SO what if you have wrinkles?

That's Ms Nanz Chong-Komo's zen-like take onageing.

The model-turned-entrepreneur, motivational speaker and newly appointed district councillor of the North East Community Development Council feels that Singaporeans should adopt a broader, more holistic mindset, rather than just zoom in on the physical.

On the brickbats Zoe faced, the 40-year-old said: 'It's very narrow-minded to say 'Oh, Zoe has wrinkles'.

'Yes, at 40, she has some wrinkles. Who doesn't?'

Ms Chong-Komo said somewhat philosophically: 'As we grow older, we should accept it. Some people like to live in denial, but acceptance is joy.'

New plans

Helping women live happier and better lives is the crux of her next business venture, www.nanzinc.com, an e-portal for working women. She will launch her site officially in September.

Getting older comes with necessary changes, Ms Chong-Komo, who was a model for 10 years, pointed out.

She said she used to party with her model pals till 2am or 3am when she was younger.

Now, at 1am, she starts yawning.

But she's not bothered by these physical changes.

As she puts it: 'There is no need to compare ourselves between then and now. We're not enemies of ourselves.'

She has had her fair share of ups and downs inlife.

Her chain of One.99 stores failed in April 2003 during the Sars outbreak, and she was declared bankrupt shortly after that.

Compared with that setback, criticism about how she looks is nothing, she said.

'Of course I do get criticism from people saying I don't look good in some photographs,' she said.

'But for someone who has gone through bankruptcy, I don't really care so much about these things.'

She and her husband, Mr Larry Komo, 50, who works in the banking sector, have a 5-year-old son and two daughters, aged 6 and 3.

While she does not exercise, Ms Chong-Komo credits her slim physique to running after and carrying her young children.

Ageing is something she embraces.

'I'm really enjoying my life in my 40s,' she said.

But she is quick to add: 'I'm always happy at whatever age I am at actually.'

And while botox isn't something she has undertaken, it's not something she rules out either.

'I won't say no to it, but at this moment I won't spend the money on it because I don't have a terrible need,' she said.

Besides, being happy and positive keeps her youthful, she added.

And seeing this leggy ex-model flash that mega-watt smile, it's easy to believe what she preaches.

This article was first published in The New Paper.