I'M NOT acting cute, I am naturally adorable.

That's Jocie Guo's message to her detractors.

Yes, those of you who think the Singaporean singer is a tad too old to be prancing around like some cringe-worthy Disney fixture, it doesn't matter.

The 27-year-old is unabashedly cute, like it or not.

Ever since she burst onto the Mandopop scene three years ago with her song Bu Pa Bu Pa, a cover of the popular Eurodance anthem Dragostea Din Tei (also known as The Numa Numa Song), Jocie has become known for her saccharine sweet vocals and kiddy lyrics.

But fame can be a double-edged sword.

While her two albums, No More Panic and My Darling, did well, winning her a slew of Best Newcomer awards in China and Hong Kong, not everyone appreciates the blatant flaunting of cuteness.

On popular Chinese forum Baidu, some netizens referred to her take on Numa Numa as 'brainless' and 'a song that you can only listen to in the toilet'.

Jocie is aware of the negative comments.

In a recent interview with The New Paper at the launch of Coca-Cola Singapore's new campaign Open Happiness, she said she's learnt to deal with criticism.

Jocie, who sings the campaign's self-titled hit single with local singer Derrick Hoh, said with a huge grin:

'(When people criticise me) I always retort with the same answer: 'I'm not acting, I am really just cute.'

'Some people who don't know me well think it's a pretence, but my friends know I'm the same girl, both on and off screen.

'My personality is bubbly and fun; there's no reason to hide this side of me.'

She laughed and joked self-depreciatingly: 'After my reply, a few reporters will then scribble an additional line that 'this Jocie Guo is so unashamed of herself'.'

Record label mate Derrick, 24, vouched for Jocie's cuteness.

'She is one cheerful person who never fails to spread her enthusiasm to everyone around her,' he defended.

'And she can get really high on simple things, which I must say is infectious.'

Happiness

Indeed, to Jocie, happiness comes in simple packages.

'Hmm, what's happiness?' she mused for a minute when quizzed.

'I think it's found in little everyday things. For example, before an outdoor shoot, you'd pray for good weather, and then when you eventually get good weather, you go 'hurray'!

'That's happiness for me.'

While she might forever be immortalised as the 'Numa Numa girl', Jocie can be proud that two of her recent ballads, a stark contrast in style to her dance tunes, have caught the ear of the public.

Letting Go Of Love and Wishing Tree, the theme songs for the Channel U medical drama Perfect Cut II, are both chart-toppers and karaoke favourites among the young.

'I'm glad my fans are receptive to my slow songs, especially Wishing Tree, because I penned the melody,' said Jocie.

'Personally, I also feel the tone quality of my vocals is suited for ballads.'

This article was first published in The New Paper.