Media Room

The Star Online | 20 March 2009

Not your regular girls

by: Nasa Maria Entaban

Dawn Lim Yeen Sze

ON Monday evenings, most young women would either be returning home from colleges, or just getting into their cars after a hard day’s work. Some might have dinner plans with their friends while others have husbands and children to go home to.

This was not the case, however, for the 11 finalists of the Malaysian Dreamgirl Season 2.

The finalists arrived at the Mist Club in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, on Monday evening to get ready for their night of glory – being introduced in public for the first time as the finalists of the online reality TV show.

A flurry of excitement surrounded the hair and makeup sections, where the girls sat patiently while makeup artists and hair stylists fussed over them, transforming all of them from regular girls-next-door to top model material.

Not that these girls are “regular”, really. They have been chosen from a pool of model hopefuls from auditions in KL, Penang and Johor Baru. There were originally 12 finalists, but one pulled out due to health reasons.

The show, which debuted last year, is the nation’s first online reality series which chronicles the lives of these girls as they go through challenge after challenge in hopes of achieving their dreams of becoming a model.

Nor Hafsah Mat Nor, Dawn Lim Yeen Sze, Denezia Maryanne Beins, Ummi Farahnasuha Zulkefli, Juanita Anushya Francis Jacob, Nurliana Mohd Rafiai, Mayang Seri Hashim, Chiang Lee Ming, Natasha Mohd Johari, Liew Mee Han and Shaheeda Salim Ahmad, will live together for the next two months (in an undisclosed location).

Each week, one girl will be eliminated based on SMS votings.

The last girl standing will be crowned the Malaysian Dreamgirl, and doors to opportunities she has only ever dreamed of will be opened to her.

The girls go through countless makeup sessions throughout the competition.

Former beauty queen, model and actress Elaine Daly, who was one of the judges and mentors last year, will also be playing the role of host this time around.

Fashion stylist Lim Jimmy, Andrew’s Models founder Andrew Tan and Beautilicious cosmetics CEO Julie Wong are also judges this season.

Sitting around being done up and styled is the easy part as everything about modelling is a challenge for the girls.

Part-time model Shasya Shaheeda Salim Ahmad, 22, nervously sat down for a short interview after her makeup was done. She spoke with ease and smiled genuinely, but admitted that she has had a confidence issue for some time.

“That’s one of the reasons I joined this competition. I wanted to build up my confidence and modelling is something that requires not only confidence, but a lot of strength and perseverance,” said the Penangite.

Surprisingly, she hopes to build a modelling career in Penang, instead of KL where most fashion events happen.

“There is a good fashion scene in Penang, and I’m hoping to bring something different to the table,” said Shasya.

Across the room having her hair done was Chiang Lee Ming, a 21-year-old graphic designer with high cheekbones.

She said that the competition so far has been tough, and she has had to adapt quickly in order to get this far.

Pinky Liew Mee Han

“There are so many girls around, sometimes it’s a little hard to get everyone to cooperate. But we’re managing,” said Ming.

All the girls had to go through a makeover at the beginning of the competition, which required many of the girls to chop off their long locks.

Liew Mee Han, also known as Pinky, had hair almost down to her waist, but it was chopped off to just below her ears.

“I miss my hair! But it’s something that a model has to deal with and I’m prepared for any challenge,” said the 20-year-old makeup artist.

Later, the enthusiastic crowd at the club got to see the girls strut their stuff in outfits by Viva Chea, Red Lantern Studio and creations by the Fashion Faculty of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology. They also modelled Wacoal lingerie and notebooks from HP.

Malaysian Dreamgirls Season 2, will run for 10 weeks from this month to May, with new episodes airing every Thursday and Saturday.

To follow the girls’ journeys and to vote for your favourites, log on to www.malaysiandreamgirl.tv.