Questions.

i have a question.

actually, i have a few questions.
and if anybody has the answers, pls share them with me.

1) where do kids get the money to buy a $300 pair of NUDIE Jeans?

2) is the iPhone fat finger friendly?

3) what's the deal with wearing black rimmed specs without the lenses?

4) why do guys stuff all their pockets when they wear skinny jeans?

5) why is Made in China so expensive?

6) how do you stop shoulder pads and harem pants from taking over?

7) when do you tell someone they should never leave their house looking like...?
Mm... before or after you throw up on them?

... a sexier man

it was time for my monthly manicure and pedicure.
yes... don't look so surprised.
i DO get my nails done.
especially when i use my hands for work and
since i always wear slippers.
this from someone would spent his entire life biting them.

anyway, i discovered that they do waxing there.
yes. waxing. leg waxing that is.

well, if you have seen my legs you must have noticed
that i don't have the hairy indian legs, even though i am 3/4 indian.
but then again neither does my dad, and he's 100% indian.
i used to be teased by my cousins when i was younger,
due to the lack of hair on my legs.
nowadays when i see them, i just stare at their beer belly.

but seriously... what's the big deal with hairy legs?!
how does hairy legs make any men more manly or sexier?
i have seen legs that are so hairy that they grow upwards,
covering the backside and end on the back of the person.
last i checked, hair on your back is not sexy nor does it make you look butch.

so with what little strands left on my legs,
i decided to have them waxed.
in a mere 3 minutes all that was there was now gone!
was it painful?
Mm... ok lah.
was it worth it?
Oh yeah!
my legs are now as smooth as a baby's bottom.
and i think it kinda looks sexy. kinda.

FYI, all swimmers, body builders, triathletics & supermodels wax.
and it takes a real man to sit through all that waxing.
so don't judge me!
try it if you dare.
who knows, it might even make a sexier man out of you.

i miss tokyo.

tokyo is very much like singapore.
let me explain...

the people there queue everywhere.
its them taking initiative.
be it to buy food, to enter the train, to a shop's opening...
for anything and everything, they queue.
here people will join any queue they see, without a clue.

shibuya crossing is the busiest crossing in the world.
the area itself is alive with people, shops, malls and traffic!
but somehow with all that chaos, its vibrant and real.
orchard road on the weekend is just plain chaos.

the tokyo tower is about 9 metres taller than the eiffel tower.
built in 1958, i'm guessing the japanese wanted to show
that they were just as good, or maybe even better than the westerns.
Mm... singapore just wants to be better than the world, full stop.

there are many hidden treasures in tokyo
that i enjoyed and loved as a tourist.
like the inokashira park that led to the miyazaki anime museum.
the wolfgang puck express cafe in harajuku.
japanese & international designers'
fashion collaboration available only in tokyo.
and 'live' anime characters.
here we hide many things from the tourists.
the merlion is not real.
our taxis are expensive.
we don't really wear orchid prints as fashion pieces.

so, tokyo and singapore is very much alike...
i miss tokyo.

a chair in harajuku

so for the first few days i did very traditional touristy stuff in tokyo.
going to the tokyo tower, visit the palace, eat udon, take pictures etc.
don't get me wrong!
its my 1st time, so i definitely enjoyed acting the tourist.
but what i really wanted to do was... SHOP SHOP SHOP!
and i did.
from ginza to otome sando, shinjuku to shibuya, and my favourite
HARJUKU!

harajuku embodies the spirit and vibe of what fashion,
and personally, what style is in japan.
the shops and boutiques are very different from what
you'd find in the other shopping districts.
people are weird, interesting and inspiring, all rolled into one.
even in the winter cold, trend and style takes president in their appearence.
its never a fashion competition there.
i know i sound like some guy from the 70s, high and all,
but trust me when i say this,
its the 1 place where people, fashion and culture meet on a daily basis.
you can just sit in a corner by yourself & never feel alone.

the next time i'm there, i'm bringing a chair.
and some extra cash.

happy birthday akihito!

did you know that christmas is not a holiday in japan
but the emperor's birthday is?

december 23rd is emperor akihito's birthday.

tradition has it that the emperor has an open house at his palace
to greet his well wishers and deliver his birthday message
3 times in the morning of his birthday.
so, like the 83 zillion people in japan, i decided to pay a visit to
his highness before hitting the shopping malls.
in the midst of all the crowd, screaming supporters and media,
i managed to have a glimpse of the emperor and the royal family
standing and waving behind the 2 metres thick bulletproof glass.
moments later he spoke and the people cheered and clapped.
someone in the crowded even rallied on and on and on.
the older ones were really screaming praises and
the younger ones weren't too far behind either.

but with all that was going on, all i noticed was how sharply dressed
the 2 women standing by his side were.
very proper. very poised. very miss world.

i wonder who were they wearing?

tokyo 10, the begining...

