Throughout the night, Kevin Tsai stood by her side, both literally and emotionally. He admitted he attended mainly to support her, holding her hand backstage to help her stay composed. Dee Hsu said, “Without Kevin, I might not have had the courage to come. He and my sister give me strength.” The duo reunited as the final presenters of the evening, reviving their legendary chemistry from Kangsi Coming ten years after the show ended. Tsai opened with the line, “Growing up means learning to face loss,” setting the tone for a heartfelt moment that brought many viewers to tears.
However, her return was not without controversy. Some accused her of exploiting her sister’s death for publicity, while supporters countered that the show itself had been one of Barbie Hsu’s final wishes and that mourning publicly is a deeply human act. Questions also arose about her eligibility for the award, as she had been temporarily replaced by another host during her leave, but the producers submitted all three names together, sparking debate within the industry.
Beyond the awards, Dee Hsu’s family continues to heal. DJ Koo visits Barbie Hsu’s grave daily and paints portraits of her; Dee Hsu plans to hold an exhibition of his artwork. The family gathers every Saturday for dinner to keep their bond strong. Looking ahead, Dee Hsu has announced plans to return to work after the New Year, though she admitted, “It’ll be my first New Year without my sister, I don’t know how to face it.” Producers hinted that if the audience’s response to her reunion with Kevin Tsai remains strong, her full return to television could come sooner.
Online reactions are mixed, with some of the comments below:
“Barbie Hsu and Dee Hsu seem to have become one person.”
“Her face has changed, she looks calmer, more mature. Little S used to be like a little girl. But after Big S passed away, it’s like Little S suddenly grew up overnight.”
“It’s as if they’re living as one person now, maybe that’s a kind of continuation too.”
“Little S’s Golden Bell Awards look was really special. Her necklace design was full of family warmth.”
“There’s no need to commemorate someone so openly. Just keep them in your heart. She’s in heaven now, why still use her memory to get attention?”
“So dramatic! No one in the world is as dramatic as Little S.”
“I can understand the tattoo, but not the ashes. The person’s gone, can’t their ashes rest in peace? Why scatter them everywhere just to remember her? There are so many other ways to remember someone.”
“The whole family really loves tattoos.”
“Every time she appears, she has to mention her sister. Without using her sister’s name, she gets no attention.”
“She’s used all her lifetime connections for this. People gave her the award out of respect for Big S. She hoped winning it would help her keep host jobs, but even with the award, it’s hard for her to become popular again. Maybe this award is her graceful retirement.”
“She probably bears a lot of responsibility for her sister’s passing.”
“I feel like crying. If Big S were still here, how happy they’d be together.”
“This is the ultimate bad ending aesthetic.”
