THOSE who see this mother and daughter pair together often assume that they are sisters.

That's because freshly minted grandmother Azizah Doll has aptly youthful and doll-like features, which often lead people to think she is in her late 30s.

She is actually 45.

Her youthful appearance puts her daughter, MrsFazlia Farhana, 26, who has a 2-month-old baby girl, under pressure to look as good as hermum.

Joked Mrs Fazlia, a homemaker: 'I definitely wantto look as good as her when I'm her age. There's pressure not to look older than her.'

Madam Azizah, a part-time IT training coordinator who occasionally moonlights as a model, does not have an expensive skin regime to credit for her flawless skin.

No-frills regime

The divorcee, who lives in a three-room HDB flat in Tampines, describes her skin care regime as being no-frills.

She does not use foundation, eye cream or wrinkle cream.

She mused: 'Perhaps, if I'm 55 and have lots of wrinkles, I might use eye cream.

'People ask me how I maintain myself, but honestly, there isn't any secret.

'I cleanse my skin properly, eat well, sleep well and try to stay as stress-free as possible,' she said.

Madam Azizah has been a freelance model off and on since she was 22.

Nowadays, however, she does not get much modelling work.

That's because most commercial work requires younger models, she said.

Besides, she is often too busy with work and family to go down for castings.

Does she feels disadvantaged being an older woman?

'It doesn't upset me at all because modelling isn't my bread and butter,' she said.

However, unlike Zoe, she said she has not been at the receiving end of any harsh comments.

'I've not received negative reactions that are delivered straight to my face. I'm not sure if there are any behind my back,' she added.

'But of course, I'm not a celebrity like Zoe.'

To her, the flak that the local actress has received for her wrinkles borders on the ridiculous.

'It's like saying you're not allowed to grow old,' she said.

Madam Azizah's priority is not looks, but family.

Bouncing her granddaughter on her lap, she said: 'I feel so happy, just carrying her. Don't you just love holding a newborn?'

And that kind of joy may be the real secret of her youthful looks.

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This article was first published in The New Paper.