Introducing Charlene!

We are ,for the most part, just ordinary people

Glamorous. Perhaps Fergie Ferg's G.L.A.M.O.R.Ous would have been a befitting song for the night. I LOVED my wardrobe from Parkson that I myself chose. I say this only because the other beautiful girls I stood with did not get that same opportunity of choice. I was grateful nevertheless. Beautiful green dress with wire structure underneath, falling just before the knee. I was tempted to shorten it,
BUT no no, Thou shalt not covet thy sponsor's wardrobe, especially since I had to return it...

Amidst the sea of cameras and well dressed ladies and men, my attention was turned to catching up with the girls.

Yes we were in a pageant together, and yes we were competing with each other, but I wanted to really catch up, and see what they were up to four months after those weeks of mental stress and physical torture. Not that I minded it at that time. I refused to allow miss "Tina the talking tummy" to blab to the world about my ultimate love for rich smooth chocolate cake, and cold milky bubble tea, which i had religiously almost everyday of my happy life.

But, no. I bid farewell to my dear calories of happiness and made the treadmill my new best friend.

Four months later, after life resumed, it was absolutely lovely to catch up, the little that we could. But who could complain about not having enough talk time when champagne and wine flowed like the river Nile and white spoons cupped the walnut size servings of food. Bliss.

I must say, some ladies looked stylishly dressed, while others could have needed a little more this or a little less that.

Sadly, while Nadine the reigning queen whose experiences thus far this was for, was giving her speech, it was not heeded by the guests who were perhaps forgetting that they were far away from an actual market place. Nevertheless, the national director and her fellow former pageant-ees cheered her on.

One thing that I noticed among my friends was a glow. A glow that told me that they were content, happy, and satisfied to be living their own lives, dictated and lived out by themselves. They returned to their jobs, their families, and true friends and were happy to be away from those who criticized them with just a look... or worst still, insulted them by not caring to even see them as they looked.

We live in one world but people are often worlds apart; our wants, desires, priorities, and values vary accordingly. What ever happened to Perennialism? People whose desires are written in stone turn Existentialist. We do what we want, act how we want so long as we want what we want. Yet, while fully conscious of this, we strive to be accepted by this world we choose to be part of. Yes, we choose to be part of.

The night ended in higher spirits than was anticipated.

Surface relations rekindled while others deepened. Snap shots were taken to commemorate the night of "smile and look happy when the camera is on you".










But I was glad I saw the girls again, and to be reminded that we are, for the most part,

just ordinary people.

All photography by AndyKho. Visit andykho.com for more!

Hypocrites are We Not?

Advertisers should be given more credit than is given. Magazines, TV commercials, even the newspaper propagate what the ideals of life should be.

The happy family consisting of a mixed looking dad, a young mother with perfect hair, and two children who appear to be obedient angels.

How about the sweet beauty with smooth skin and shiny soft hair, showing off her pearly whites while looking at you, the viewer.

Or perhaps the sexy Caucasian models with the perfect bodies, fleshy in all the right places, and ripped tone where it should be. Really, these are the standards that the average folk should imitate.

Why are stereotypical images in a fantasized world so important to us?

Perhaps it was meant to paint us a fantasy that is precisely that. Many don’t realise that while for a brief moment magic is captured in front of the lens, there is the scrutinizing selection of the wardrobe, conceptualizing the image fantasy to be portrayed, the technicalities of lighting, lens, mood, and of course the model.

Yes the model. Who knows how many days she deprived herself of a proper wholesome meal, who knows if she spent gruesome hours in the gym although fatigued by the lack of food in her body, who knows about the tireless hours she spends staring at the magazines, wishing it was her on the front pages and not her best friend.

And yet, we see a beautiful girl with the perfect lips, perfect eyes, perfect physique, perfect smile, perfect teeth, perfect hair, while we forget the countless hours, perhaps days and months and weeks that was spent envisioning the capturing of that one magical moment.

Does staring at those pages make you happy? Does it please your eyes as you gaze at those visions of perfection while your makeup-less face and toweled dry hair is the vision you see in front of your mirror? This juxtaposition of the image is what feeds your thoughts. The subconscious works overtime in sponging up all that is smeared in the mind until you tell yourself straight is better than crooked, silky is better than coarse, white is better than black, but pink is the new black.

It’s sad to hear people ogle over a dress, a garment, a work of art. “we can always get another girl, but we cannot get another work of art”. Is art more precious than a life a person? Is not art created to showcase the wonders of life and creation? Still we condemn what was made by the hands of the Omnipotent, telling His creation that what she has is not good enough. Is it vindication in calling this hostility part of the industry that is created by man?

Hypocrites are we not?

WHO are you wearing? DKNY 2010

Streams of cars clogging up the traffic tunnels of KL. A typical scene when rushing to an event in Lot10 KL. Love the place, hate the traffic. Roots however was an almost serene scene in comparison to the chaos on the streets.

M: "Who are you wearing?"
C:"Erm... I don't know" was my reply.

Funny. You would think someone who watches E News, and reads fashion magazines all the time would have thought about it.

But, the thing is, forget about Hollywood, when it comes down to events in our very own Malaysia ( photography, media, people), do the young 'up and comings' think about WHO they would wear? Typical scenario is, you don't have alot of money but you have to come up with something classy that reflects you. So how does one do it?

While I do some research on that one, what I did manage to catch is some well dressed folks in front of my camera!

Ben Ibrahim- dressed in a crisp white shirt and silver tie ( and no, I did not ask him WHO he was wearing). Simple yet classy-ly standing out amongst the sea of dark clothing.

Malaysia's sweetheart Joannabelle is one lady who always stays true to her style that is authentically unique. While most would stick to clean lines and cuts at events where scrutinizing eyes look you up and down, this beauty always stays feminine, sweet, and romantic with a hint of sexyness. Think about it, how many people CAN pull off wearing a ruffled top, a short pant, and a little top hat without it looking like 'the dress wore you' kind of thing? Her ensemble was from her very own shop! More to come about this one.

Snap shots

Charlene & Nadine---Cassandra---Steve & Charlene

A New Course

It's been ages since I revisited these pages.

Re-reading old lines reminded me of the life of one who lived life in a sheltered innocent world. It is interesting how I perceive what I see now. Still, I love the world in which I live in. Not all the time, but most of the time.

Expect perceptions. Perceptions I say and not opinions, the word seems too self-centered. Perceptions on fashion, style and sophistication. These three have grown to be good girlfriends of mine; friends whom I admire, study and develop from. Friends who help me de-stress, who help keep me entertained, who frustrate me yet have taught me a great deal about the material world millions are part of and trillions can only dream to be in. So here's to my gurlies, "may we have many many more happy times ahead, cheers!"

For What

Give up. It’s not worth your time.

You’d never be as good as..

Stop. You’d never figure it out.

Try harder. You would make nothing out of it.

Give up.

Stop. It’s not what it seems.

Go on. You’d reached the..

You can. Just go on.

Think, of what matters.

Don’t stop.

TASK FOR YOU!

Jazz chants are like poems, read with rhythm. It is absolutely fun to perform. Like what you have just heard on Youtube, Read this jazz chant with a partner. You may clap or snap softly.

Title: My Favourite food

I love it very much

My yummy French fries

I love the soft insides

I love the crispy coat

You can find it in McDonalds

can find it in my fryer

You can find it at

any fast food place

Yes you can

Yes you can

Practice makes perfect! Now, you are an expert!

Task Instructions:

In groups of four, create your own jazz chant about your favourite food.

You shall perform it to your classmates in 15 minutes time.

So get moving!