Known for her small frame and voluptuous figure,[2] she was one of the leading sex symbols of Hong Kong cinema in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

During her tenure at ATV, she was approached by Raymond Chow, founder of the film production company Golden Harvest, who offered her a position once her contract ended.

During her training, she was approached by Golden Harvest founder Raymond Chow, who made her an offer to join his company after fulfilling her contract with ATV.

[10][11]: 36 After making brief appearances in Miracles (1989) and The Inspector Wears Skirts 2 (神勇飛虎霸王花, 1989), Yip scored a breakthrough role with Erotic Ghost Story (1990).

[13][14] A 1990 article by the South China Morning Post directly attributed her success to her figure, stating that "her 36-inch [92cm] bust has certainly carried her publicity.

[17] Yip's long term boyfriend was the orthopedics surgeon Dr. Sammy Sek Chiu Lui (呂錫照); the pair met in 1992.

In an interview in early 2006 with an East Weekly reporter, who spotted Yip walking her dog at Repulse Bay, however, she said she was in a steady relationship with her boyfriend of more than 15 years and had no intention of getting married or having children.

[18] One of Yip's nicknames, "Boba" (Chinese: 波霸; Jyutping: bo1 baa3, slang for a woman with big breasts), was adopted as the name of the tapioca pearls in Taiwanese bubble tea during the 1980s.