AFTER her divorce, Jasmin Chong Abdullah found it extremely difficult to get back into the dating scene. "I've always been a bit of an introvert, so when my first husband and I split up, it was not easy for me to make the first move with anyone.

"Sure, I used to go out with a bunch of girlfriends at least once a month, but we were never out to pick up men.

"Even when men attempted to chat up with mature women like us, I would shy away and withdraw from the conversation.

"Maybe it was a phobia I had with men because I assumed that most would think divorced women are easy.

"I found it much easier to communicate with people over the Internet, where I was able to talk more freely.

"That's where I met my current husband," says the 46-year-old business development consultant.

Although Chong still does not feel it's right for women to talk to men in an open manner, she believes that times have changed.

"I've always advised my 18-year-old daughter to get to know more people. I tell her that she has a lot of time and should not just stick to the first person she meets."