Age is no barrier to chasing New Face dream

The New Paper New Face 2018 walk-in auditions held on Saturday proved that age is no barrier when it comes to chasing your dreams.

The modelling competition, which is open to all ages, attracted more than 100 participants at the Subaru showroom in Leng Kee Road, with contestants as young as 14 and some in their 30s.

Out of the top 20 semi-finalists selected, Jacqueline Cheng, 33, was the oldest.

The project manager and freelance model saw her age as a double-edged sword.

She told The New Paper: "I would know how to carry myself better, in terms of presenting myself to the audience. But I can also learn from the younger ones on how to have a fresh look on modelling."

Jacqueline added that she found out about New Face after her friends encouraged her to sign up for it.

When you are modelling, people are not going to harp on your age. They are going to book you because you fit the product and you are gorgeous New Face judge and local fashion director and show producer Daniel Boey

OPEN DOORS

After learning more about the opportunities New Face alumnae received, she posted an Instagram photo of herself and tagged the New Face account, hoping the competition could open doors for her too.

Asked why he chose Jacqueline, New Face judge and TNP columnist Yeoh Wee Teck said: "New Face is about discovery and opportunity. And we do not let age, height or weight decide."

About 30 girls turned up for the walk-in audition, of which 13 made it to the closed-door audition.

The remaining 76 girls who came down on Saturday were successful online applicants who went straight to the closed-door audition.

Chloe Tan - the youngest semi-finalist at 14 - is 1.78m tall, and was confident that she would stand out.

Said the Secondary 2 student from CHIJ Secondary (Toa Payoh): "In terms of height and personality, I do not think there are many 14-year-olds who are this tall, and I have the passion for this competition."

Another contestant, Loo May Tia, is so interested in modelling, she joined New Face right after competing in Miss Universe Singapore (MUS) 2018 as a top 15 finalist.

On jumping back into the fray barely two weeks after the local beauty pageant's finale on Aug 31, the 18-year-old - who will start going to university next year - said: "I thought New Face would be a great opportunity to explore the industry and push myself to see how far I can go with modelling.

DRIVEN BY PASSION

"Even though it might seem like (the timeline was) tight, it is something I am passionate about and enjoy, so I do not think of it as tiring because I am having fun and learning new skills, and I hope to improve my poses and facial expressions."

May Tia credits her MUS experience for giving her a leg-up at the New Face audition.

She said: "For MUS, I learnt about stage presence, about my walk, and to not have my facial expression be stagnant and to change it subtly. It also taught me to be confident in my skin and be myself in front of the judges."

Also making it to the Top 20 was Iwani Mawocha, 23, who moved to Singapore from Zimbabwe in 2014.

Apart from her ethnicity, the user interface/experience designer believes her calm composure and confidence help her stand out.

Said Iwani, who is also a part-time actress with The Young Company, a subsidiary of Singapore Repertory Theatre: "Going to auditions is part of my life, and I am getting a better handle of controlling my nerves and turning them into excitement."

GOOD MIX

New Face judge and local fashion director and show producer Daniel Boey, 53, said the range of body shapes and ages of participants at this year's audition was a lovely surprise.

He added: "When you are modelling, people are not going to harp on your age. They are going to book you because you fit the product and you are gorgeous.

"As long as you exude confidence and look proportionate, and you embody the essence of the brand, that is what is important."