In this COLLAR interview, Gao (沈貞巧) and Sumling (李芯駖) say their longtime bond helped the girl group navigate a sudden rise after King Maker 4, and that shared history shaped how they handle new responsibilities.
The two dancers were reunited on stage when the all-female season of the reality show produced an eight-member group called COLLAR, which ViuTV announced officially debuted on Jan. 12. Both women trace their relationship back to teacher and student roles years ago, and they say that history has informed how they work together now.
They spoke with our reporter this month about the arc from independent performers to members of a rising Hong Kong pop act, the pressures of public life, and how they are adapting to new roles inside the group.
COLLAR interview: how a teacher and student reunited
The season finale of King Maker 4 took place on Dec. 25, and both performers left an impression. Gao opened her final performance with crowd interaction and a rare rap section, then closed with a locking solo that became one of the show’s most viewed clips.
Sumling surprised viewers by singing an adapted version of Faye Wong’s classic “Bai Chi”, including a Cantonese section at the end. The decision to rearrange and reword the song was a bold move that matched her longtime aim to push her own limits. Gao finished the competition as runner up, according to the show’s results.
Since the finale, COLLAR has released a second single, “Never-never-land”, and both Gao and Sumling say they have moved past the initial panic that followed their rapid rise.
“I went through a pretty panicked stage at first,” Gao said. “I thought too much at the start, but then I realized I should be myself. I have come out of that struggling period and found the resolve to move forward with them.”
Sumling added, “I am still learning. Whether it is performing, filming, or public speaking, I want to improve. I am getting used to being a public figure, and I know my words and actions affect others, so I try to be better in every way.”
What being in COLLAR changed for them
Both artists describe the past months as an adventure that is exciting and unsettling at times, but they say mutual support has helped steady them. Gao, who was named the group’s leader, said teaching children in her earlier work taught her how to care for others and manage different personalities.
“Teaching kids forced me to think beyond choreography, how to guide parents and how to foster a positive environment,” Gao said. “Those skills helped a lot when I became leader of the group.”
On learning she and Gao were both in the final lineup, Sumling said she immediately thought about who else would be on the team. “When my manager told me I made the group, my first question was, ‘Who are the teammates?’ I wanted to know who I would walk with down the road. Then I thought, ‘If Gao is there, I am happy to be in,'” Sumling said.
Friends, colleagues, and a rare chemistry
Sumling and Gao met in university, and for a time Sumling was Gao’s dance teacher. That history informs how they evaluate each other now. During the interview the pair took turns asking each other how they see the other person.
“You were my teacher once,” Gao said, “and you always gave me a feeling of safety.” Gao said she felt relief knowing Sumling would be on the same path, because that made the new role of leader feel less lonely.
Sumling called Gao “steady and quietly warm”, adding that Gao has learned to protect herself more while remaining generous. “You are slow to warm up, but you are very caring, and you see the good in others,” Sumling said.
Different strengths, same goal
Gao described the pair as complementary. “When you rush in and make quick choices it gives me a fresh perspective,” she said. Sumling said she is more impulsive and improvisational, while Gao tends to observe and build steadily.
Sumling, a professional dancer for more than a decade, said pressure comes more from personal standards than from financial needs. “I do not chase material things. The pressure is internal, because I expect a lot from myself,” she said. That personal drive helped push her to audition for the show after years of working as a background dancer.
Both members said they want to give audiences more than surface-level entertainment. Sumling said she hopes future music videos and stage concepts show stronger art direction so more people can appreciate the artistic side of pop performance.
What they want from COLLAR next
The final question in the interview asked what each hopes to gain from being part of COLLAR. Gao said her priority is courage, and to hold on to the initial passion that drove her to perform.
“I imagine we will have many chances to perform on stage, to sing and dance, and perhaps to try acting or hosting. What I want most is the courage to meet those opportunities and to keep my original intention,” Gao said.
Sumling answered that she seeks a deep sense of satisfaction from performing. “Performance is where I feel most myself. I hope to keep giving the audience something they cannot get elsewhere, and to feel fulfilled doing it,” she said.
Gao and Sumling are still exploring what the next year will bring for COLLAR and for themselves. Their comments in this COLLAR interview underline a common theme, that early friendships and shared training can become an anchor when a sudden spotlight arrives.
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Executive Producer: Angus Mok
Producer: Vicky Wai
Photography: Karl Lam
Videography: Andy Lee, Angus Chau
Styling: Vicky Wai
Make Up: Kineks Ho, Janice Wong
Hair: Vic Lai, Taurus Lee
Video Editor: Andy Lee
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