Truth 5: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Pageants

Truth 5: The Skimpy Issue

Call me conservative but the swimwear round was my greatest obstacle when I first entered the pageant world. 

Photo Credits: TVB

Firstly, I'm hardly into water sports or a fan of the ocean, so it's rather awkward to be strutting around in a swim suit for no apparent purpose, nor am I a fan of sun tanning, so the chances of you catching me in a bikini is close to none.

I actually entered my first pageant secretly, with the exception of my sister and cousin as syndicates helping me to cover up during family dinners and late nights. Reason being, knowing my parents conservative nature, they would probably disapprove of me strutting down in a 2 piece outfit covering my bare essentials (though there isn't much to cover....i think)

But after the semis, we were running out of excuses, and we had to finally tell the parents. As expected, mama's first reaction was, "Huh! Then must wear bikini and let everyone see ah?" But surprisingly my grandfather's response was, "Ya what! Pageants is like that mah." But all in all, they were all very supportive. But before every pageant finals, my aunty dawn would help me sew and sew and re-sew to ensure the knots don't get undone and expose my bare body. (Probably your first time hearing something so ridiculous right??)

Truth 4: 10 Things You Didn't know About Pageants

Truth 4: BFF

To be honest... I never thought pageants could be a place to meet genuine friends who could stick with you. I mean, isn't pageants just all about winning, getting crowned, beating the next girl, looking all glamorous, perfect and desiring for "world peace"? Well... I couldn't be proven more wrong.

Joining a pageant is like going to high school all over again. You have your drop dead gorgeous popular media darlings ("queen bees") who everyone loves/ hates. Then you have your low profile "underdogs" (perhaps.. "geeks") "I'm-just-here-for-the-experience" girls. Media don't give them much attention, neither do these girls crave for any of it. There are some who are social butterflies, with an outstanding personality, who brightens the room with her jokes, hands out candies to everyone, and is extremely hyper all the time (your student leaders/ goody two shoes). She is none other than Ms Friendship.  You have your high school "loners", they prefer to hang out alone. Finally... girls whose BFFs are their mirrors (you know what I mean..).. hint vainpots.

Just like on my first day of high school, I put on my rosy tinted glasses and came with a positive attitude, hoping to make as many friends as possible. I thought, since I came all the day, I might as well make this journey more enjoyable. It turns out pageants are just like the real world. My cheerful introduction was greeted with a nonchalant brush-off, "Hi" but I'm not really here to make friends attitude. My heart sank. I guess I was too naive to believe I could make friends here....

Throughout the days, I just concentrated on doing well and finishing whatever obstacles they presented us. Instead things started to turn around.. these obstacles became a platform for friendship! Nearing the end of the competition, when everything was an accelerated roller coaster ride, and competition got stiffer, I got closer to 2 amazing girls, E., H. and a wonderful roommate, A. Isn't it strange how four strangers who were contesting for a crown could now be good friends? Instead of competing, we were cheering each other on, counting down the number of days to 'freedom', sharing about what we crave for after the pageant (since it was the chinese new year season we were salivating over bak kwa, pineapple tarts, egg rolls ).  Our mindless chit chats and jokes were stress relievers that made the journey more enjoyable. So now you know when pageants contestants talk like airheads, it's not because we're dumb, it's meant to ease tension! Having gone through sweat, blood and tears together, our friendship was brought closer and they'll definitely be my FRIENDS FOREVER!

Pageants are like a crash course about life. It is a pressure cooker that brings out our true character, it is only then I opened my eyes and saw who were my true friends.

Don't go away! Next up is a skimpy post where I bare it all!

Truth 2: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Pageants

Truth 2: Pageant is a bootcamp

Pageants isn't all glitz and glamour. It is a bootcamp embellished with diamond tiaras, designer swim wear, and elaborate gowns. We start out our mornings as early as 4 or 5am and end our days as late as 12 midnight or later. The long hours are mostly intense and packed with rehearsals and a whole lot of waiting. 

Whisked off to Peach Blossom Island,桃花岛, for military training under the China-Asean Image Ambassador 

I used to think that pageants were holiday camps, where the contestants had it easy, looking all beautiful and made up all day and night, attending parties and having ample beauty sleep. Having gone through a couple of international pageants, i must say that amist all the glamour that we see, pageants are not a holiday camp where you can sit back and relax.

