Chat with Brixton Jeou
24 July 2025 - Brixton Jeou being presented his Outstanding Tourist Guide Award from STB CE Melissa Ow
A Guide with Glamour: How One TATGIF Winner Is Turning Journeys into Transformations
There are career pivots, and then there are reinventions that feel almost cinematic. At this year’s TATGIF 2025 Awards, one winner caught everyone’s attention—not only for clinching the spotlight but for the way he has effortlessly woven wellness, heritage, and storytelling into the fabric of tourism.
He’s no stranger to change. From educator in the spa and wellness world, to distributor of orthodontic devices, and now to licensed tourist guide, his path has been anything but ordinary. And yet, every chapter has had a single through-line: a deep devotion to beauty, longevity, and connection.
Leading with Rituals and Radiance
Before every tour, he whispers an affirmation to himself: “I represent my country, my company, and myself with pride. Today, I will give my very best—and in return, I will receive the best.” Then comes the deep breath, the smile, and the step into a new day of guiding.
It’s a mantra that feels as much like a runway walk as it does a professional promise. For him, passion and positivity aren’t accessories — they are essentials.
Discovering Universal Desires
What excites him most about winning isn’t the trophy itself but the discovery that no matter where travelers come from, they all share the same longings: health, beauty, and well-being. His proudest achievement? Seamlessly blending these desires into unforgettable experiences that don’t just showcase Singapore, but transform the way visitors see themselves and the world.
“Nothing fulfills me more than connecting people, cultures, and well-being,” he says, with a grace that makes the sentiment feel both grounded and aspirational.
The Teachers Who Shaped Him
Brixton and his Lecturers from SCCIOB
When asked which icon he’d like to dine with, his answer wasn’t a celebrity CEO or an industry mogul. Instead, he imagines gathering all his lecturers from the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce Institute of Business. Their patience, passion, and guidance shaped his career shift—and in true Vogue style, he dreams of honoring them with an intimate, heartfelt dinner.
A Pandemic Pivot
Ironically, what first drew him into guiding wasn’t tourism at all, but dentistry. As a distributor of orthodontic devices, he often hosted overseas dentists, but his lack of local tourism knowledge was a challenge. Then the pandemic struck — and he enrolled in a tourist guide course. What began as an attempt to “fill a gap” became the birth of a new calling, one that marries his business sensibility with the cultural depth of Singapore.
Play as Work, Work as Play
He doesn’t draw hard lines between work and play. “Every conversation becomes an adventure,” he says, describing how guiding has become both profession and joy.
Off-duty, his passion takes a new form: storytelling through video. A self-taught creator, he picked up a camera only months ago and began filming slices of Singapore with fresh eyes. Today, his channel — SGBrixWorld on YouTube
— is a growing archive of vibrant visuals, weaving together his love for travel, culture, and the magic of the everyday.
“It’s thrilling and humbling all at once,” he admits. “There’s so much to learn, but it feels like another way of guiding — this time, through the lens.”
Style Lessons from Two Cats
The best advice he’s received doesn’t come from a mentor but from his two feline companions, Singa and Saga. They glide through life with elegance, fearlessness, and poise. Their lesson? Own your space, embrace chaos, and always land on your feet. Advice as chic as it is timeless.
A Moment in the Sun
His most cherished memory isn’t tied to a landmark, but to a golden afternoon on the grass outside Victoria Concert Hall with a delegation of Ethiopian mayors. The formalities ended early, and instead of filling the schedule, he suggested simply sitting, talking, and letting the evening light wash over them.
What followed was an exchange of stories, laughter, and kinship that carried into dinner, transforming professional distance into genuine friendship. By the end of the night, they invited him to Ethiopia—not as a guide, but as their guest.
Toasting to Tomorrow
Does he have a pre-award ritual? Not exactly. But in Vogue-worthy fashion, he turns everyday meals into celebrations—raising his glass, even if it’s just sparkling water, to toast future victories as if they’re already here. Life, he insists, is too short not to sip the champagne before the trophy arrives.
Heritage as the Next Frontier
Looking forward, he is reconnecting with his Hainanese roots. Partnering with communities in Hainan, he is curating cultural and culinary journeys that celebrate heritage in fresh, immersive ways. Through YouTube and Xiaohongshu, he’s transforming wet markets, ancestral kitchens, and time-honored recipes into digital experiences that make tradition stylish, accessible, and utterly contemporary.
This is not just the story of a newcomer; it’s the story of a guide who understands that tourism, at its best, is a performance of elegance, empathy, and authenticity. And in his hands, every journey feels like a page torn from a Vogue editorial — vibrant, transformative, and unforgettable.