10 nites in tokyo.
that's how i started my new year.

you see, at the end of 2009 when work was all done
i decided to take a break. a holiday.
everyone was asking if it was a well deserved year end break?
and my honest answer was it's a treat to myself and
a great way to start the new year rather than
looking at it as an end to 2009.
and tokyo was it!

first time to the land of the rising sun.
its winter. love sashimi. and i get to play dress-up!

''you are gonna love tokyo!''
''fashion is gonna be soooo fun!''
''ah! the weather's fantastic!''
''mt. fuji!''
''japanese food is the BEST!''
''people are so nice!''
''must try the hot spring!''

...so i heard.
tokyo was all that and more. so much more.

when i first arrived there i couldn't believe that i was there.
always wanted to go but never went.
i finally did.
felt like a little girl, giggling at every sight, every corner, every stop.
and this was only the airport.

two hours later,
(i was traveling with a an almost regular to tokyo,
so i knew i was in good hands)
we stepped into our room.
the aircon was also the heater!
there were these square thingy built into the wall that
when you push them, they pop out and act as air vent to cool the room!
the toilet seat was heated!
a small pail and stool to sit on in the bath tub to use,
just like how the japanese would shower!
a remote controlled water nozzle to clean your @ss when you're done!
seriously! what more could you ask for!
it was a super cool self contained studio!

by the time i was done orientating the room and unpacking,
it was dinner time.
so we went down the street where we were staying,
oh. did i mention that we were staying in ROPPONGI?
yes. the famous ROPPONGI.
now, don't ask me why its famous cos i don't know.
everyone goes WOW! whenever they hear ROPPONGI.
could be a japanese thing.
so we went where our nose led us.
and it took us to an eatery that serves fatty pork
cooked on a crystal marble plate, ala hotplate style.
best chunks of fatty pork i have ever tasted,
but only to discover that its actually a more korean style eatery.
that explains the kimchi they were serving.
Mm...

2OH 1OH

get it?
2OH 1OH ?
its 2010 la!

its a brand new year and already so slow?
ok, fine.
its lame but i couldn't help it.

i've been away from here for so long i think i'm the one who's getting slow...
anyway, i have so much to share
that its gonna take forever!
so... i'm gonna do what i do best.

i'll come back another day and tell u all about it!
*wink wink

the 2009 discovery list

is it bye bye 2009?
everyone i know is wondering where the year went.

HELLO!!!
its been here for the last 12 months
& technically, its still around!
and so much as happened.

so here's my 'not in any particular order' 2009 discovery list:

* TOGETHER is not a sequel to The Little Nyonya

* Fiona Xie has a life

* DESIGNIRE sucks

* Balenciaga is the new LV

* FAT is IN on TV

* Guys should be shot for wearing scarfs in Singapore

* TWITTER is old skool

* Lady GAGA is Queen

* BOOMZ is a word

* Singapore Idol is not a talent show

what did you discover in 2009?

i am sorry i wrote this

so... is there a purpose in posting an entry?

i think so.
why am i asking?
because there has been comments about them.
why am i writing about fat people?
how and where do i get my information from?
what's my issue with fashion?
is there a hidden message in any of the entries?
and etc.
seriously people.
its a blog.
my blog. a page where i share personal views.
and its not meant to be a funny blog.
its a 'read and go' blog.
good if you like it, great if it entertains.
but its definitely not a 'i am sorry i wrote this' blog.

if you are looking for purpose, reasons & explanations
then stick to reading the papers.

yah.

random observation

what do you call a person rushing home so
that the bag he's carrying doesn't get wet...

people who fall asleep once they get a seat in the train...

there are really bad people on tv...

when someone's definition of exercise is
just signing up with a gym...

heard a father telling his 9 year old that he thinks its
not a good idea to spend too much on a milkshake...

how cocky can you get when the camera's on...

assumption is always 5o% right...

talent and passion is the key combination to success...

every time you get a raise,
do you realize you have to fix something...

have you met the ones who honestly know everything?

fat... is fat

they call themselves many names.
larger than life.
plus size.
sexy.
etc.

well, i'm not good in describing people,
so, to me, fat... is fat.
plain and simple.

but there are different genres of fat people.

the ones who are funny
cos that's the only way anyone would listen to them.
the ones who are bitchy
cos that's the only way anyone would talk back to them.
the ones who are mean
cos that's the only way they feel better about themselves.
the ones who are loud
cos that's the only way anyone will look at them.
the ones who are rich
cos they think they are better than everyone else.

of course there are those who are nothing like the ones i mentioned!
have u met my family and friends?