Training at 630am

Minimal sleep throughout the competition phase is a norm, as there are tons of rehearsals to attend, waking up at wee hours in the morning to get hair and make-up done, and homework to be done! YES, homework. We do need to write short essays pertaining to the competition, our interest, and knowledge of the host country. So pageant girls aren't all that dumb!

Like an army camp, our daily dos and dont's are scheduled. A simple example is when nature calls, going to the bathroom is usually a no-thinking process. But in here, bathroom breaks are scheduled. Having a strong and obedient bladder definitely helps. It does sound robotic, but we should appreciate such training. Especially during the final live telecast, if we weren't 'potty trained', wouldn't it be a hassle to have missing girls in the bathroom? And you know, live shows wait for no man.

Being 'reminded' of our attitude to be grateful that we have this opportunity to be here

We have been in this same old uniform for the past 5 days

Pageants do test our physical stamina too. That is the killer-heels segment. We have to be in sky high heels of at least 5-inches from sunrise to midnight. We have to practice our walks in heels, dancing in heels, attending events in heels etc. Behind every girl's bright smiles, are blistered toes, and ankles, cramped feet, and sometimes bleeding blisters. However, their unfaltering attitude has taught me that although no one sees their sweat, blood and tears, we have to continue to be strong and carry on, and put on a great show for everyone. At the end, if we can take home this "never die" attitude, i feel that we are all winners. It may not be taking home a prize in this competition, but if we continue to stand up each time we fall, we will be winners sooner or later, in pageants or in other areas. 

Another set of uniform for rehearsals during the Ms Chinese Int. Pageant, in TVB newest studio

Me and Bianca (Ms Auckland)

Besides complimenting on the girls endurance, i must also compliment a group of unsung heroes. who deserve enormous credit too. They create a strict yet support environment that contributes to how pageant girls learn to be tough and rough it out. Stay Tuned!

A bunch of 'glam' girls after a long day of training..
this was taken at 12midnight and we were up since 5am...and another 5am the next morning

Mrs and Classic Mrs Singapore 2012

Fulfilling a series of pageant related events are part and parcel of the crown and sash that we walk home away with the very night of our win. So what does a pageant girl do on a Saturday evening??? "PARTYING" at the Mrs Singapore and Classic Mrs Singapore finals 2012!!!Well, to say it's a party.........I'm not too sure about that. BUT, to say it's not a party, I beg to differ. The crowd and supporters were extremely, and i mean EXTREMELY, loud and enthu; cheering for their beloved mother, wife, grandmother, aunt, friend or colleague who's strutting that stage. And EVERY contestant that evening had seriously avid fans. They were like mega stars of the evening. Their fans had their 'weapons' all ready, banners, placards, whistles, horns, standees, you name it, they got it!

Your burning questions must be......... so how do these ladies look? can make it or not? are the like "aunties" trying to fulfill a teenage dream/发明星梦啊? is there a bikini round??

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Contestants make their first appearance on stage

I think the pictures (special thanks to Vanessa Tan and Sunny*) answer the questions pretty well.

Panel of Judges (Can you spot the banners supporting the contestants of the evening on the railings?)

Reigning Queens Clockwise from top: Karen(Mrs S'pore), Vanessa (Mrs S'pore World 2011), Alex friend, Cara (Mrs S'pore), Nimfa (Mrs S'Pore Queen of Hope), Aida (Mrs S'pore Queen of Hope), Me, Alex Liu (the man behind the pageant), Celestine (Miss Bikini S'pore 2011)

I was invited to sing a song from my upcoming album =) 

Karen with Sunny (who was so busy running the show that night! thanks Sunny)

Left-Right:My pageant coach for Ms S'pore Chinese Int, Mrs Vanessa Tan (thanks Vanessa for the training and pictures!!), Queenie from IN988 , Me

Catch me on IN988 online radio soon!! as i join queenie and her other co-host as we ramble on in her "palace"

Thanks Mr Alex Liu for your wonderful support and opportunity. 

Don't say i didn't try getting him to do a fun shot

The evening round segment was really sweet, the husbands had to walk their wives out, hand in hand. It was really touching to see these lovebirds, especially the older couples, so loving and one even married for 46 years! a 76year old contestant with her husband hand in hand...awww

The ladies answered their interview questions with substance, and it was impressive to see how every lady has a supporting charitable cause in mind.

