From Desk to Stage: Toralina’s Bold Burlesque Journey
Meet 28‑year‑old Toralina – a creative whiz by day, a fearless burlesque star by night. By day she’s draped in maxi dresses, button‑down shirts, and jeans, working in the creative industry and freelancing as an artist. By night, she swaps those outfits for lingerie, a fish‑head mask, and a dazzling light show that turns heads—literally and figuratively.
Why She Keeps a Fish‑Head Mask
Her conservative family thinks she lives a quiet, “family‑friendly” life. In reality, she’s on a secret side‑gig that lets her flex both her confidence and her creative muscles. The mask? A clever disguise that keeps her family blissfully unaware while she smashes stereotypes on stage.
Finding Her Sweet Spot
- Early‑career goal: “Show that beauty isn’t one size.”
- In 2016, she spotted a Facebook post from drag queen Becca D’Bus looking to assemble a burlesque troupe featuring diverse body types for the M1 Fringe Festival.
- At 1.7 m tall and a size 20, Toralina felt an instant pull—not just to dance, but to celebrate her own curves and challenge the “cute, petite” trope that many Asian girls feel pressured to fit.
- Her four‑year U.S. degree stint taught her that size doesn’t dictate style. From leggings to loud prints, she saw women owning their looks, so she decided: “If she wears them, I can too.”
First Steps on the Stage
“The first time I stripped down in a workshop, the instructor had us all in the same level of nudity. That shared vulnerability made the whole thing super chill.”
When the stage lights shone, she heard the crowd roar and felt pure joy. That adrenaline proved to be the fuel she needed to commit to nightly performances at spots like Lulu’s Lounge and Kilo Lounge. It didn’t come easy—she had never danced before—but burlesque taught her to harness her body, not fight it.
Confidence on Point
- learned sensual moves that highlighted her favorite parts—her curves—making her feel utterly beautiful.
- no longer apologizes for taking up space: “I used to feel uneasy on trains when people brushed my thighs or hips. Now, I sit there like ‘I’m just sitting, you’re the one who’s close!’”
The Mask vs. The Real Self
While she performs behind a fish‑head mask, she’s proud of her uniqueness. It’s not just the look; it’s the fearlessness. When fans come close, they applaud her confidence in stripping away societal expectations.
Will she ever drop the mask? She’s open to the idea—perhaps when she moves overseas. Until then, she’s all about pressing the right buttons, both literally and figuratively.
Bottom Line
Toralina’s journey shows that a side gig can be a launchpad: a way to break stereotypes, expand your social crew, and revel in your own beauty. She’s proof that you don’t need to be a polished commercial star to inspire others.
Meet Esther: The Freelance Bridesmaid Who Turned a Wedding into a Full‑Time Job
Picture this: a bride who’s been a month in the Bible, a groom who’s gearing up to conquer the groom‑gate, and a bridesmaid who’s not just by chance but by contract. Esther, a 29‑year‑old educator with a knack for keeping makeup fresh and stomachs full, was hired off a friends‑for‑hire site to put the “friend” in “friend‑for‑hire.” She turned what could have been a mundane role into a whirlwind of tasks, emotions, and a few unexpected perks.
What a Bridesmaid Actually Does (And What Esther Did)
- Makeup Maintenance – No flaking eyeliner, no smudged lips.
- Food Interludes – Balanced the bride’s diet between dress changes.
- Red Packets Accounting – Handed each sheikh a souvenir of the wedding.
- Game Master – Orchestrated the gatecrash, a ritual where the groom must beat a series of challenges before strolling into the bride’s kitchen.
- Tea Ceremony Etiquette – Took the time to bow and thank the bride’s parents during the traditional tea ritual.
All that, and she didn’t even know the bride at the time. “She was hired two weeks before the wedding. I didn’t know her, but that didn’t stop me from making sure the whole affair went smoother than a buttered rice bowl,” she says. Her job came with the normal wedding wizardry – handing out relevant photos and videos to the bride, with no future meetings planned.
Pally Asia: A New Kind of “Friend‑for‑Hire” Platform
Pally Asia is basically a marketplace where you can pay for someone to play any role you need: a sports coach, a boyfriend for a night, a companionship buddy for hotpot, or even a dinner companion. Esther’s entry in the directory was $100 per hour for bridesmaid work.
