From The Straits Times    |
Singapore’s top models support Audi Fashion Festival 2013 THUMBNAIL

You know it’s “that time of the year” again when you start getting news about the next Audi Fashion Festival (AFF) … Singapore fashion-lovers start planning their wardrobes, angling for show tickets and rumours about which hot fashion designer or blogger or model will be visiting Singapore in May start doing the rounds.

When it comes to models, however, Singapore isn’t exactly lacking in the “top model” category. Both Sheila Sim, one of the faces of SK-II, and Vivien Ong, who’s walked some of Europe’s top runways, are proud to “represent” for Singapore on the international fashion stage.

Singapore’s top models support Audi Fashion Festival 2013 DECOR S V
Singapore’s top models support Audi Fashion Festival 2013 DECOR FUN
Top Singapore models Sheila Sim and Vivien Ong at work (above top) and play (above) while shooting the Audi Fashion Festival 2013 campaign with Singapore photographer Joel Lim.
Images: Audi Fashion Festival

herworldPLUS got hold of some exclusive photos from behind-the-scenes of the recent AFF campaign shoot, and managed to sneak in a few questions to Sheila and Vivien between make-up, hair and lighting requests.

VIVIEN ONG

Singapore’s top models support Audi Fashion Festival 2013 DECOR VIVIEN ONG

What was your modeling or fashion highlight of 2012?
I think it was going to Europe, because there are very few Singapore models that actually go to Europe to work; and then getting signed with NEXT is super lucky. [NEXT is a major international modelling agency]

I was actually signed with a smaller agency in Milan and then after that I figured I might as well go to Paris since I was in Europe anyway. The scout came and basically looked at everyone and took measurements and then the bookers came and took me to a room with the president of NEXT Europe … you have seven people looking at you, pulling up your hair; turning your face and then the, ‘OK we’re gonna sign you’ comes.

That was the highlight! Doing Paris and Milan fashion week [were also major highlights]; out of the 65 shows I only went to seven show castings but I got booked for two shows and one presentation for Antonio Marras.

What has been your favourite moment so far in modeling?
Shooting this AFF campaign! This is actually the first time I’ve had a chance to shoot with Sheila, and working with the biggest fashion week in Singapore [is great]. Everybody knows about it. It’s going to be huge exposure; my face is going to be on Orchard Road!

Who would you like to work with in future?
I really want to shoot with [the magazine] Dazed and Confused.

Do you have any beauty secrets?
I try to sleep as much as I can, at least 7 hours a night.

Describe your personal style
I like cool but comfortable stuff; most of my pieces are loose fitting.

Do you feel any pressure being one of the few Asian models who have cracked the Western market?
It’s all about luck, I don’t feel any pressure. Even if you feel pressure, your personality will still be the same; your face will still be the same. If people don’t like you there’s nothing you can do about it. Just take it as it comes.

What would you do if you aren’t modeling?
I actually wanted to be a journalist since I was in school. I actually have a diploma in journalism.

How do you spend your free time?
I play darts; I’m in this darts competition now that’s called the Darts Live Super League Cup.

What do you think of the Singapore fashion scene?
We are moving very fast. After I joined the New Paper New Face competition (which Vivien won) I realized there’s actually a lot of fashion things going on. Within two years, the scene has just exploded. More and more foreign models come here because they know they will get good pictures.

Any words of advice for aspiring fashion models?
Just relax, don’t be competitive and want it too much. It will work against you and if you can’t take rejection, you will become even more demoralized that you cannot deliver what the client wants.

Runway or editorials?
I like shoots, because I used to be very stiff. Every shoot is like a challenge, every different magazine has got it’s own style; some will just ask you to “nua” (act cool) all the way, some will ask you to be a lot more feminine. I used to have problems being feminine. [laughs]

SHEILA SIM

Singapore’s top models support Audi Fashion Festival 2013 SHEILA SIM

What was your modeling or fashion highlight of 2012?
My highlight was becoming the ambassador for SK-II, it was a progressive year for me last year because there was SK-II, and then along came Sceneplicity my own fashion label, so it was quite a fulfilling and accomplished year.

Are there any people that you wish to collaborate with in the future?
I would definitely like to work with local designers, like my good friend Keith Png, and other Singapore fashion designers and labels like Alfie Leong, Reckless Ericka and Depression.

So, you started your own fashion line recently; tell us about your label?
I am new so there’s so much I have to learn, I’m not very confident of my own brand yet but it’s slowly improving day by day. Right now the design is steered towards a niche market of people my size and that’s a mistake, so now I’m trying to incorporate what I like into what people would wear everyday. I’m trying to learn all these things because in terms of the technical aspects I’m not very good.

How did the name Sceneplicity come about?
I initially wanted to pick “simplicity”, because of Sim, Sheila Sim, but it’s too common.

What do you think of the Singapore fashion scene?
After being in the industry for so long it has definitely grown a lot, not just within the industry but also the people, the audience, the buyers … everything.

I’ve also become more educated about the local fashion scene, and people are starting to be more supportive of the Singapore fashion scene as well. It’s getting a lot of exposure. Over the last five years Audi Fashion Festival has brought a lot of awareness [about Singapore fashion] and a lot of publicity for local designs not only within Singapore but also outside of Singapore.

Do you feel any pressure being labelled the Singapore Supermodel?
I don’t feel much pressure because I honestly don’t feel like a supermodel. I just happened to appear at the right time, in the right place. I’m very blessed in that sense.

Having been given that chance I’ve always grabbed on to every opportunity and fully utilised it. At the same time, with Vivien coming along, I feel very happy because she’s like a little sister and she’s also from my agency.

Seeing somebody else grow and being able to teach what I’ve learnt over the years is a very good feeling. I don’t think the title has given me much pressure, if anything it’s given me a lot of motivation and encouragement.

You chopped off your hair a few years ago, if you were to change your look again what would it be?
The last time I cut my hair I was very pleased with it. For work reasons, I’ve had to keep it long again, but I’ve spoken to my management again about wanting to cut it again, maybe sometime in May, and I’m looking forward to it.

I like changes and new things all the time. In fashion people get bored of you very quickly so you always need to have a new look.

What do you see yourself doing in five years time?
I really don’t know. I am doing so many new things now … the fashion brand; I’m still modeling and I just started trying acting and also going back to school.

I’m having fun with every one of them, so I hope that five years down the road I will still be able to try a lot of new things.

Life is quite stale and boring if you’re fixated on one one thing. The reason why I fell in love with modeling and acting is that every day it’s different, even if I go to a photoshoot it’s never the same. I hope five years down the road it will still be the same.

Do you have any health or beauty secrets?
It’s very important to be happy and keep a positive mind, beauty comes from within, whatever that you feel inside comes out as well.

Makeup wise, less is more. If you can look without makeup you will definitely look good with makeup. It’s important to cleanse and remove your makeup, and consult a dermatologist so you know what your skin is like and can use what’s right for it.

Any words of advice for aspiring fashion models?
Know what you want. For every industry, for every job that you’re doing, it’s important to know what you want and work hard for it – it’s not something that happens overnight.

A lot of people hear inspiring stories and say, ‘oh I want to be the next top model in Singapore’ … but you need experience and time to grow, so if you’re an aspiring model then work hard for it.

Audi Fashion Festival 2013 will be held in Singapore in May, 2013. For more details, go to audifashionfestival.com or Follow the event on its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AudiFashionFestivalSingapore and Twitter at @AudiFashionFest.