Witnessing the Mrs Singapore and Classic Mrs Singapore for the first time ever, I must say that it is pretty touching, and definitely more touching than any other "Miss X pageants". These ladies embody the true spirit of being a lady, a mother, a daughter, a friend or a grandmother. They exhume poise, elegance, intelligence, a maternal heart, and some, one smokin' hot body!! When i saw how the 'fans' cheered unrelentlessly for the ladies, the screams and shouts from these families/friends filled the ballroom with love and support. Which put many "Miss Pageants" to shame, as they were definitely way quieter, less lively and less 'supportive' in that sense.

Reigning Queens handing over their crowns. But they'll always be queens in their family/friends and our hearts =)

Prizes to be won

Mark Lee was one of the guest stars for the evening

And the winner goes to........

Congrats to all the winners and ALL the ladies that evening!!

Special thanks and credit to *Vanessa Tan,  Mrs Singapore World 2011, Mrs United Nations 2012 1st Runner-up, of Vanessaism Inc., and wonderful pageant coach!

Thanks Sunny Leow for his support and pictures :)

Truth 1: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Pageants

My childhood dreams were hardly anything pageant related, they were more so of me singing and dancing on stage, acting or modeling. But somehow with a twist of fate, a window into the pageant world has opened doors of wonderful opportunities and invaluable training experiences to prep me for the stage 

that i've never given up on.

I would like to share a series of 10 truths about pageants you probably didn't know.

Truth 1: We don't nibble on bird food, we actually do eat!!

First question most people ask: Do pageant girls starve themselves? nibble on bird food? Answer is, we actually do eat quite a fair bit. Sure, during the competition we do try to watch what we eat, but it is also because we need to stay healthy and well during that period. Besides, most of the time, the organizers provide 3 meals, of which breakfast is usually a scrumptious spread from the hotel buffet and lunch and dinners would be at the TVB canteen or takeaway lunchboxes. Which we can't exactly choose. And because of the tight schedules, meals are usually a simple affair of chicken rice, pork chop rice, vegetarian rice and roast pork rice. With such busy and long days that may start off as early as 4am and end off at 12midnight, it is pretty impossible to go on a strict diet with no carbs, we would probably all faint by the finals. 

However, there are definitely the occasional few contestants who are very disciplined with what they eat. Protein diets are a popular choice among some, having an egg for breakfast, 2 eggs and some vegetable for lunch and 3 more eggs for dinner plus some other fish or vegetable...a grand total of 6 eggs a day! everyday! Well i must say that i take my hat off, because I'm too much a foodie to just eat plain boiled eggs. Besides I'm a strong believer of a moderate diet as a lifestyle, not in extremities. Some extremities include being good at math. "What has math got to do with food?" you may ask. Well, to keep track of how many pieces of vegetable or meat you've eaten. Which might be a problem in my case as I may probably end up losing count time and again, especially with great company whom i can chat on and on and on..... Another interesting diet habit is the raw food movement. So, to stick to a raw food diet in such a hectic environment, i must compliment these girls for being pretty determined. Some really do have the determination to search high and low, self-service takeaways from breakfast buffets and grabbing an apple or 2 from the earlier prayer ceremonies. Though we pageant girls are all guilty of at some point, looking back, it does bring some reality and humor into this glitzy capsule we're in.

"You are what you eat" is a saying I truly believe in. I guess the key is to eat in moderation. And pageant girls do eat like you and I would, probably minus the desserts and sweets and cakes for that 2 weeks, but in general we don't nibble on carrot sticks or peck on bird food, we eat!! in moderation...and that's where the discipline comes in. And so, is a "military style" discipline what pageant girls need to succeed??? Stay tuned to my next post on pageant's military training.

Lenna (Ms Chinese Int 2nd runner-up, Ms Malaysia) and I having reunion dinner backstage 

Lunch box with mixed vege and rice

Roast pork rice from TVB canteen

Our favourite treat from Hong Kong's famous 许留山. Chunks of fresh mango blended into a smoothie topped with aloe vera jelly

My favourite 翠華茶餐廳 'bo lo pao' . Due to our tight schedule, i could only get it after the finals when we had a bit more time...i would have love to have a few more 

Appetizer from 小南国 overlooking Victoria Harbour, at Queenie Beauty's prize presentation

Petit Fours from 小南国. Red bean longevity buns, seseame balls, baked walnut and peanut pastry and pumpkin pastry.

Dessert platter with the girls BEFORE dinner. Apple crumble, molten lava cake, green tea ice cream and creme caramel 

This was DINNER. Pizzas, burgers, mac and cheese, nachos, etc etc etc