Why would someone pay for a bridesmaid? Esther thinks it’s a way to “expand her horizons.” “I want to see different kinds of people instead of just my university squad,” she muses on her side‑gig horizons.
Beyond Wedding Bells: Dinner & Shopping Side‑Gigs
- Dinner Companion – For just $40 for an hour and a half, she sits down with singles who need a polite partner for an evening. Her first experience involved a Vietnamese IT professional and a casual noodle joint. It turned into an easy chat about travel and personal interests.
- Shopping Buddy – A place for clients to find just the right gift or outfit; Esther loves rummaging through stores for hours to pick that perfect piece.
Though her friends sometimes tease her (“Are you really dating people for free?”), Esther keeps it strictly conversational. “It’s not dating. It’s just a chance to sit down, talk, and have a good meal,” she says at the end of the day.
Keeping Things Clean and Classy
Pally’s code of conduct insists that once you’re a “Pally” you can only be present for the agreed activities (like a dinner or the wedding), with no extra expectations. Esther learns that this helps keep the boundaries clear, so no one tries to push her into unplanned territory.
Her parents’re not exactly in at the loop – “Sometimes the less the elders know, the better,” says Esther, while her ghost of a wedding hotel life provides her with extra income and a break from the usual teaching routine.
Future Plans – More Than One Gig
With this newly minted experience under her belt, Esther’s planning to advertise more side gigs: event coordination, party planner, or perhaps even a “friendship consultant.” She’s ready for the next challenge, whether it’s another wedding or a quiet dinner date.
So there you have it – a five‑star bridesmaid who turned social media because she couldn’t resist a paycheck and a chance to pull off yet another production. When you need a bridesmaid who knows how to keep the bride’s smile bright and the groom’s nerves at bay, Esther’s the name that hits the right notes.
Meet Trisha—The Queen of Queues
Picture this: Trisha (29) has been a queue‑sitter for months now, but she gets paid not for the thrill of biting into an iPhone X—she does it for the money.
The Life of a Queue‑Sitter
- Three‑hour shift: Pay ≈ $21
- 12‑hour shift: Pay ≈ $90–$110
- Latest gig—iPhone X: $175 for a full 18‑hour marathon
Trisha once spent 12 hours lining up for an Adidas x Mastermind sneaker and 8 hours for the Erdem x H&M collab. But waiting for the iPhone was the leg-endary longest and most profitable!
How It All Started
Back in August, a Carousell post asked for a queue‑sitter to nab limited‑edition Supreme x Louis Vuitton pieces. That single job opened up a whole new world for her. She dove in and found iQueue—the go‑to platform linking customers with za‑musicians who’ll stand in line for them.
Customers can choose:
- Queue & Buy: You handle storage and hand over items when done.
- Queue & Replace: You let the client know your position, so they can take over at the right time.
Why Queue‑Sitting?
Besides her part‑time gigs as a banquet server and event set‑up assistant, queue‑sitting is just a side hustle to keep up with bills. She’d rather keep the name secret, but every extra ding‑ding is welcome.
Her big dreams are beyond the waiting line:
- Resit her O Levels, then
- Get a diploma in agricultural science, and eventually
- Launch her own agri‑business
Survival Kit for the Queue‑Sitter
Trisha’s toolbox is stocked:
- Snacks (cookies, crisps)—no bingeing needed.
- Water bottle to stay hydrated.
- Multi‑charge power bank—don’t let your phone die.
- Umbrella—rain or shine, the line never stops.
- Data plan for binge‑watching videos.
She also plans for quick response times (sometimes she gets just minutes to join the line) and store quirks (shoe stores that require your own shoe size). She reads forums to figure out how to handle such snags without getting caught.
Friendship Within the Queue
Ever built a small squad while waiting? Trisha keeps the peace by offering snacks and water, especially if someone will take over later. That way, there’s no ticket‑tension or “someone took my spot!” drama. “People are friendly—as long as it doesn’t cost them extra effort,” she notes.
The Human Touch
Beyond the dollars, it’s fabulous to help. She recalls a woman who almost missed concert tickets, but Trisha snagged them for her, and the woman was over the moon. Trisha says, “you can taste the joy of someone else’s win, even if it lasts only a short while.” When it comes to Singapore’s kiasu spirit, the nation’s queue‑skills are top notch.
Cheers to Trisha—our everyday hero with a bottom line & heart.
