A Barbie pink ribbon on her head with two pigtails, heavy makeup on her face, a blue tank top and extremely exaggerated facial expressions, she is in no way a good-looking presenter, but the aberrant style has made her China’s Fitness Queen.

When the exercise video featuring the quirky-looking Nancy Pon hit the road in early June in 2011, it became an overnight Internet sensation. And suddenly the 41-year-old Chinese Canadian, general manager of Touch Events, a subsidiary she created with the Shanghai-based media company Touchmedia, found herself bombarded with interviews.

Despite the overnight popularity Nancy gained, her path to success was not smooth. Born and bred in Canada, Nancy found her roots in China. Majored in engineering in college, she changed her career direction to art and marketing. Once shy and insecure, she acted crazily in the in-taxi health campaign video. She was lost between cultures but now has found the authentic and true self.

Nancy went for the video not for fame. Her sick brother’s autoimmune system problem makes her realize the importance of exercise and health. Not only did she try to keep a healthier life with more sleep and exercise, but she decided to promote a health campaign for the Chinese.

“In China, I see everybody is working so hard, forgetting their health, something that’s worth protecting,” said Nancy.

Nancy and her team approached the idea from a different perspective. They made use of the in-tax screens to target China’s white-collars in the top five cities, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Hangzhou.

“When it comes to what our team can do. The idea of exercise videos came to us. We want to make them short and simple, and more importantly, fun,then people will be attracted in the taxi and follow along. It makes sense. So we call it ‘WOW, make out on wheel’,” Nancy said.

Being the leader of the team and the promoter of the idea, Nancy was put in front of the camera. Unlike other decision-makers who would rather sit behind the desk, Nancy stepped forward. And that made her different. “But from the Chinese perspective, the fact that the general manager is willing to dress and act ridiculous for people’shealth is courageous. After all, if a leader doesn’t lead by example, who will follow?” Nancy said.

Nancy wasn't born to be a presenter. When she was young, she was actually veryshy and always felt insecure and. For many years, she couldn’t even look at herself in the mirror. She tried out for the volleyball team, only to make herself embarrassed, because she couldn’t even touch the ball. “I looked at the woman in the video and I’m amazed, that the young girl who couldn't even look at herself 30 years ago eventually becomes a different person,” Nancy said.

When Nancy graduated from engineering school,she was veryexcited because she had worked so hard to get this. She got into engineering because her parents told her it would provide a stable life. But after four years at school and two years of working, she started to feel her spirit worn out. She had kept telling herself engineering was so good and she worked so hard to finally get what everyonewas eager to have.

“Would I be out of my mind to throw it all away and start all over again?” For months, she stared at the wall at her office. Overwhelmed by the emptiness, she somehow found the courage to change her path, out of engineering and in to art instead.

“My way out of the life prescribed by others was my way into the life I chose for myself. Within two years, I held first solo watercolor exhibition as an artist. And I sold 30 pieces out of 33,” Nancy smiled.

Her dream to become an artist was fulfilled, but as a CBC (Canadian-Born-Chinese), she has always wanted to come back to her motherland. She had a perfect life in Canada, and coming back meant throwing everything away.

“I remember there was an old woman who sat by me on the plane to China. I didn’t talk to her at all, because I was too busy crying. I was giving up everything, my life, my car, my weekend, and my family. I didn't know anyone. I even didn't know Chinese,” Nancy recalled.

But finally She survived and got recognition by this land. Nancy has held three solo watercolor exhibitions in China up till now. In the most recent “Shanghai Treasure” exhibition, the artworks are vivid presentations of the old streets of Shanghai, from laundry hanging on strings to dry, to fruit stands, old lanes and mailboxes.

“The local residents totally overlook these things, because that’s their daily life. But for me, an outsider, I appreciate them. Just like residents in Jiuzhaigou don’t know why tourists are flooding in. We don't realize it is treasures in our daily life until it is past and it is gone. It brings attention to the daily things in our life that we take for granted,”Nancy explained.

When pursuing art, Nancy was also trying to figure out what would be her new career path. Engineering was certainly out of the question. However, after her participation in the Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai, she decided to try marketing, which wasn’t easy at all.

Whenshe left the Tennis Masters Cup Shanghai, Nancy started her own boutique event company. She never expected it to be so hard. She had to work from 6 am to midnight every day, making no money at all and doing everything by herself. Apart from the workload, she took on huge responsibility. Clients were coming because of Nancy, but it was just too much.

Later, she met with Micky Fung, founder of Touchmedia, which was still young. So they created the subsidiary, Touch Events,with Nancybeing the general manager. Thanks to the huge support from the parent company, Nancy made it, with threeaward-winning public campaigns.

“People might see a different path on me. You don’t have to get married at 27. You don't have to take a job because everybody says it is good. My life is zigzagging along. Yet that’s who I am,” said Nancy.

Nancy had worked hard to get what she deserved. Now, what she wants the most is a simple life.

Nancy met her husband from work. With enough exposure of her work already, Nancy prefers to keep her personal life private. Most of her family members are in Canada and America. They may not see each other often, but Nancy always squeezes time for family reunions at Thanksgiving and Christmas.

“My life now is simple. I make sure of three things: I have enough time with my husband; I have time for meals and exercise. When I am super busy, I would skip exercise, but I always spend time with my husband,” said Nancy, whose life path winds to family now.