Quickie with Martine Ho

Martine Ho is the ultimate cool girl — a creative entrepreneur, style icon and co-founder of Sunnies Studios, balancing life as a business owner and mother while staying deeply in tune with her own pleasure and self-discovery. She gets candid about what it means to own your sexual power — from feeling sexy for yourself to finding someone who matches your freak. With her signature mix of confidence, wit, and vulnerability, she reminds us that confidence starts from within — whether you're running a business, embracing self-love, or winding down with a little Jellytime before bed.

⁠What’s on your bedside table?

On my beside table, there’s normally a flask, a cup of Magnesium tea to help me relax at night, obviously there’s Jellytime–the Bobble and the Bean… and yeah those are my favorites, actually, so yeah.

⁠What’s the perfect date?

The perfect date for me is when there’s an element of taking me out of my comfort zone. I love watching horror or post-apocalyptic films, or going to amusement parks and going on some rollercoasters… trying something new.

What’s your top tip on becoming more confident? 

My top tip on becoming more confident is really taking the time to love yourself. It sounds so dorky, but loving and liking yourself is the most important thing you can do to be more confident.

⁠Best and worst sex tip you received?

The worst is definitely incorporating food into sex. That does not work in any situation! Don’t even try it– whip cream, none of that! It’s all disgusting. Like no– that’s a tip that does not work.

Also sex in the pool or jacuzzi. It just doesn’t functionally work– it’s not a good idea. 

The best sex tip honestly is that sex is really the best with someone you’re really connected to, at least from my experience. Working on that connection in any way whether it’s through conversation or foreplay. It’s really about two-way connection, attraction, and communication. 

 

What gives you pleasure and how do you prioritize it?

Honestly, these days, what gives me pleasure is sitting in bed at the perfect temperature under the perfect blanket while watching a really good movie. Simple things. And, obviously, before bed, a little bit of Jellytime… We love a little something before bed. It does help me relax to be honest.

How do you own your sexual power?

Finding ways that make me feel sexy even just for myself… whether that’s wearing outfits that make me feel sexy, walking with confidence, appreciating and being grateful for my body– these all make me feel really sexy, empowered, and confident. 

What sex or relationship advice would you give your younger self?

I would say, look for partners who match your freak. Whatever that is and what it means for you– you wanna choose to be celibate before marriage, find a partner who matches your freak in that way. Or if you’re a little more experimental, find a partner that will complement your drive.

How’s it like balancing life as a businesswoman and mother?

You know, I’ve never found anyone who’s ever been able to answer this question ever. So I will say that I prioritize my family more than anything. Family comes first above anything– above business and work. That’s really how I balance my life– just know my priorities.

What’s your favorite room in your home, and why?

I will update you with that question once I renovate my bathrooms which are currently being renovated, because I love bathroom time. I love taking a shower, I love that entire ritual of cleansing before bed.

What’s one thing you love most about being at home?

Well, for one, creating a home for me is creating a sanctuary for myself. It’s where I feel most at ease. It’s where my mind and my body can relax. So I always need that at the end of the day when I’m constantly overstimulated, working, or thinking about work. Being home for me is where I can let every part of myself just relax and be me without expectation.

What’s one piece of advice you’ve followed that completely changed the trajectory of your life?

There’s two things actually…

Since I was a child, my mom always told me “He who angers you controls you”– and that has really stuck with me because it really taught me that only I’m in charge of my own emotions and to never let people control how I feel. Only I can make myself feel a certain way. At the end of the day, I’m accountable for myself and only myself, so that really changed the philosophy and perspective on how I live.

The other is, my co-worker once said “Asking for approval is seeking denial”, and that also struck a chord with me because it’s so true. Looking for others for positive reinforcement is never gonna get you anywhere because you’re never gonna have your own voice. And you’re always going to look for others for validation– but the one that matters the most is the voice in your own head.

What role does love play in your creative process? 

Oh, it’s the cornerstone of my process. The things that inspire me are always things that made me feel the most loved and alive with my inner child. So even from the color palettes to the silhouettes, [it’s] the things that remind me of childhood– when you feel the most loved in your life and when you feel the most nurtured, hopefully.

What’s the most shocking thing someone has done to prove their love for you?

[It was] on our first date with my husband, Cliff, who was living in Australia at the time while I was in Manila… We were just chatting on the phone, and to prove to me that he was serious about wanting to date, he said “I’m gonna take you on our first date. Make sure your passport is valid… I’m gonna fly you somewhere”. And it was a surprise! So that was definitely one of the biggest things to me.