IT'S been a hectic few weeks in the lead-up to the my paper Executive Look competition, thanks to a flurry of activities.

The 16 finalists in the contest, which culminates in the grand finals at Zouk on April 28, have been participating in photo shoots for contest advertisements, and catwalk and business-etiquette classes to help get them ready for the competition.

But the stress isn't getting in the way of the contestants becoming friends.

They meet up for lunches at least once a week, and go for drinks in the evenings after grooming classes organised for the competition. Recently, they headed out for a Friday-night karaoke session.

The singing was so boisterous that "I lost my voice", said Ms Christine Tran, 30, a relationship manager at financial- services company Citco.

Ms Jeanne Lee, 25, a regional sales executive at Dow Jones & Company, said that some of the contestants are looking into signing up for mixed martial arts or tango lessons together.

Said Ms Jaclyn Ng, 25, a relationship manager at ANZ Bank: "While the top prize is very attractive, we are all here to widen our social networks and add another memorable story to our lives."

Now in its fourth year, the competition aims to throw up the ideal executive, one with eloquence, corporate smarts and confidence. The 16 finalists will vie for the top prize of $10,000 in cash, among other prizes. The second- and third-place winners will get $5,000 and $3,000, respectively.

The finalists are enjoying the rounds of activities, despite their work schedules, say the women of Executive Look.

The catwalk class was particularly important to Ms Lee, who realised she had "this signature Jeanne walk" that resembles the way an aunty walks, she said sheepishly.

"I learnt that I have to hold my spine straight to look poised and confident," she added.

Ms Joanne Chong, 32, a manager at Defence Science and Technology Agency, got good advice, too. "The trainer told me I'm full-figured, so there's no need to put in extra sway in my walk," she said.

Recent photo shoots to publicise the contest gave the women participants a taste of what it must feel like to be a star. They were dressed in gorgeous gowns, and had stylists, and hair and make-up artists and photographers fussing over them.

"I've never had four people attending to me at the same time," quipped Ms Lee.

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