New Face's new twist
Age is no longer a limit
The New Paper New Face is back.
The much-anticipated modelling competition has returned with a major change in its 22nd year.
Unlike previous years when the minimum age was 14 and the maximum 23, there are no age limits for entry this year. Women of any age can give it a go.
But the judging panel will not take just anyone.
Said TNP columnist Yeoh Wee Teck, who handles the New Face contest and is a member of the judging panel: "We are looking for a fresh face, but we are not a kids' competition. So if you're a 14-year-old who can pass off as 18, we welcome you."
And it is the same for older women.
He said: "If you're 30 but look 20, why not?"
The competition may be the stepping stone to a career for you.
New Face 2013 second runner-up Tan Ying Yi, 18, said: "Last year, some of us were asked to walk for Fide Fashion Week. After joining The New Face, you do get such opportunities.
"I would definitely recommend this competition not just for the prizes, but also the experience."
This year's New Face is presented by Subaru MotorImage, with Levi's as Official Apparel and New Look as Official Footwear and Accessories.
The winner gets $10,000 cash. The first runner up wins $5,000 and the second runner up wins $3,000. Subsidiary title winners get $1,000.
Ying Yi, a Singapore Polytechnic student, also modelled bridal fashion in The New Paper Wedding Planner 2014 in January, and is participating in the just-concluded Singapore Turf Club Turf Belles contest.
First runner-up Jade Rasif, 20, has also been kept busy.
She has been juggling her studies and commercial shoots, including some for Sentosa and the National University of Singapore. She will also be in an upcoming campaign for cosmetics chain Sephora.
Ying Yi, Jade, New Face 2013 winner Noelle Woon, 17, and the winner of Miss Popularity title, Felecia Lie, 19, were reunited to shoot this year's New Face advertising campaign, with the theme of the four elements - earth, water, wind and fire.
Jade's advice for this year's hopefuls: "Smile a lot and be really friendly".
ITE win gets her into Top 25
Nur Afiqah Nadhirah Abdul Latif, 19, becomes the first girl to be in The New Paper New Face 2014's Top 25.
Now she has to clear a photo shoot before she is named a finalist in this year's competition. Her entry into the Top 25 is thanks to her being named the female winner of the ITE-Carrie's Next Top Model 2014.
The annual contest was held yesterday at ITE College East.
On being in the Top 25, she admitted: "I'm nervous because I didn't expect to win, so I didn't prepare myself mentally."
The ITE College Central student, who is taking a Higher Nitec in Passenger Services, made it to the ITE finals last year but did not win. But her happy memories of last year's competition spurred her to try again.
She prefers photo shoots to runway modelling, which she finds harder. In the New Face contest, she will have to face both. "There's always more to learn," she said.
Afiqah may be the only girl with a guaranteed entry into the Top 25, but her fellow contestants have a chance too. Runner-up Peh En Ci, 18, and second runner-up Erra Kazimah, 18, move straight into the second round of the auditions.
Contestants in the first round will be from scouting and walk-in auditions. The second round will be closed-door auditions for the Top 25. The Top 25 will be whittled down to 20 for the finals after a photo shoot.
The male winner of the ITE-Carrie's Next Top Model 2014 contest, Jasper Lim, 19, did not even expect to get into the semi-finals. He was asked by his teacher to join the contest.
"I was concentrating more on having this experience with my friends around me, not on winning," said Jasper, who is taking a Higher Nitec in Hospitality Operations. "I'll definitely work towards modelling if I can get more opportunities, maybe in commercials," he said.
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