SHENTONISTA

“Ultraman was my favourite show growing up, so I’ve always loved it, but what makes it so memorable to me is that I almost drowned because of him.”

“I love smaller suburbs because they’re so different from the big cities. Everything’s slower and quieter and more peaceful, and though there’s not much to do, there’s a whole lot to see.”

“I’ve always been a more passive person, which is kind of a good thing because I can roll with the punches when things are bad, but sometimes, I just have to do something to change what I don’t like instead of ignoring it."

“I love exercising, and I do a lot of things like kickboxing, tabata, Zumba—I actually just got a licence, so I’m a licensed Zumba instructor now. I just like fast, intense activities."

Despite being dressed in neutral colours, Justin first caught our eye with his tousled hairdo, reminiscent of a modern-day Einstein, and the simple tattoos that adorn his neck and arm.

“I’m in PR, and there’s so much more I want to learn about my job, the work our clients do, and the new media landscape here in Singapore and the region. They’re always changing, and to truly keep up in such a fast-paced industry, there’s a level of agility, skill, and sensitivity required.”

“I wish I had more time to travel to every part of this world. The one place I’d love to visit most would probably be Iceland. I would love to see the Northern Lights—I think it’s such an ethereal sight, and it’s something that I’ve always wanted to be able to witness.”

“I like the whole conversational aspect of jazz, because it’s more like a group sort of situation. Everyone has their input, and everyone has their own personality when they play. Even though maybe one person will be soloing, everyone’s sort of there supporting, and improvising around that.”

“If I could be a plant, I’d probably want to be a sunflower, because they just make people happy, and that’s what I like about them.”

“I think what should be taught in school is free play, which involves things like doing role-play with the children, and encouraging kids to express themselves, and not just fit themselves into a certain mould or go down a certain career path.”

“Something as subtle as tea is actually quite enriching to the mind and body, and I wanted to share this experience with other people, but it’s hard to share, because it’s quite intimate. So I thought the only solution was to have a space of my own so that I could have people over.”

You’ve seen the images, and read the features. Now, go behind the scenes with us as we take you through our full-day shoot for #ShentonistaOfTheYear 2021.