MISS SINGAPORE UNIVERSE, 2007
JESSICA TAN, 25

WHEN Jessica Tan was a little girl, she would fantasise about representing Singapore at the Miss Universe pageant.

The statuesque beauty queens made a big impression on the self-confessed 'chubby and not so pretty girl'.

So when her baby fat melted away, and Tan - who lives in the Orchard Road area and has two older brothers - blossomed into a willowy beauty, she pursued her dream. Early this year, it came true.

In April, the 25-year-old was crowned Miss Singapore Universe.

Which meant that the week after winning that title, Tan was in Mexico, representing Singapore at the Miss Universe pageant.

She didn't win, but was happy to have achieved her goal. But it was a bittersweet achievement.

For after becoming Miss Singapore Universe, she ended up dismayed as she struggled for moral and financial support.

Tan, who has a business degree from the National University of Singapore, had prepared herself for criticism from fellow Singaporeans. This is because 'every Miss Singapore Universe gets criticised for being a bimbo'.

Photo/ ST; Make-up: CHERYL ZHANGE YI (mobile phone: 9756-7860) from the Make Up Room

Although winning came with $25,000, flights and a hotel stay in Mexico, she had to find her own clothes, make-up and jewellery sponsors and buy her own shoes within one week. It was so draining that she lost 2 kg in just that week.

Once in Mexico, she started talking to the other contestants and found that her situation was unique. They all had country representatives to take care of everything, from sponsorships to planning what outfits to wear - leaving their beauty ambassador to concentrate on competing.

Compared to her 'crash course in pageants, which consisted of four lessons', Miss Indonesia got eight months of training, including a monthly salary.

She made friends with Miss Japan, who went on to win the main title, and who revealed to her that she had an extra advantage - her country rep was personally hired by Donald Trump, and had been grooming Japan's champions for the past 10 years.

She says: 'I felt that I had been thrown into the sea to be fed to the sharks.'

She adds that Miss Japan was a deserving winner because she was very sweet and humble.

Tan has no regrets about taking part, though. Life has moved on - last week she joined MediaCorp as a part-time artiste.

But she would like to see more support and training for beauty pageant contestants, to increase their chances of winning.

'I would like our local girls get a feel of what to expect, so it's not so much of a shock,' she says.

'You can't just send your best and hope for the best. I would have appreciated more money and time invested.'

Visit Jessica's official website and blog at www.jessica-tan.com.