38''

what happens when you are not the right size?

i had a challenge thrown to me recently,
to dress a Host for a new show.
seriously how tough can it be, right?

TOUGH!
when the Host is waist 38'' and wears XL.

did you know that many brands & boutiques are not
interested in sponsoring fat tv people
or dressing tv people that will make the outfits look fat.

you see, the TV does add pounds on you.
so to start with,
you have to be kinda skinny or slim if you wanna be on TV.

Mm... look at...
Patricia Mok, not Fann Wong,
Jeanette Aw, not Irene Ang,
Denise Keller, not Moses Lim.
they are all stick skinny!
and if you are really fat, then you can only do comedy.
everything that comes out of your mouth would sound funny!
don't believe me, try this.
ask almost any fat person to read the dictionary,
you'd think they're reading the BRIDGET JONES DIARY!

so think before you start piling on the pounds if you're going to be on TV...

moral of this story is,
i don't do size 38''.

wow wow world

is the wow wow world of fashion all like that?

i caught The Devil wears PRADA on tv recently.
if you asked me, its an almost Bollywood movie!
it has the boy & girl bits,
the over the top drama,
girls running everywhere,
and of course, the villain.

but seriously, is the fashion industry really like that we see on the small or big screen?
Mm. lets see...

if you don't have style or think you do, then you are out.
when it comes to fashion, you don't think. you KNOW.

never say no to a stylist,
they can end your career.

you really have to crawl your way up.
sleeping around is not an option.

mingling is good.
pretentious PR is bad.

wearing black is always fashionable.
wearing black everyday looks uniformed.

stop doing favors.
they don't pay your bills.

remember everyone you meet.
they are the ones who will lead the way for you.

fashion is not free,
but you can always get Media Discounts!

stop kissing ass.
your lips are not big enough.

decide if you are the villain or the hero
and stick to it!

and it helps to be good looking.
cos it helps you get a job elsewhere if all else fails.

that's all.

the ones...

what's with people nowadays?

the ones who rush into the trains before letting anyone out.

the ones who buy expensive key-chains & keep them in ziplock bags.

the ones who spend more time in the changing room compared to working out.

the ones who must sample every flavor of ice-creams before buying.

the ones who dump their work load on their colleagues cos its 5:51pm.

the ones who always ask for discounts at branded boutiques.

the ones who buy new luggage & cleans the wheels with wet wipes after every use.

the ones who are really bad in faking good PR.

the ones who drink bourbon with diet coke.

the ones who look busy when the bill comes.

the ones who are from china.

etc.

seriously.

what's with people nowadays?

... do more.

so how do you know that everything is falling in place?
well, when they actually fall in place!

i just got my final project for this year, HP Space!
yes!! its the project that i wanted to be part of.
the new creativity based reality show on Channel V.
filming starts next week and airs almost immediately.
what am i doing on the show?
i will be styling and doing makeup for the 2 hosts so its gonna be fun!

and SuperModel Me airs on the AXN channel on 7th Nov!

so far i have worked on SCORE Season 1 & 2 for OKTO Channel,
styled season 2 of BEAUTY DESIRES for Channel 8,
did various projects with Channel V Asia and Australia,
traveled to Malaysia for Disney's High School Musical 3 Promo,
worked with Li TV, a brand new regional Channel,
was involved on SuperModel Me
and now HP Space.

Mm... i wanna do more.
can!

... the right mix

there's a crazy rumor going around that
drinking too much coke light makes you stupid.
like what?!
seriously!?!
OMG!!!
drinking coke light would make you dah?!?!!
if anything, i think it should make one slimmer.
YAH!
then one can become... a model!

wouldn't that be great!
start a career by just drinking coke light!
but if that was the case,
would that explain why they say that models are dumb?
Mm... i, for one, don't totally agree or disagree with that.
i've had my fair share of experiences and encounters in this area.
you ask a model what shows
she has done during her last 3 months here
and she answers, "fashion shows."

so... maybe its true?
who knows...
maybe coke light and models may not be the right mix...

thankfully, i only drink coke zero.

who u are.

its just amazing how things just work out!
know what i mean?
like, its starts out like crap.
feels like its not your day and nothing is going your way?
you start questioning almost everything. like,
if you made the right choice taking up the project?
do the clothes work?
is too much really is too much?
am i watching too much TV?
then like out of nowhere...
it hits you!
we all have to make choices.
it doesn't mean you don't have a choice.
you do. we do. I DO.
its the choice of what i want at that moment,
and making the best of it!

so what if i'm watching too much TV or
worried if the clients like the wardrobe or if too much is too much?
or even if THIS is the right project?
don't second doubt yourself.
and don't discount yourself!
there's a reason why you are where you are.
remember who u are.

