MUS finalists make a splash on board Genting Dream for swimwear shoot
MUS finalists take a cruise on Genting Dream for their swimwear shoot
It was the first time on a cruise ship for some of the top 15 finalists of Miss Universe Singapore (MUS) 2018.
Last month, they spent two nights and three days for their swimwear photo shoot on Genting Dream, a mega luxury cruise ship with 18 decks and over 1,600 cabins, as it sailed to Port Klang in Malaysia.
This year, MUS is presented by Asia's luxury cruise line Dream Cruises for the first time.
Miss Ischelle Koo, 22, told The New Paper: "My shoot was incredible because it was my first time being photographed (on a ship). I love the ocean and the shoot gave me such a liberating feeling. I was enjoying myself (so much) I did not even get seasick."
The National University of Singapore (NUS) undergraduate added that the trip gave her time for some self-reflection in her battle with depression after her grandparents died and she dropped out of medical school.
Said Miss Koo: "The highlight of the cruise was relaxing in the jacuzzi and swimming pool. It gave me the time to reflect on all the challenges I have faced, as well as how (the MUS experience) has made me grow as a person.
"I have reached a point of being at peace with everything."
Unfortunately for fellow finalist Mohanaprabha, seasickness was not kind to her.
The 23-year-old PSB Academy student said: "My shoot was at the upper deck and I could feel myself slowly getting sick.
"The common way to rectify this is to look into the distance and that was what I did. I was the first to be shot - it was around 6am and it was really cold (especially) with the strong wind."
She added: "I am a conservative girl who does not usually wear bikinis so the whole event was something new for me. It was an experience to remember."
It was not all work for the MUS finalists.
Genting Dream boasts an array of activities such as the Waterslide Park, a high elements rope course and a rock climbing wall.
Miss Soh Qiao Ying and Miss Ameerah Smith, both 23, enjoyed themselves on the giant vertical water slides at the Waterslide Park.
Miss Soh, a business development manager, said: "When I was queueing for the slide, I did not know it was so steep. I even volunteered to go first.
" I just went ahead even though I was freaking out. It was for about 10 seconds and it was a lot of fun."
Miss Smith, a pastry chef, cheerfully added: "It was my first time on a cruise ship and I loved it. The giant water slide was really scary but I enjoyed myself.
"The ship offered many other activities such as ziplining and rock climbing but sadly, we did not have enough time (to explore) as we were on a tight schedule. I would definitely come back to try all of them."
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