FINDING Ris Low’s replacement may be more difficult than expected.

First runner-up Claire Lee, who would have been the logical successor to take over the Miss Singapore World crown, may not be able to represent Singapore even if she is asked to.

The 23-year-old fell on Monday and hurt her lower back. She has an existing back problem.

Not only is she unable to walk in heels now, but she also can’t stand for more than 30 minutes because “my back will start to ache”.

She told The New Paper: “I was chasing my dog and slipped. I landed on my bottom and ended up hurting my lower back.”

Claire is due for a medical review today.

Her parents are also concerned that her back condition would worsen if she goes for the Miss World pageant in South Africa in December.

Claire’s back has acted up before. In 2007, it hurt so much that she needed help to get around.

“I was studying for my exams and sat for very long hours. The only time I stood up and walked about was to go for short toilet breaks. The disc got inflamed.”

Claire graduated in aerospace engineering from Nanyang Technological University in July. She is helping out with her parents’ food and beverage business while she looks for a job.

But if she gets the all-clear from her doctor today and is asked to represent Singapore, Claire says “it will be my honour to do so”.

Never mind that she will be under intense media and public scrutiny, which she confessed she has not prepared herself for.

Claire knows she will have to watch her behaviour and speech.

But that does not mean she will mince her words and change her self-professed loud personality. “I think I’m a very enthusiastic person and I know this has gotten on some people’s nerves,” she said.

“They think that I’m an attention-seeker. But that’s not my intention. It’s just how I express my excitement. I’ve tried toning it down but I felt so trapped.”

Family and friends are also concerned that small incidents will be blown out of proportion. Her parents have even told her to “watch what you say”.

But she does not think she has to practise self-censorship in her manners and speech. She said: “I don’t think I’ve done anything so disgraceful and incriminating that I can’t face my family and the public.”

Her closest brush with the law is parking illegally. For that, a sheepish Claire said she has received a few parking fines.

She also admitted she gets defensive when she receives negative comments.

“In the past, I would get angry. Now I’ve learnt that those who made those comments really care about me and want me to be a better person.

“I know I can’t please everyone. And I know there will definitely be criticism. This is a good time to mould my character.”

This article was first published in The New Paper.