November 2007

VJ DENISE

By Lennat Mak

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Do you foresee yourself having a fashion line?

Oh, I always wanted one! I'm dying to have my own label and I will have my own label. I already started a few of my business plans. Singapore is so hot and I want to do something similar to Jessica Simpson's swimwear line but different. Asian bodies are different. You know how they always want an Asian girl to be big busted and curvaceous? It's not going to happen! Why put the cups in the bikini? It doesn't look good and it doesn't feel right! It's uncomfortable! You should really enjoy what you have. And that's what I want to put out.

How would you describe your personal style?

It changes all the time. The swimwear is one idea. My style changes as I like to express myself through fashion. One minute I'm casual chic, comfortable and the next minute I am ber glam for an event. I love and respect couture because it's moving art. Right now, I'm going through this 1930s and '40s look. My hair is not growing as fast as I like it to so I am doing this whole finger wave, kind of old Hollywood look.

You were also saying earlier on that you are now a youth ambassador.

I think MTV in general is a youth awareness channel. I think it's really important. Why do people like watching MTV? It's the music. Everyone loves music. But MTV also does a lot of pro-social causes that I personally fight for outside MTV as well.

When we become these ambassadors we are responsible for these things. One of my biggest causes is HIV and AIDS for the longest time. And I felt that I've done my job at the universities and the polytechnics and I did my rounds spreading the awareness. Of course you don't see this on MTV but it's the other job that we have as youth ambassadors and you have a choice to take it further if you like. I took it a little bit further because I've spent so much time at the hospital last year and I got to see things I never ever witnessed in my life. That changed my life and opened up my eyes a little more.

And now, for me, it's not so much about the awareness of HIV and AIDS but more so about the kids that are infected. They are innocent. How can we care for them? They are babies. How can you let a baby die of HIV and AIDS? It's a global problem and I know everyone is into the whole trendy eco problem right now but I'm still one for the HIV and AIDS cause. Yes, there are a lot of sufferers with different age groups but the victims are the kids. That hurt me so much when I saw them.

Is it difficult to shoulder on the heavy responsibilities of being a youth ambassador and a role model for the teens?

I love it! I never thought I would be a role model. My whole youth was filled with angst without any direction and not knowing what I wanted to do but I was a lucky girl. I just had to make sure I did it right because I was given such a great opportunity for my career. Of course we make mistakes and we fall. But in terms of being a youth ambassador, it's really important to me as it's very close to my heart. My mother is a teacher so she deals with a lot of young kids that are troubled and I hear her stories as well. We are surrounded by children. I love kids. It's really important to keep that innocence and the youth in you! Oh my god! I sound like I'm running for President! Sheesh!

That's the thing. People only see you on MTV but there's actually this whole other persona and dimension to you.

For a long time, I was really afraid how to position myself out there. But I think as I get older, it's okay to be honest. It is okay to struggle at times and it is okay to tell people that you are having a hard time. That is something that I've failed to do in the past. Everything was always "happy days" and everything was "good." I was lying to myself. And now, I'm just more honest, more open and more relaxed. When there is a problem, I can tackle it much more comfortably than before where I would just freak out and stress over it. Now I'm like, "Everything is a-okay!" Take it easy!

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