Get to know Jasmine Sim, the model and accidental actress

Before she was Jasmine Sim, the actress, she was Jasmine Sim, the model. Her most notable work has got to be being the model for the local fashion blog shop-turned-retail label Love, Bonito.

The story of how she got involved goes as such: Jasmine Sim was modelling for a charity runway show, her mother took photos and sent them to her friends. One of them happened to be the mother of Rachel Lim, the owner of Love, Bonito. The brand was looking for an in-house model, so Jasmine Sim went for casting and eventually got the gig.

"Honestly, taking the job was a no-brainer for me. I probably felt more like it was a leap of faith for the brand to choose me as their in-house model. I was definitely a little nervous because this was one of my first few modelling jobs. I would question myself – "Who am I? Do I even know what I'm doing? Am I meeting their expectations? " Thankfully, it didn't take long for me to feel comfortable though because I felt like I was becoming a part of this big family."

But modelling for a homegrown label wasn't enough to pluck Jasmine Sim out of obscurity just yet. That opportunity would come later when she enrolled for The New Paper New Face modelling competition in 2014. Despite thinking that she messed up the catwalk for the finale, Jasmine Sim ended up placing second.

Soon after, Jasmine Sim started receiving casting calls but turned them all down. It wasn't until 2017 that she decided to give acting a shot with a supporting role for Dream Coder. "I have to admit it was a ‘why not, since I have time’ kind of thing. I was drawn to the fluid nature of acting."

The acting bug had bitten and Jasmine Sim went on to star in The Lead and When Duty Calls in the same year. She had also gotten representation after signing with Ahundred Ants Production.

"Things like being able to cry on cue are part of the skills I have to learn as a newcomer. Even if you think you did really badly that day, you have to keep going."

Jasmine Sim's recognition for her craft came after she was named the Best Newcomer at the 2019 Star Awards. She was lauded for her role as Li Jiawen in Doppelganger (2018), which also starred Christopher and Fann Wong.

When asked by Harper's BAZAAR Singapore in 2020 on what roles she would like to portray in the future, Jasmine Sim replied, "A villain or a criminal... any character in a crime drama." Noting the departure from the roles she had played thus far, she added that she enjoys the challenge.

"Well, I like the challenges that different roles bring, and I actually enjoy watching crime and prison documentaries such as Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons and Inside the Criminal Mind."

Despite having fronted Love, Bonito and starred in television productions, Jasmine Sim admits that she is an introvert. "I’m okay with talking to people one-on-one. It’s just that I don’t work as well in a big group. If I’m in a big group, I’ll just let other people talk."

"I believe that I am [an introvert]. Based on the quizzes I took, I’m a bit of each but I think I’ve become more outspoken since I’ve joined the industry. Mainly because it’s part of the job, to interact with people, but if given the choice, I would be more closed off. I do enjoy being in a big group with my friends but when I’m thrown into a group of strangers, I’m not the social butterfly. Especially in a big group, I’m usually quite kept to myself — I listen more than I speak. If it’s an interview, one-to-one, or when I’m talking to three or two friends, I can talk and be crazy.

I don’t know if it has gotten in the way, but I think it would have helped a lot more if I was more extroverted. With acting especially, it’s always very important to have a connection with your co-actor so it helps when you can talk to that person — it helps with the chemistry when you are acting. Being introverted, when people don’t come to me, I don’t go to them and we just talk when we are on set. It would have helped if I was more extroverted to try and get to know a person and create small talk, if necessary, to get things going. Also, for PR events, it always helps to be more extroverted, to talk and create connections, but I am more shy and in my own bubble, and in the beginning, it was very hard to break that and go out there."

Her introversion hasn't been a stumbling block to finding friends. In fact, Jasmine Sim has found friends with her peers in showbiz, naming fellow actress Carrie Wong as one back in 2019. "I did get closer to Carrie [Wong]. We knew each other already but we got close during VIC and we are getting closer now because of My One In A Million. We just magically clicked. (Laughs) She has been very supportive of me. We hang out outside filming once in awhile, but artistes like her just don’t have time. She’s very busy."

Their friendship is still going strong after all these years. In May 2023, the duo shared that they had attended the Blackpink concert together.

In the same Harper's BAZAAR Singapore interview, Jasmine Sim also discussed her decompression techniques. For starters, she always makes time for her friends: "I meet up with friends from my university days quite regularly, as they’re the ones who keep me sane!"

Cross-stitching and meditation are other ways Jasmine Sim shows love to herself. "I cross-stitch to de-stress and take my mind off things. Oh, and I meditate. I started the practice during circuit breaker and now kick off my mornings with a 10- to 15-minute session; it helps me centre myself and start the day with positive energy."

Learn from the expert herself.

"Don’t look straight into the camera. It’s awkward to stare down the camera. Look away, or look far, and think about something, anything."

"Some of the photographers have told me to just try inhaling and exhaling. It gives you a different posture and vibe. So just… breathe. For me, an OOTD is about trying different things. Just keep trying and trying until you get that shot."

"Most people don’t have a symmetrical face — even myself — so when you’re doing face on shots, the [lack of symmetry] will be more obvious. Angling your face or taking side profile shots will give the illusion of a more symmetrical face."

"If you have pockets, put your hands in your pockets. Most people are very tense and don’t know where to put their hands or how to position their legs. Pockets give you something to do with your hands, or you can put them on your waist to create a different shape. It’s a good idea to create shapes. Making a ‘hole’ with your arms on your waist makes your pic look interesting, and you can also play around with other shapes and angles. I mean, putting your arms by your side and standing straight can be a look too. It all depends on what you’re wearing, and what you wanna emphasise. Just have fun, I guess! For legs, put one leg in front of the other to create shapes, so you don’t look like a block."