Smoking is a practice that many people, including celebrities, take part in. Unfortunately, quitting the vice can be difficult for some – unless you have a strong motivation. For legendary Hong Kong singer Maria Cordero (玛俐亚), that motivation was her pet dog.
Maria, known more fondly as Fei Ma (肥妈), has always been open about her life experiences. The 70-year-old has shared a lot of personal stories over the years, using them as a form of advice for her audience. She’s also known to speak up about her health struggles, particularly as an elderly celebrity. A recent video of the star candidly talking about smoking garnered netizens’ attention.
In the video, Maria revealed that she was once a heavy smoker but has quit the habit for over 30 years. She also shared that she once played mahjong with three other people who all smoked but never once felt tempted to pick up the cigarette. The singer then revealed the surprising reason for quitting – her dogs. According to the star, she once tried to kiss her pet dog to show her affection, but the dog avoided her and even tried to run away.
Maria was puzzled by the strong reaction but couldn’t tell what was wrong. However, she then got her answer when she smelled her breath, which worsened because of her smoking and drinking habits. The star even said, “If dogs wouldn’t kiss me, how can I find someone who would?”. The incident prompted her to quit smoking and give away her last carton of cigarettes to her secretary. Maria said that was the last time she smoked and even admitted that it improved her health.
Having your beloved pet avoid you because of your breath is definitely a good wake-up call. We’re glad Maria decided to lead a healthier lifestyle and hope it influences others to do the same.
Watch the video of Maria below:
Sources: HK01
