[4] The following year, at age 19, she made her television debut in the long-running popular sitcom Don't Worry Be Happy, playing the role of Xiao-mei (little sister), a happy-go-lucky girl, and of which became one of her most prominent role in her acting career.
[5][6] A few years later, Phua began to appear in several Mediacorp co-productions with other territories including the period drama Hero of the Times (1999), as well as acting alongside Taiwanese star Jacklyn Wu in The Tax Files (2000), and acting opposite Julian Cheung in action drama Dare To Strike (2000).
[2] Phua is also known for hosting the Saturday night variety show PSC Nite: Weekend Delight in 2000, Battle Of The Best (2001) which showcases various occupations, and partnering with Sam Tseng in the Taiwanese gameshow Treasure Hunt (2002).
[2] In 2007, Phua won Star Awards for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Mars vs Venus.
[15] In late 2013, Phua was diagnosed with a slipped disc and subsequently underwent rehabilitation for six months.