On The Pole

What are some things you love most about your job?
I love my pantry (laughs). My office pantry’s amazing! But it’s also contributed to a bit of the weight gain post-COVID.

Jokes aside, I like that I get to meet new and different people all the time, and also build rapport with my colleagues and clients. In fact, some of my clients have even become close friends that I would totally invite to my wedding.

I think it’s a really fun industry. Though everything has its ups and downs, most of the time, I feel like it’s still a fun job where I get to go out and meet people. Also, because I’m in the oil and gas industry, I go down to the yards a lot, so I can actually see the things that my contractors are building, like vessels and models to go on the vessels, which is interesting.

Was this something you’ve always wanted to do?
No, dear Lord, no! (laughs)

I initially studied finance because I was very young and impressionable, and thought that I could meet a rich man’s son and marry him and not need to work. Live my tai tai dreams, you know? (laughs)

So I was in private banking for a while, working in wealth management, and then I felt like after six or seven years, it was sucking my soul dry, so I decided to try something else.

I had a girlfriend who was in my current firm, and she asked me “Do you want to try sales?” and I’m like “Hmm do I? I actually don’t really like talking to people.” (laughs) I know it doesn’t seem that way! A lot of people think I’m extroverted, but I’m actually not, I’m very shy (laughs). But I said “Okay, yeah, let me try it out,” and so here I am, doing the same thing four years later, with the same company.

What are some of your hobbies outside of work?
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 (laughs). Don’t need to be strong anymore, my bones cannot take it (laughs).

What do you love most about pole dancing?
The community. It’s definitely grown a lot bigger since I first started, but everyone’s always been super encouraging, very friendly, and very welcoming.

For example, just last night during the student showcase, the audience, the teachers, and other fellow students were all super encouraging, especially when the newbies came on. You know, the babies who just finished their first term. Everyone was screaming and so encouraging, and I just love being around that.

There’s also no pressure to have the ideal slim body type within the community, because no one will ever tell you that you need to lose weight to look good pole dancing.

Do you have a favourite style of pole dancing that you enjoy most?
Yes! I like the ratchet pole dancing where you slut drop, and booty pop (laughs).

What’s something you’ve learnt about yourself in the past year?
That I probably need more therapy than I let on (laughs).

No, I’m kidding. Maybe to try not to take myself too seriously, and stop putting others before myself.

I’m very Mama Bear as a person, so sometimes I mother people a bit too much. I like doing it, but then I realise that it can enable certain bad behaviours on both the other party’s side and my side, so I’m trying to step back and let people make their own mistakes.

So if there’s one thing I’ve learnt, it’s to not try and prevent other people from making mistakes. Just give advice, and then step back (laughs).

If you could be any fictional character, or be a part of any film or TV show, what would it be?
This is a really old-school anime, so I don’t know if anyone will know it, but I would love to be a part of Akazukin Chacha.

Or maybe She Ra from Masters of the Universe. Yeah, I would love to be She Ra. Or Xena: Warrior Princess. Yes, those badass chicks. I would like to be them. Or Lola Bunny. Everyone loves Lola Bunny in Space Jam right? (laughs)