“Should I go and get a nice dress to change into for you?” Vicki, who's from the Philippines, joked in between shots, as we had her pose for the camera.
“I just love to eat! But I'm very careful with my diet. I believe it’s most important to exercise well and keep ourselves healthy. I go for walks everyday, and do intermittent fasting. It really works for me; I feel so energised, even without breakfast."
We spotted Mdm Ho on a cold, dreary morning in Chinatown, when the streets were slick with rain and unusually quiet. Initially hesitant to be photographed, Mdm Ho gradually warmed up to us as we chatted with her, and began striking various poses for us, from the classic hands-on-hips to throwing up the youthful peace sign.
With her wispy white hair, sparkling eyes, and posture that would put us to shame, we knew there was more to Noi than meets the eye. As she posed confidently in front of the camera, her son tells us that she used to be a beauty queen in her youth.
“When I drink coffee in the morning—every day for the past few decades—I’ll add ginger, garlic, and onion into it. I’m used to it already, because I’ve been drinking this since I started going out to work after primary school, which is why I rarely fall sick or have any ailments like aches and pains. Nothing!”