Angela Leong, the mother-in-law of supermodel Ming Xi, expressed her gratitude to her daughter-in-law during the couple’s wedding celebration on September 28, thanking her for bringing two adorable grandchildren into the family.
The appreciation banquet of Ming Xi and Mario Ho was held in Macau. The venue was a property belonging to the Ho family and part of the real estate portfolio owned by Mario’s mother, Angela Leong.
Around 500 guests attended the celebration, including celebrities such as Huang Xiaoming, Joe Chen and her husband, Leo Ku, Yuan Hong and Zhang Xinyi, and Jin Sha.
During the wedding, Angela Leong delivered a speech in Cantonese filled with affectionate words for her daughter-in-law. She praised Ming Xi’s character, particularly describing her as “kind and outstanding.” Leong thanked her for taking the initiative to become part of the large Ho family and for giving the family two adorable grandchildren, a son and a daughter. During her speech, Leong also deliberately switched to Mandarin to call Ming Xi by her nickname, “Xiao Ming,” reflecting the closeness and affection she has for her daughter-in-law.
Upon hearing her mother-in-law’s speech, Ming Xi looked at her husband before the couple smiled at each other.
At the couple’s previous wedding celebration in June, Leong reportedly gave her daughter-in-law a white Australian pearl necklace that had once been gifted to her by her late husband, Stanley Ho, treating it as a treasured keepsake symbolizing their love. She also passed on part of her collection of vintage jewelry to Ming Xi.
On Chinese social media platforms including Weibo, the topic “Mario Ho’s mother thanks Ming Xi” quickly went viral. Many netizens praised Leong as “intelligent and thoughtful” as well as “tactful.” Some, however, speculated that the public display of affection could also be part of a carefully planned public relations strategy by the Ho family to reinforce its family image.
Mario Ho previously revealed that his mother had “thoroughly checked her future daughter-in-law’s background.” According to him, Leong learned more about Ming Xi through friends in Shanghai’s business community and even used a game of mahjong as an opportunity to observe her personality. After seven years together and the arrival of the couple’s children, Leong’s relationship with her daughter-in-law has reportedly grown increasingly close and affectionate.
Mario Ho is the son of late Macau casino tycoon Stanley Ho and businesswoman Angela Leong, who was ranked as Hong Kong’s 24th-richest person with a fortune of $4.2 billion, according to Forbes figures cited in the report. Known for his talent in mathematics, Mario twice won first prize in Hong Kong mathematics competitions and also participated in several international contests. At 18, he reportedly received admission offers from both Oxford University in the UK and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), ultimately choosing MIT. He now runs his own business.
Ming Xi is six years older than Mario Ho. Born in Shanghai, she studied fashion design in her hometown and graduated in 2017. She became one of China’s most internationally recognized models, working with luxury brands including Alexander Wang, Balmain, Burberry, Dior, Lanvin and Louis Vuitton, while also becoming a Victoria’s Secret model. She has millions of followers on Instagram.
Sources: Ngoisao