IN A matter of days, Miss Singapore World Ris Low went from a 'boomz' bikini sensation to a cautionary tale of burying the skeletons in your closet before parading on stage.

It's a leaky world, dear.

So, don't expect past indiscretions to remain discreet in this day and age.

I'll admit that I too was laughing merrily at the antics at first.

I even did a rather wicked and spot-on impersonation of Miss Singapore World's garbled train-wreck of an interview.

But now, I'm feeling kind of sorry for her.

I'd met her when she was among the top 24 finalists of The New Paper New Face 2009 contest.

To her credit, she behaved like a potential beauty queen.

Her back was always straight, her ankles crossed and her knees seldom more than an inch apart.

A smile remained frozen on her face and she nodded more than she spoke.

Check, check and check.

Ris came across as a nice girl.

But she withdrew from the New Face contest when she felt she had a better chance of winning the Miss Singapore World title.

Shrewd move. She knew where she would find more fame, and she went straight for it.

But things can backfire. Boomz. Now she is paying the price.

Ris was just 17 when she committed the offence. Youthful recklessness and stupidity?

That was a crazy age for many of us. Can we all, hand on heart, say we were squeaky clean then?

So let's be practical, folks.

Is this a morality contest or beauty parade?

And if you've taken a close look at the other finalists, you'll know that Ris is about as good as it gets.

She is not perfect. But she is our best hope.

She is paying her dues. So lighten up.

Our Singapore representatives need not be squeaky clean.

Sometimes a past blemish can help a person to gain character. Just don't ask Ris to plead her case verbally.

That would be disastrous. Boomz, really.

This article was first published in The New Paper.