1 diva

i finally did my first overseas job for this year!
it was in KL, Malaysia!
i know its not that far but i get excited with even the littlest thing.
and it was so much fun!

i got a last minute call to see if i was free to do a weekend shoot
for Disney's High School Musical 3 promo for the channel.
it was to style the 4 main Malaysian voice artistes
who did the dubbing in bahasa.
so i thought my country needs me,
Malaysia needs me, Disney needs me!
YES! I WILL DO IT!
i got all ready and flew up in less than 48 hours,
with a more than 30kg luggage!
one can never travel too prepared.

Dafi, Milla, Nana and Marsha.
never heard of them?
Mm... neither did i.
well... they are the young and one of the biggest recording artistes
from the Malaysian singing reality show Academy Fantasia!
and they were just wonderful to work with.

meet Dafi. shy yet cheeky.
even though he was the only guy in the group,
he was totally comfortable and at home with the girls.
i sensed a close family connection among them,
and honestly that is really rare in this industry.
they were sharing stories, joking and poking fun at each other.
i almost had a tear in my eye.
why can't we always be like that?!
Nana was definitely the mother hen of the group,
glowing was a newly wed bride.
and Marsha, the hyper Bunnie.
this girl needs no sugar to energize her.
and she does it all with no sleep!
then there's Milla. so small and tiny that you'd want to
just pick her up and keep her safe in your pocket!

oh... have you heard them?
these guys CAN sing!
and i thought i could sing.
well, not anymore.

i also met Lyana Dee.
the most amazing makeup artist to Milla.
she's SUPER talented and helpful!
and has gorgeous luscious hair....
she should do shampoo ads.

to cut the long story short,
i got to work with some of the finest from Malaysia and
they got to work with one of the finest from Singapore, me.

that's what work should be.
great company.
professional attitude.
fun environment.
and 1 diva.
me... but we'll not go there.

30 days lessons

30 days lessons.

i'm not doing one of those 1 month courses,
but being so free, maybe i should have!
cooking course! that would have been fun!
Ahhh.... FOOD. Yes. No! wait! focus!

yes...
september has been a learning month for me.
what did i learn?

i've learnt to trust AND not trust.
trust that i can do whatever i put my heart into,
and not trust people who tell me otherwise.
*they can kiss my arse.

i've learnt that people DO make fun of others
and not everyone is all holy and holy.
*that kinda made me feel more real.

i learnt this simple theory;
to be famous and successful,
its not all about what you do,
its not even who you know,
its who knows you.
*its so tricky.


this is the best lesson...
don't give expecting a return.
give knowing what a difference you're making.
*simple.

and a very important lesson,
stop bitching & judging.
everyone deserves a second chance. everyone.
fine. she speaks bad english and has a off sense of style,
but to say that she doesn't deserve the title because of her recent history...
that's not fair and its really mean!

i say, "u go girl!"
*and if you don't like it, you can kiss my MISS WORLD ass!

damn shiok!

doing what i love is... damn shiok!
whether as a makeup artiste, show producer or stylist.
and more recently as a makeup brand ambassador,
creative producer, host and personality.
...i LIKE.

i have learned to appreciate creativity and talent.
cos without one or the other, honestly i wouldn't have a job.
and i am not talking just about me.
it takes more than me to get the job done.
its the team. the people you work with. and sometimes even more.

i have been doing fashion for almost 20 years, on and off.
started when i was about 21, coordinating fashion shows and events
with Najip Ali who was my mentor and teacher.
then at 26, a good friend, Jazreel Low got me started on makeup.
its been 14 years since and i haven't looked back since!
who knew i could marry all that i learned and enjoyed
into a profession that hardly seems like work!

my passion has always been to inspire, innovate, create and educate.
in any job, project or assignment.
cos without the passion the objective is lost!

most people work, like everyday.
Mmm... i don't.
and since i am so free, i always ask myself, what's next?
what do i want to do next?
well, i want to do more. more things that i would enjoy!
like... produce new TV Shows and Programmes.
like... write plays and short stories.
like... host my own Talk Show!
and... create my own cosmetic brand!!
i know what you guys are saying...
TOO FREE, IS IT !?!?!!

yes! i am!
but that's where it starts.
i want to start on that journey to the next level!
maybe i can or maybe i can't.
who knows...
no harm trying, right?

what are you passionate about?