Maggie Yu Miao, a former TV actress from Hong Kong, has traded her glamorous career for a quieter, more stable life in Mainland China. She left the entertainment world in 2023. Since then, she has been working as a waitress in Dongguan, a city in southern China, according to a report by The Star.

Life in Dongguan

Now 37, Yu shares updates from her new life on social media. In one of her recent videos, she showed herself chopping watermelons at work. She said she earned 150 yuan that day after slicing 30 watermelons. On another day, she made 180 yuan by setting up tables.

She even posted a message from someone offering her a movie role. The message read, “We have a role here, 500 yuan a day. Do you want it?” Yu replied, “I’m in Dongguan now and have some fame here. I’ll consider it first. 500 yuan … should I go to Hong Kong to film a movie or stay here and work?”

Preferring Stability Over Fame

Yu explained that she gave up acting because she prefers a more predictable and secure lifestyle. Working in a restaurant gives her a steady income and a sense of control.

She said, “I’m in Dongguan every day, and it’s very fulfilling. I earn money daily.” She added, “Life in Dongguan is fulfilling! Working here today, somewhere else tomorrow — there’s always income. Acting, on the other hand, feels uncertain. Sometimes you wait six months or a year just for a single role. In Dongguan, I feel like hard work pays off, so I’ll keep going.”

Her Career Before the Change

Yu started her entertainment career after becoming a finalist in the Miss China International Pageant. She joined Hong Kong’s TVB network in 2012. Viewers recognized her from popular drama series like Ghost of Relativity and My Lover From The Planet Meow.

Now, however, she seems content with her current path. Though the job is simple, Yu finds joy and meaning in her daily routine, choosing peace and stability over fame and uncertainty.