Browsing “SHEIN”

“After my grandfather passed away, I went through a rough time. Soon after, I encountered a moth with a broken wing, and found out that it symbolises the spirits of ancestors returning to check on their family. I got a moth tattooed on my forearm as a reminder that my grandfather is still watching over me.”

“You’d probably never guess that I’m a Physical Education Specialist by my bright and bold dressing. When I was young, my mum liked to dress me in different dresses and hairstyles. That spurred me to become more adventurous with colours, and it’s how I express myself now!”

“I’m studying Culinary and Business Management in Republic Polytechnic, which used to be something I was passionate about. Sadly, due to the stressful environment, I’ve lost interest in pursuing it professionally. Maybe I’ll try something related to food science, or even enrol in fashion school next.”

“I have three tattoos in total on different parts of my body. I got the one on my back seven years ago from a Vietnamese artist in Singapore, but the one on my belly is quite new. I got stretch marks after giving birth, so I recently decided to use a tattoo to cover them up.”

“I’ve been pole dancing on and off since 2010. Earlier on when I first started, I really loved doing all the tricks and getting strong, but now, I’m old already lah. I focus more on lighter dancing now, and looking pretty. Don’t need to be strong anymore, my bones cannot take it.”

“Back in 2016, my husband had a near-death experience, so needless to say, it was a very challenging and emotionally draining period for the family. However, I had to remain strong for the sake of my children, who were only 10 and six years old at the time. Thankfully, we pulled through and are happy and healthy now, but I really learnt the value of togetherness and unity through this experience.”

“I’m from Paris. I would say that it’s quite different from Singapore, in the sense that some places are a bit more dangerous that others. I definitely recommend not going to the North of Paris, because that’s what people would usually consider more dangerous, and it’s usually less pretty as well. The other places in Paris are pretty nice though!”

“When I was younger, I volunteered at the Boy’s Home, and met kids my age who were living totally different lives from me because they were neglected by society. Since then, I’ve wanted to be a positive change for them, which is why I’m now a youth worker working with kids at risk.”

"When you go out there and see the world, and then look back on life in Singapore, you’ll feel like, “Oh my gosh, we really are dedicating a huge amount of time to our work,” which is why it’s so important to love our job and to love what we do.”

“I love exploring the Kampong Glam area. I find it quite cool because there are hipster cafés, artists, and also people who have been living there for years just making a living. There are so many layers of people that we can meet there, each doing their own thing, so I like that area a lot.”

Merwin embodies the “model-off-duty” look with a casual ensemble, albeit with some playful, personalised touches.

“Dance shaped me and my life: I learnt to see things with a balance of practicality and love.”