She says she is 'particular'.

Not quite the words a reporter wants to hear over the phone just the day before an Urban cover shoot, especially with a subject as well-known as top Singapore model Nora Ariffin.

Ariffin, whose career has included the prestige of fronting an international Chanel fragrance ad campaign, is based in New York where she has forged a new career as a high-flying real estate broker.

She was back in Singapore recently to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri with her family living in Woodlands, a trip she tries to make every year.

Still retaining her glamorous looks at the age of 41, she had agreed to take half a day off from her vacation to model for Urban's fashion spread (see Shoulder season).

But her 'particular' comment caused us to wonder if we had to brace ourselves for yet another diva-attitude model.

Thankfully, Ariffin, a photoshoot veteran, soothed our fears by going on to explain that this is really about professionalism: 'I know what works on me so I like to collaborate with the team during shoots to get the best results.'

Well, no wonder then that she is arguably one of Singapore's most successful models.

She left Singapore to pursue a modelling career in Paris at 18 - among the first Singapore models to bravely venture abroad - and then moved to New York City in 1990, where she has been based since.

The home-grown talent has worked with top photographers including Herb Ritts and has appeared in the pages of international glossies such as French Vogue and Harper's Bazaar Italy.

In 1997, she became the first Asian model to front Chanel's Allure fragrance ad campaign (Picture 2).

The following year, she became the face for L'Oreal Paris' Feria range of hair colours and enjoyed an achievement that is now the stuff of TV reality makeover shows: appearing on the Times Square billboard.

For someone with such a stellar resume, there are no airs about her in person.

When the camera is clicking away, she is all business.

However, in between outfit changes and when the hairstylist and make-up artist is working on her, Ariffin, who is represented by Ford Models, is chatty and exchanges easy banter with the crew.

These days, although she can easily pass for being a decade younger, she focuses mainly on her real estate job.

She is a vice-president at residential real estate brokerage firm Halstead Property in New York, which she joined in 2004.

'I don't want to grow old and not have something to fall back on,' says Ariffin, who is currently dating the owner of a Los Angeles-based artiste management company. She divorced her American husband of seven years in 2007. They have no children.

Home is a one-bedroom apartment near the Lincoln Centre for the Performing Arts in Manhattan. Her days are filled with showing clients prospective homes in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

'My clients often refer me to their friends because I am trustworthy. I believe in imagining myself living in these homes, and if I can't, I would be honest about my opinions,' she says.

When the right modelling job arises, she jumps at it, she says. She modelled at jewellery brand Tiffany & Co's flagship store in Fifth Avenue at Fashion's Night Out last month, a late night shopping event spearheaded by Vogue US editor Anna Wintour.

The super-savvy model adds: 'I agreed to do this shoot with Urban because I felt it would be good to let people here know that I'm still around.'

How has the fashion world changed over the last 20 years?

I don't think the fashion industry is what it used to be.

Now, a lot of ads, magazine covers and cosmetic endorsements are being done by celebrities, unlike during the days of Naomi (Campbell), Claudia (Schiffer) and Cindy (Crawford). It is a reflection of the times that people are now more taken by celebrities.

There has been a resurgence of former supermodels with Linda Evangelista as the face of Prada, Claudia for Chanel and Ferragamo, and Christy Turlington for Escada. What is your take on this?

With age comes wisdom and more people are starting to appreciate this.

A young model may have a pretty face but an older one has experience and you can tell she has lived life. There is substance to her when she models. She is able to bring an extra something to her pictures.

It also shows that age is not an issue and that it is important to live life to the fullest.

What else would you like to do in your modelling career?

I would love to host the Asian version of the television series America's Next Top Model, if a network decides to start it here.

There isn't an Asian supermodel yet that you can look up to and I would love to host a show in which I could mentor up-and-coming girls and share my experiences.

What is your secret to looking great?

I don't abuse my body - I don't do drugs, drink or smoke.

I try to do yoga twice a week and work out at the gym.

I also eat healthily. My diet consists of mainly salads and I do not eat a lot of meat.

To keep my skin in top form, I go to Dr Dennis Gross, a New York dermatologist, for a peel about once a month. I also enjoy the hydra facials by Dr Jon Turk, a facial plastic surgeon in New York.

I also make it a point to always cleanse my face before I go to bed and to drink lots of water.

I've not done Botox. I'm blessed with no wrinkles.

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This article was first published in Urban, The straits Times.