[top: Katalina had taken leave to be at Changi Airport's Terminal 1 last Friday to meet Edison.]

By Crystal Chan

SHE idolises Hong Kong bad boy Edison Chen so much that she wishes she could be his lover - never mind that his previous lovers became tainted by an ugly sex-photo scandal.

She has more than 300 posters of Edison in her China home and her hostel room here.

She studies English because she wants to speak as well as Edison. She plays a clip of his apology over the scandal every night.

Is Katalina Jiang, 21, obsessed with Edison?

Her feelings for Edison have been discussed in Chinese newspapers after she told The New Paper on Friday that she 'envied the girls who slept with him'.

But the customer service officer, who is from Jiangxi province, told The New Paper last night that she would draw the line at a one-night stand with Edison.

She wants more than just a fling.

Katalina Jiang, 28.

The 28-year-old was embroiled in a scandal last year when pictures of him having sex with Hong Kong female entertainers like Cecilia Cheung and Gillian Chung were stolen from his laptop and circulated on the Internet.

While the affected women and their families were traumatised, Miss Jiang envies them for having spent time with Edison.

She said in English and Mandarin: 'I know Edison will never be attracted to me as I'm plain-looking. I don't fancy posing in a compromising way and having the photos exposed.

'I'm not promiscuous, but I wish I could get up close and personal with him, like those women.

'Till today, I've not had the chance to see him in person. I just hope we can be friends one day.'

Miss Jiang wanted to clarify matters after other newspapers played up her envy of the women who were involved with Edison.

She said: 'It was my first time being interviewed and I feel that I've been portrayed inaccurately.

'My family and friends have been encouraging of my support for Edison.'

Miss Jiang had taken leave to be at Changi Airport's Terminal 1 last Friday. She staked out the arrival lounge from 10am hoping to meet her idol. Edison was in Singapore to launch Carl's Jr.'s Angus Beef Thickburger.

He left Singapore on Saturday afternoon.

But Miss Jiang's wait came to naught as Edison passed through Jet Quay's CIP Lounge.

Miss Jiang was hopeful despite a feeling that she would not get to see her idol.

'A woman's intuition is very good. Something told me I wouldn't get to see him but I felt I had to try my luck. Otherwise, I'd regret it.'

Teen crush

Her intuition was also why she did not try to see him at the hotel where he stayed.

Miss Jiang said: 'I already knew I wouldn't get to see him so I didn't see the point of trying again.'

Her crush on Edison began when she was 15. She has watched almost every one of his movies.

The crush began after a boy whom Miss Jiang liked drowned in an accident.

She began idolising Edison because he resembles the boy.

Indeed, even her ex-boyfriend looks like Edison.

She said: 'I like men who are unconventional and into hip-hop music. My ex was just like that but we broke up as he went to Shanghai to work.'

Miss Jiang, who majored in English and international trade in Jiangxi College of Foreign Studies, said Edison was her motivation to take up those courses.

'I wasn't interested in my (English) course but my parents wanted me to take it up as they thought it offered better prospects.

'But after I learnt that Edison is more fluent in English than Mandarin, I was spurred on to do well in school.

'His Mandarin isn't good but if I get to meet him, we can still communicate.'

Miss Jiang even downloaded a video clip of Edison's public apology, which is in English.

She said: 'I play the clip every night, hoping to emulate his enunciation, which I think is appealing.'

Though people have accused Edison of bringing shame to his former lovers, Katalina is sticking by her idol.

Consensual

'I read about Cecilia's TV interview and I think she shouldn't use the media to slam Edison. She was photographed willingly.

'Besides, the scandal was not something that Edison wanted to happen and he has apologised for it publicly.'

In a televised interview last Thursday, Cecilia, who is married to singer Nicholas Tse, slammed Edison for not apologising to the women in person and for not doing enough to help them.

Computer technician Sze Ho Chun, 24, is on trial in Hong Kong for allegedly circulating the images.

On Cecilia's outburst, Katalina said: 'I understand that the photos are embarrassing for her as she is now a wife and mother.

'But she should remember that nobody forced her into posing for Edison.

'I hope people will stop berating Edison. He has suffered enough already.'

This article was first published in The New Paper.