[Photo: Show (in front) with some of his Singapore fans.]

TAIWANESE artiste Show Luo is a metrosexual, and proud of it.

He uses women's toiletries and his bathroom looks 'lady-like'.

All right. But sanitary pads? Isn't that going a bit too far?

Not at all, it appears. He is now the official brand ambassador for Watsons sanitary pads in Taiwan.

But how can he endorse a product which - even with a considerable stretch of the imagination - he just can't use?

Well, it hardly matters. Watsons Taiwan was quoted as telling the media there that 'women feel he can be a great pal to them, someone they can depend on'.

Indeed, he seems to appeal to women as one of them, as a 'sister'.
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And the ads work. His fans like them, the product's sales are up and there are even men queueing up to buy the napkins for the women in their lives.

In a recent interview with The New Paper, the 29-year-old singer-host-actor-dancer spoke of his feminine side.

'Oh, you should take a look at my bathroom - it's the most girlish part of me,' he said, grinning unabashedly. 'I use a lot of women's shower products and the decor in my bathroom is also quite lady-like.'

Show was in town on 7 Mar to attend the Singapore Entertainment Awards Celebration Party.

He was one of the night's biggest winners, picking up three awards: Most Popular Male Singer, SPH Media Award - Artiste of The Year and Most Stylish Hunk.

Before the event, he held a gruelling autograph session at East Point Mall.

It lasted five hours and he signed non-stop for more than three hours, much to the delight of the 5,000 fans who turned up.

Show believes that the reason for his popularity, especially with women, is probably that they tend to 'treat me like I'm one of them'.

Romantically linked

He has been romantically linked to several babelicious celebrities, including sexy pop queen Jolin Tsai and sweetie pie Selina Jen of girl group S.H.E.

But he claims he's actually just a 'sister' to all of them, laughing off rumours of his supposed relationships and liaisons that have hogged headlines.

'I shall set the record straight. I really am single at the moment,' he said. 'But yes, I do have many platonic girl friends, in fact, more than guy friends.'

Show said he believes true friendship can exist between the sexes.

'There are times when the paparazzi snap pictures of me with women and they immediately link us together,' he said with an exasperated sigh.

'In reality, the women are good friends of mine. They hang out at my house for steamboat and to play mahjong.'

He added: 'I know there are some people who feel it's impossible. They'd say, don't deny it, put a boy and girl together, how can there not be romantic feelings?

'Personally, I feel it's down to one's attitude. For me, I certainly know where to draw the line.'

No doubt he makes a great bosom buddy as he will 'always try to be understanding and make sure I provide a listening ear for my gal pals'.

'I am like their 'rubbish bin', where they can offload their problems and emotional issues.'

Meeting Show up close, it's not hard to notice how impressive his complexion is, almost like that of a woman's.

He attributes his good skin to the painstaking care he puts into ensure that his body is in tip-top condition.

'Lots of guys think that to have good skin, you just have to wash your face often, apply moisturisers, etc. But actually, it takes a lot more than that.

'You have to take care of your body and the systems within. When you're healthy inside, it will naturally reflect outwards.

'I go for regular medical check-ups, including blood tests every half a year, as well as a full physical examination once a year.'

He admits to being image-conscious, but justifies it by saying that 'it's part of the professionalism an artiste should have'.

He can be very particular about his hair, and he won't let just anyone touch it.

There was an incident on popular talk show Here Comes KangXi when host Dee Hsu, a good friend of Show's, tried to lift the bangs on his forehead. The two started bickering.

'It's true. I will flare up if anyone attempts to touch my hair when I'm still at work,' said Show, whose sixth studio album, Trendy Man, has been garnering rave reviews and topping music charts since its release in December.

'After I'm done with my work stuff, you want to mess with it, ruffle it, it's okay. But while I'm still doing my job, be it appearing on a programme, or attending an event, I feel it's rather disrespectful for my hair to be played with.'

Of course, there are days when he feels he doesn't look good. 'I've had horrid days when my face appears bloated and swollen, for no particular reason,' he admitted.

'When that happens, I usually try to keep my head low. So if you see me onscreen constantly hanging my head down and looking at the floor, you know why.'

Despite his feminine side, Show stressed that deep down, he is a 'real man' with hopes of 'being a good husband and father in the future'.

'One day, I do want to settle down with the right person,' he said.

'I want to be THE guy that girls go, 'Whoa, he's such a great man, why didn't I marry him?'

This article was first published in The New Paper.