SHENTONISTA

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.

“I worked in retail for 15 years, but when COVID struck, I made a career switch and have been working as a personal assistant for the past two years. I was quite worried, because it’s been a long time since I’ve worked in an office. But my employer and colleagues are very friendly and supportive, so I don’t feel left out when I'm in the office.”

“Outside of my day job, I shoot street-style photography, which is how I met one of my exes actually. We initially bonded because we started a conversation talking about cats, so it's quite an interesting job I would say.”

“I was a stickler for plans, and used to always think that I was going to have to plan far ahead for my future and everything. But I've learned that there's a lot of things that can happen that can change your plans, your future, your career path, and everything.”

“I think tattoos are a very personal expression of yourself, because you get to choose each design. For me, each tattoo represents a specific phase in my life, especially since I like to get impromptu tattoos when I travel.”

“My family and I love Bukit Brown. Not very many people know about it, but it's actually a Chinese cemetery. It's beautiful, and it was our saving grace during COVID. We took the kids to the cemetery on a regular basis, because it’s so peaceful and quiet, and near where we live.”

“I normally pair my socks with something that is very different from from my outfit so that it can stand out. It's my first time being in a photoshoot, but whenever I go out, people will ask me about my dress.”

“It takes a lot of social and leadership skills, as well as the ability to think on your feet and multitask to be a flight attendant, because you have to deal with a lot of very different types of people. You need to be very flexible and adapt your working style to different people.”

“I’m from Jakarta, and whenever I visit Singapore, I must visit my favourite boutique, which is The Editor’s Market. I’m happy to see that there are a lot of outlets now! On my first day here, I went and bought a lot of things.”

“One of my goals is to make more money so that I can be happier doing the things that I want and love. I also hope to relocate every couple of years with my partner in the near future—anywhere with decent coffee and pasta.”

“When I was growing up, some of my aunts got featured in magazines, and that's when I started to love reading magazines, which were mostly about fashion back in the ’80s. So I think that's where my interest in fashion sparked.”

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.