Finding Love in the Mirror
I finally realized I like the look in the glass. Over the last decade, that simple truth has become my secret treasure.
The Playground of Doubts
- I grew up clutching my skinny ankles so tightly they could barely fit into my socks.
- At my all‑girls school, the “comparison club” was a full‑time job—every body seemed to chem‑train at its own pace.
- Late to bloom? Let me refresh that memory: I was the quintessential late‑bloomer, missed the pelting of the first full‑workout.
Modeling: The Insecurity Factory
At 14, a photographer flagged me as a potential runway star. Girl, I was not the “tall, feathery model” you’d expect. The buzz was all “lose weight” and “you’re not slim enough for couture.” That was the era of Kate Moss‑style vices; no space for the athletic vibe we chase today.
Miss Singapore Universe? Where Does That Go?
Picture me, standing inches away from beauty standards, as I entered the Miss Singapore Universe pageant in 2006. While the cameras focused on those curves other contestants flaunted, mine? Flatlay‑flatlay flat. The tabloids caught this, printed it, and the fear of being “fat” crept in—a paradox keeping me on diet Sunday before the finals.
Who Needs a Curve if You Have a Soul?
One thing I learned: there’s no sense in chasing a body you can’t gift yourself. As the years rolled, the true joy emerged from acceptance—celebrating the parts that already existed.
Sports: The Real Body Supplier
- Netball: yes, I still have competitive chants.
- In‑line skating: I glide like a freshly waxed ice crystal.
- Rock‑climbing: I treat each wall as a personal ally.
- Hiking & cycling: my muscles get the CPA: “courage, perseverance, action.”
- Rebouncing: every week, I teach the “bouncy masterclass” and nobody has a better laugh track.
Thanks to this, I’ve learned to appreciate my body for function over form. Roll on the days I hit the gym, the trail, or the ring on my trampoline. I’m not curvy; I’m turbo‑charged.
“At 38, I’ve never felt as happy and content as I do now.”– my life affirmation for everyone chasing the same. And hey,
