It was a tough decision to make, but we’ve gone through all the applications and here are our top three choices. These girls embody our motto of “Your Life, Your Rules” and we’re completely in love with their zest for life. Now it’s your turn to meet them and tell us your favourite.
It was a tough decision to make, but we’ve gone through all the applications and here are our top three choices. These girls embody our motto of “Your Life, Your Rules” and we’re completely in love with their zest for life. Now it’s your turn to meet them and tell us your favourite.
Melissa Jane Ho
Blogger, 28
It’s hard to miss Melissa if you walk past her on the street. The bubbly girl always dresses with aplomb, sometimes even mixing prints or going for bold splashes of colour. This proved to be a headache for her mother, who’d nag at her for not being a more conservative dresser. “She’d tell me that my clothes were too loud and that people would stare at me when I’m on the bus!” says Melissa with a laugh.
Unsurprisingly, her gutsy sartorial attitude carries over to her personal life. A former entrepreneur, Melissa spoke candidly of her failed online clothing store that she set up after graduating from university. Even though she suffered monetary losses, she saw the experience as a learning opportunity for her next venture. “I don’t regret that choice. At least now I know what it’s like to own a business and how important it is to sort out a good marketing strategy first.”
A self-confessed extrovert, Melissa started her blog five years ago because she wanted a platform to share her thoughts, especially on fashion and beauty. She also hopes to be an inspiration to other girls through her daring outfit choices. “When my followers look at my posts, I want them to see a girl who’s confident, lively, and not afraid to be colourful. I hope they’ll see someone who’s comfortable with marching to the beat of her own drum and be inspired to do the same.”
Arina Rafiyah
Student, 21
Her interest in beauty started in secondary school, when she decided to dabble with makeup after watching YouTube tutorials. Today, Arina maintains an active blog where she reviews the latest beauty products and experiments with different looks. She may seem like a girly girl, but what many don’t know about Arina is that there’s a geeky side of her who loves all things tech. “It’s annoying how some people still think that you can’t do IT stuff just because you’re a girl,” says the computing and information systems student, who hopes to smash that stereotype. In her free time, Arina tends to her other hobby – cosplaying. She got into it three years ago, after discovering that she enjoys embodying the different characters in her favourite animes and mangas.
The makeup maven may have hordes of products on her shelf, but to her, the best beauty tool doesn’t come with a price tag. “I believe that confidence is the most beautiful thing a girl can own. It’s not about what you’re wearing or what products you have on your face. It’s how you feel about yourself that makes you look great.”
Shona Woo
Marketing and Communications Executive, 25
Despite being down for a photoshoot at nine in the morning, Shona was all smiles when she arrived (earlier than expected, if we may add). She tells us she enjoys spreading happiness to others, but her positive attitude didn’t come easy. Like many of us, Shona went through a tough period of struggles as a teenager but has since learned to accept her flaws and embrace her strengths. “I’m not a typical demure or ladylike girl as some of my pictures portray me to be. Sometimes, when I go out and meet people, they tell me to be more ladylike or else I’ll be left on the shelf. But now I’ve come to realise that it’s important to figure out what makes me feel the most comfortable and accept myself for who I am.”
When she’s not working, Shona enjoys chilling at home with a good book. “Alone time is really important to me. We spend so much time on social media that we sometimes forget about spending time with ourselves.” Asked why she should be crowned the first ever CLEO It Girl, her answer surprised us all. “What makes me the perfect CLEO It Girl is that I’m imperfect but I still feel perfect inside. I think if we can all accept the fact that we are imperfect and make the best out of what we have, we can definitely be happier with our lives.”
