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Monday May 14, 2012

Model Dreams Come True

By Shamala Velu

You don't have to be ultra slim or tall or have the right skin color to be a model. All you have to do is have the right make up, the right hair style and good fashion sense. With these three things, you too can be a model.

Menaga Subramaniam says her best features are her eyes.

That's the message ACM (Anyone Can Model), a brand image consultancy group, wants the public to know. Created by Chapter One Asia, ACM says anyone can be a model regardless of their age, height, size or body shape. And they are going all out to prove it too via the ACM/CloveTwo Anyone Can Model contest held every month until June this year.

March winners, Menaga Subramaniam and Nur Qamarina never imagined they would be picked winners of the contest. Menaga, from Klang, said she found out about the contest from her cousin. "I never thought I could look like a professional model," the 27 year old said during an interview.

"I'm interested in photography and I love taking pictures of my friends and of course, myself." The Biomedicine graduate from Management and Science University, Shah Alam says this particular contest gave her an opportunity to do something different -- post a baby photo of herself as well.

Titled, The Adult I am … The Kid I was, CloveTwo fans were encouraged to send in photos of themselves as a kid and as an adult, the whole idea was to see if there are any traits a person carries to their adulthood. Of the multiple entries the women's portal received, entries from both Menaga and Nur Qamarina received the most votes. Menaga received 996 votes and Nur Qamarina clocked in at 1,080 votes.

Nur Qamarina looking stunning at the photo shoot

"People tell me I have beautiful eyes, so I decided to emphasize on my eyes when I captioned my photo," Menaga explains. Her caption read: "I may look very different, but for me, my beautiful eyes remain the same as ever."

Both ladies were treated to a complete makeover as part of the prize they received.

Make up artist Lim Joo Yee from The Styling Pavilion, said both ladies had strong features, so she decided to accentuate their features such as their eyes and noses. Joo Yee used green and blue eyeshadow and light orange lip gloss to bring out their best features. A lighter foundation was also used giving both Nur Qamarina and Menaga a more translucent complexion. "This is the kind of make up one uses for a natural look during a photo shoot. This style actually makes them stand out more," Joo Yee explains.

Apart from the make up, both Menaga and Nur Qamarina also had their hair done by D'Element Hair Salon at the Strand in Kota Damansara. Hair stylist and co-partner of the salon, Mandy Chia said both ladies did not want to cut their hair so for Nur Qamarina, she curled her hair to give it more volume and for Menaga, her hair was tied to bring out her features. "Since we did not cut their hair, we just styled it to fit their different looks," Mandy explains.

After their hair was done, it was off to Perfect Runway, a boutique that houses apparels from Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore. Co-owner Evie Tham said she wanted to clothe Nur Qamarina in something colourful and oriental to flatter the student's tanned complexion.

"As for Menaga, I I chose horizontal prints to give her more body as she's petite," Evie said adding she is always eager and ready to advise any of her customers/clients about various prints, design and style that might suit them. "Sometimes people are unsure of what to choose and what works best for them. I can help in this matter."

Joo Yee applies a lighter foundation giving Nur Qamarina a more translucent complexion.

Menaga, who confessed she enjoyed every minute of the makeover, was surprise with her look. "I love the make up and the hair do and trying the different dresses. I felt like a queen. It was a wonderful experience with the professional make-over team. They were friendly and supportive. The make-over made me look as if I was a professional model and it was a boost to my self-esteem," she shares.

The ACM/CloveTwo contest is sponsored by Bizzy Body, Clairol, Origins, Clinelle and Wella. Winners will receive products from the respective sponsors.

This contest is organized by ACM, (
http://www.anyonecanmodel.com/) the starting point of models of all ages, heights, shapes and sizes!

Follow ACM on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/AnyoneCanModel

Folow our sponsors:

Perfect Runway Boutique (
http://www.perfectrunway.com/)

Perfect Runway's Facebook (
http://www.facebook.com/perfectrunway)

Makeup:

Styling Pavilion (
www.stylingpavilion.edu.my)