She gets automatic spot in New Face semis
ITE student earns prize after winning ITE-Carrie's Next Top Model contest
The first girl to make it to The New Paper New Face 2016's top 25 has been found.
On Tuesday, Joanna Lydia Koh, 18, beat nine other finalists to become the female winner of the sixth edition of annual modelling competition ITE-Carrie's Next Top Model held at ITE College East.
As part of the grand prize - a one-year contract with Carrie Models International - she landed herself an automatic spot in New Face's semi-final.
This is the third year that New Face is collaborating with ITE-Carrie's Next Top Model, which also crowned 17-year-old ITE College Central mechanical engineering student Aevrom Ng as its male winner.
Miss Koh told The New Paper: "I'm excited. Nervous too, but the excitement overwhelms it."
She added that she felt a little bad for the other hopefuls who will have to work hard to crack New Face through the upcoming street hunt and walk-in audition, while she received a direct entry into the top 25.
Miss Koh, who is studying business services at ITE College West, is not looking to be a model or an actress like most New Face contestants.
She plans on becoming an air stewardess - for now.
She said: "Joining New Face will probably give me a clearer view of what I want to do. Maybe modelling will be more suitable for me."
Nonetheless, she feels that New Face can be a "stepping stone" to her potential career as an air stewardess.
She said: "I will learn how to present myself and how to walk."
She is not confident about becoming a New Face finalist because she has heard how tough the competition is, but she hopes she will leave with new skills and life lessons.
The last girl who entered New Face via ITE-Carrie's Next Top Model was Nadiah Sapuan in 2012.
IMPROVE
Miss Koh said: "I will try my best to learn something, like improving my catwalk and make-up (skills).
"I also hope to leave as a better person and to not give up easily."
She added: "I will improve myself before New Face, like getting tips from people, such as my (model) boyfriendand watching YouTube videos."
Miss Koh said she hopes her parents, boyfriend and friends will support her at the New Face semi-finals next month.
She said: "I think their presence will calm me down and I want to let them see me giving my best because I want to make them proud."
In the meantime, Miss Koh is still reeling from her recent victory in her first-ever modelling contest.
"I joined (ITE-Carrie's Next Top Model) because I was curious, I thought why not give it a shot?
"I was very shocked (when I won). I didn't expect to since there were other girls whom I felt had better walks than me."
I will improve myself before New Face, like getting tips from people, such as my (model) boyfriendand watching YouTube videos.
- Miss Joanna Lydia Koh
HOW TO JOIN
This year, another 20 girls will be selected as finalists of The New Paper New Face.
This is the 24th year of the modelling competition, which has unearthed talents such as actresses Julie Tan and Dawn Yeoh, model Diya Prabhakar and social media stars Sophie Willocq and Eunice Annabel.
This year's contest is presented by Subaru Motor Image, with beauty training school Cosmoprof Academy and Marina Square as the official make-up sponsor and fashion mall, respectively.
Here are two ways you can be part of New Face 16:
STREET HUNT
Be at Bugis Junction or Bugis+ this Sunday afternoon from 1pm. Last year's top 20 contestants will be around to spot girls to put through to Round 2.
WALK-IN AUDITION
The walk-in audition on May 29 will be the final chance for you to be in New Face 16. Registration is at Bugis+ Level 2 atrium from 1pm.
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