Stanley Ho’s (何鸿燊) eldest daughter, Florinda Ho (何超云), seemed the most likely candidate for marriage within the family, having been proposed to and expected to marry before her sister. However, Florinda appears in no rush to wed, relishing her current romantic engagement. Since announcing her fiancé, the couple has been openly affectionate, frequently traveling together. As the prospective son-in-law to the casino magnate’s family, her boyfriend, a firefighter recently promoted to captain, attracts considerable attention. Unlike others in the Ho family, who often seek matches within their social circle, her fiancé comes from a more humble background. Despite a brief courtship of only seven months before getting engaged, Florinda evidently enjoys happiness.
Before her sister grew up, Florinda held the title of the family’s most beautiful daughter. As the child of Stanley Ho and his third wife, Ina Chan Un-chan (陈婉珍), she was doted on from a young age, receiving diamond-grade gifts and a mansion worth millions for her 18th birthday. Even when injured and hospitalized, Stanley Ho made an effort to celebrate her birthday with a dinner and a large bouquet of roses.
However, Florinda’s romantic life has been anything but smooth. Rumors linked her with celebrities like Raymond Lam and Pakho Chau, and she was even reported to have secretly dated a schoolmate. Before the recent proposal, she planned to marry the heir to a fur dynasty, Andy, but they broke up after six months. She then entered into a passionate relationship with Joel Chan (陈山聪), who is twelve years her senior. When they met, Chan was a relatively unknown actor playing minor roles on television. Despite the differences in age and social status, such disparities are inconsequential if the relationship is stable and mutually respectful.
However, the relationship started dramatically, particularly for Joel Chan, who was not single at the time but married. He sought a divorce from his designer wife, Ponny, even forcing her to sign divorce papers on Valentine’s Day. Immediately after, he dated Florinda, focusing entirely on his new relationship, leaving the public to wonder whether it was love or financial incentive that motivated him.
Despite facing criticism, Florinda was very public about their relationship, introducing Joel to her father and appearing with him at various events, even vacationing together. During their time together, Florinda seemed to embrace a more relaxed lifestyle, experimenting with bold hairstyles and makeup, and not focusing as much on maintaining her figure.
Despite skepticism, their affectionate displays suggested a strong relationship, and there were even rumors of a successful marriage proposal. However, in 2013, Florinda suddenly hinted at their breakup on social media with a post that read “love=money”.
Post-breakup, speculation abounded about their separation’s cause. Some suggested domestic abuse over financial disagreements, while others believed Florinda’s financial assistance in settling Chan’s debts led to her exhaustion. Money seemed a constant issue, with rumors post-breakup that Chan sought a significant settlement, suggesting financial motives behind their split.
This relationship may have truly hurt Florinda. Since then, she has rarely updated her social media or been involved in romantic rumors. Apart from being spotted with a senior executive two years ago, her life has largely retreated from the public eye.
Instead of succumbing to emotional setbacks, Florinda has thrown herself into fitness, visibly slimming down and even adopting a cat, showcasing a resilience that defines her journey from a casino tycoon’s daughter to a woman of strength and independence.
