SHENTONISTA

While we were unceremoniously shooed away by building security before we got a chance to speak with her, our short meeting with Leesa brightened up our day amid the rainy weather.

“My definition of a hero is someone who can do what is necessary in spite of the fear.”

“Something silly or untrue that I used to believe as a child was that mermaids really exist!”

“A food that best describes me would be a homemade meal. I like cooking at home and sharing meals with family, so that’s something that represents me.”

“One thing that everyone should learn is to truly listen. In school, we learn to excel in following instructions, but that’s not listening for the sake of understanding. We need to learn how to listen to each other, and more importantly to differing points of view.”

“Singapore can get crowded on the weekends. so I’d prefer to spend the time with my family and my boyfriend, relaxing over coffee or brunch at a café.”

“Growing plants is an ever-evolving process, and all this has taught me tenacity and patience, both in terms of taking care of plants, and in dealing with clients.”

“My least favourite thing about Singapore? The cost of living!”

“One thing I’ve learnt from my time at work is that you never stop learning.”

“One piece of advice I’d give to my younger self would be “Trust your gut feeling”.”

“My reading habits have changed quite a bit over the years, but I’d recommend any of Milan Kundera’s books.”

Here's what happened behind the scenes of our #ShentonistaOfTheYear2018 photoshoot.