You know how when you were younger, you’d put on heels, blast the music, steal your mum’s cocktail dress and then sing out loud into the hairbrush to an audience of, well, your mirror image? Don’t lie. If you weren’t pretending to be a singer, maybe you were strutting, pretending to be a model?

Of course, I don’t do this anymore. Now, I use my own clothes.

In my fantasy land, I’m always the cool lead singer of a pop band, not unlike Gwen Stefani or Fergie. I’m oozing with punk confidence cos everyone in the crowd loves me! Just loves me! Then OMG! Look at the time! I’m late for the party!

Anyway, this is how I prep myself up for a social night out. Whilst I’m comfortable to share this on my blog, I would never dream of actually strutting my stuff up on a real stage. NO. WAY.

That’s why I have to applaud the contestants of the Estée Lauder Model Search 2009 contest held last month. The contest gives real women the opportunity to transform themselves into modelicious beauties. Twenty finalists were proudly showing off their assets to a crowd of strangers at the concourse area of Suria KLCC.

Walking up and down the catwalk, these mostly unprofessional models are the exact opposites of false modesty. In their body-conscious dresses, they appear to be blissfully unconscious of what you think – in their very own room, checking themselves out in the mirror. There’s something to be admired in their bodacious bravado. Bravo!

If there was a Lip-Syncing Pop Star Search, maybe, just maybe, I’ll make my way there!

The top three finalists from category B (above 30 years old). Carol Lai, left is the winner.

 Finalist from category A (29 years old and below) Soraya Khatijah Matthews

The 20 finalists of the Estée Lauder Model Search 2009 contest.