Media Room

New Straits Times | 20 April 2008

Chasing their catwalk dreams

by: Audrey Vijaindren

Shows like America’s Next Top Model may be mere entertainment to many but for aspiring models, the show provides loads of priceless information about modelling and the fashion industry.
(from left) Adeline Lee Ying Ying, Nurul Nadiah Johary, Hanis Zalikha Zainal Rashid,Aberami Jaishana Loganathan, Tey Cindy and Ringo Tan Hui Ling

THEY are all fighting to be the first Malaysian Dreamgirl.

That was over one month ago. Six eliminations later, there is more space in the house and a rising fighting spirit.

Just how far would these girls go to win the title? You'd be surprised.

Last week, the girls invited the New Sunday Times over for tea, cup cakes and a generous serving of gossip.

"I don't expect her to wash my dishes, but all I'm saying is, if there are dirty plates in the sink, why not help out?" said 20-year-old Nurul Nadiah Johary about her housemate.

Nadiah, as she is fondly known, has a pet peeve dirty dishes. Tey Cindy, 21, on the other hand, has no qualms about dirty dishes.

Therein lies the problem... and many more.

"I'm not a 'kitchen person' (someone who cooks), but I do like my daily dose of tomatoes," said Nadiah.

"So, when I enter the kitchen and see someone cooking 'my tomatoes', I am not a happy camper.

"I don't want to cari pasal with Cindy, but she has to be respectful of other people's things."

Nadiah has a point. But don't get us wrong; the interior architecture student is not without fault.

After countless instructions from the judges to remove her blue contact lenses, she is still not happy about the decision.

"I've always been known as 'Blue-eyed Nadiah' to my friends. I've been wearing blue-coloured contact lenses for five years. I don't see what the big deal is."

But, after a talk with mum, Nadia realised that butting heads with the judges may not be the best career move. After all, she has naturally gorgeous black eyes.

As for the "baby of the house", Hanis Zalikha Zainal Rashid, 18, joining the competition was her mother's idea.

"I often cry when I speak to my mother over the phone. This is the first time I have been away from her for so long."

So, who cooks for the "baby" in the home?

"I may be intimidated by the modelling experience the older girls have, but I am the best cook in the house. My nasi goreng is a bomb! No one can challenge me there."

The sweet-young-thing is also the feng shui "master" of the home. After realising that the first six girls who were eliminated slept in beds facing the door, she got the rest of the contestants in a panic.

As she exclaimed, "Oh, my God, girls, it is feng shui", the six remaining beauties changed sides, moved beds and "feng shui-ed" their way to a better position.

"Now the girls borrow my feng shui book and envy the new pillow I bought for better luck."

Hanis is a crowd favourite as she is the life of the party and is enthusiastic about anything from a doughnut to popular singer Mawi.

She is also loved by her housemates for her maturity. "She may be the youngest, but she is the most matured of the lot. She always looks at the big picture and is never petty about anything," said Aberami Jaishana Loganathan or Jay, 25.

Jay has a clear view of the big picture. Having been in many fashion events including the recent Project Runway Malaysia, the former lecturer feels the pressure of being the eldest in the house.

"The judges often comment that I should not be making small mistakes because I have modelled before.

"It feels like I have to perform better than the rest, every time. That is unnecessary pressure for me."

As Jay laments over her problem, Adeline Lee Ying Ying, 21, has issues of her own.

She is homesick and has been on the verge of a breakdown several times.

"I come from a small community in Port Dickson and it is difficult for me to be away from my family.

"In a way, I hope the whole process (competition) ends soon, so I can be with my loved ones."

In the meantime, she is buying endless soft toys to hold tight at night. Her latest edition is a cuddly cow.

Ringo Tan Hui Ling, 24, is also feeling the loneliness. Having joined the competition two days late, she is a lone ranger in the competition.

"I was called to join after another girl pulled out of the competition. By then, all the other girls had formed their own clique.

"I had more than one nervous breakdown, especially since the producers banned the use of the Internet midway through the competition.

"But I have to be strong since this is probably the last year I will be able to model. I am not as young as most of the other girls. This may be my last chance," said the blogger and freelance writer.

Three cup cakes later, it was clear to us that the "Dreamgirls" were not without their flaws.

So, besides long legs and a to-die-for waistlines, what do they have to offer Malaysians?

The willingness to attempt every challenge thrown at them and the courage to live in a house with 11 other beautiful girls, filled with as much passion.

So, who will be the first Malaysian Dreamgirl?

We'll just have to wait and see what else happens behind closed doors.

THE Malaysian Dreamgirl series recently won a place in the Malaysian Book of Records for being the first online reality series to broadcast.

The show, which started airing last month, received over 200,000 hits and is famous among the Malaysian youth and online community.

It follows the lives of 12 girls over 10 weeks as they live together in a house and compete in exciting challenges.

Two episodes are posted weekly on its website www.malaysiandreamgirl.com.my.

Viewers can vote for their favourite model on a weekly basis by SMS. Models will be eliminated every week based on the SMS vote until the winner is determined.

Malaysian Dreamgirl is the brainchild of Capxion Media Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Jerad Solomon.

Sazzy Falak hosts it and the panel of judges include actress Elaine Daly, celebrity blogger Kenny Sia and fashion stylist Lim Jimmy.

The first Malaysian Dreamgirl will drive away with a Nissan Latio, a RM10,000 preloaded AmBank MasterCard, as well as other gifts.

The grand finale will be held on April 29 at 1 Utama.