Aimee Cheng-Bradshaw shares what it’s really like to be on reality TV

Meet Aimee Cheng-Bradshaw, the now Insta-famous Singapore model with over 50,000 Instagram followers, rivalling even homegrown top model Sheila Sim and local celebs the likes of Nat Ho, George Young.

Aimee found fame on-screen, as one of the top three finalists in the recently concluded Season 3 of reality television series Asia’s Next Top Model; she’s also the first Singapore contestant to make it this far to the final round of the modelling competition. The 19-year-old Eurasian model landed in third place, after runner-up Monika Sta Maria from the Philippines and winning Indonesian model Ayu Gani.

I had the chance to meet and work with Aimee earlier in February and March 2015, when she seemed a little tentative and still new to modelling for fashion editorials. A few weeks later, I met her again at the Asia’s Next Top Model Season 3 press preview, where the well-coached model came off more confident and poised to answer any question fired her way.

How things have changed even more, in the three months since. We’ve all seen on-screen how she withstood criticism that she needed to lose some weight to up her modelling game — not easy words to hear, even for a lean UK size 6 model — as she got more used to the limelight after a blitz of post-show interviews.

While she declined to comment further on the body shaming (quite understandably), Aimee tells us she’s happy with being “confident in (her) own body”, after the premiere of the finale episode. Which really, is what truly matters in the end, whether as a model posing for a swimwear shoot or as a young woman growing more comfortable in her own skin; she turns 20 this August!

Here, Aimee shares more about her reality television stint and how she’s soon to become a globetrotting model.

How do you feel about making it to the finals of Asia’s Next Top Model (AsNTM) Season 3? Did you expect to be among the top three finalists?
“It feels amazing to have made it to the top three, I'm incredibly proud of myself. I started the competition with a bit of a struggle but eventually I rose up to each challenge with determination and showed the judges just how great a model I can be. I definitely didn't expect to be in the top three, I hadn't really thought of that in the beginning, I just took the competition week by week, doing the best I can at every photoshoot, and eventually found myself in the finale. Yay!”

How was it like seeing yourself on-screen for AsNTM?
“It's a strange feeling seeing yourself on television and knowing that people all over Asia are watching the same thing. It actually felt more like I was watching home videos of back when we were in the model house rather than a glamorous TV show since I was right there in the midst of all the filming.”

Which were some of your favourite moments from the show?
“My favorite moments have got to be when the girls and I got to just hang out and chill. Chesca (Filipino contestant Franchesca Denise Lagua) used to always make everybody her famous Mango Float, and Barbara (the Japanese-Brazilian contestant from Taiwan) would make this amazing Brazilian dessert and we'd all sit on the bean bag chairs by the pool and chat. Those are definitely memories I would treasure.”

What have you been up to, post-competition? Tell us more about your upcoming plans.
“I've had the opportunity to shoot my first magazine cover! It was for (a men’s magazine) and after everything that had happened in the competition I loved showing how confident I was in my own body. I've also gotten the chance to model for Neutrogena, McDonalds, Robinsons and Somerset 313. I'll be heading to Europe in a couple months and have some direct bookings for advertising campaigns in Bangkok as well as some other stuff that will be coming up soon. Exciting stuff!”

From your experience, what are some of the biggest challenges you've faced as a model in Singapore?
“I suppose getting fashion editorials and magazine work has always been pretty challenging for me. I've always been told that I have a very commercial look (but) I wanted to prove that I can do high fashion just as well as I can do commercial, and use it as a platform to break into the high fashion industry.”

Share with us some of the beauty tips you’ve learnt, while on the job as a model.
“I'm a big believer of less-is-more when it comes to makeup, and definitely recommend splurging when it comes to makeup products because skin care is so important when it comes to modelling. In terms of hair, I love keeping it simple mainly because I can't do (my own) hair even if my life depended on it. I always love a sleek ponytail or hair just kept down naturally.”

What are your style must-haves?
“One of my definite style must-haves would have to be my Steve Madden military boots. It may seem strange to wear boots in Singapore but I feel so edgy in them; I guess that's my style. I love wearing all things basic, but would add a bit of ‘oomph’ to them by pairing it with something edgy just to give it a little of my own taste.”​

Main photo at the top of the page: Aimee Cheng-Bradshaw, as photographed by Vernon Wong. Styling: Evon Chng, assisted by Gracia Phang and Cheng Jee Yan, Makeup: Lolent Lee using Dior, Hair: Kenneth Ong using Redken, Sinequanone denim jacket and top from Robinsons, leather skirt from Exhibit.

Asia's Next Top Model Season 3 will begin re-runs on July 17 (Episode 1) at 6.15 am on StarWorld (Singtel TV Ch. 301, StarHub TV Ch. 501). Subsequent episodes will air every weekday starting July 20, 6.15am on StarWorld.

Did you know that Singapore model Sheila Sim had 'stumbled' into modelling? She shares more about what it takes to be a top model.

Singapore style influencer Velda Tan too, started out as a model. She has since moved on to start her own fashion brand; she talks more about what it took, to start her own fashion business.