SHE loves Singapore so much that she is thinking of becoming a Singaporean.

“I’m not kidding, I’m absolutely serious,” said a bubbly Coco Lee.

“My sister is looking into the procedure of how to go about attaining (Singapore) citizenship.”

The 34-year-old singer was born in Hong Kong but spent much of her childhood and youth in San Francisco.

She holds American and Hong Kong citizenship.

The curvaceous beauty was in town to promote her Mandarin album East To West, her first in three years.

She was also the special guest performer at last Sunday night’s President Star Charity show.

Looking sprightly and radiant as she spoke to the media at The Ritz-Carlton on Monday, she had nothing but praise for our “beautiful” city.

“I love the greenery here. There are trees everywhere,” she said, flashing a wide smile.

“The moment I arrived, I was hoping to try some durians, chicken rice or the food at the hawker centres.

“My manager was so anxious about me eating at hawker centres, thinking it wouldn’t be ‘glamorous’ enough, but I really don’t mind. I love simple places!”

According to Lianhe Wanbao, while backstage at the President Star Charity show, Coco went so far as to “personally express her interest” in becoming a Singapore citizen to President S R Nathan, who was the guest-of-honour that evening.

President Nathan reportedly replied that she is “more than welcome” to do so.

But was Coco just being over-friendly? It didn’t seem so – she was engrossed in the topic.

“Jet Li and Gong Li are Singapore citizens, right?” she asked reporters. “I want to be one too.”

International gongfu star Jet Li, 46, became a Singapore citizen in July, while 42-year-old actress GongLi got her pink IC last November.

However, when reporters quizzed Coco on whether her fiance knew about her intentions, she laughed and said:“He doesn’t know about it yet!”

She joked that he will “most likely read about it on my Twitter page”.

Coco has been engaged to Canadian businessman Bruce Philip Rockowitz, 50, since 2005.

He adores Singapore too, she said.

“Although this is my first work trip to Singapore in six years, both of us have visited Singapore over the last few years,on holiday.

“The only thing he doesn’t share my love for is durian!”

With her light golden-brown tan, Coco oozed sex appeal.

Not surprisingly, she made the list of the World’s 25 Sexiest Pop Divas by TV channel E! Entertainment in February.

She was the only Asian on the list, coming in 15th, beating Jennifer Lopez and Kylie Minogue.

Alicia Keys, Rihanna and Leona Lewis took the top three positions respectively.

The rankings were determined by the E! Entertainment producers.

Surprise

Coco’s inclusion came as a surprise, considering that she has released only one English album in the US.

While she is a household name in HongKong and Taiwan, with nearly 20 studio albums in a 15-year career, her fan base remains relatively niche in the US.

She managed to cross over to the US with her English single Do You Want My Love in 2000. It ended up being a moderate hit, peaking at No 49 on the Billboard Hot DanceClub Play charts.

Three other singles – Before I Fall In Love, Wherever You Go and Can’t Get Over – followed from Just No Other Way, her only album to be released in the US, in 2000.

Coco also sang A Love Before Time, the theme song to director Ang Lee’s award-winning Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

It was nominated for Best Songat the 2001 Oscars.

“My friends were the ones who told me about the sexy list,” she said, flashing a wide smile. “I didn’t knowI had made the top 25 till (then).

“E! Entertainment is a huge network in the US andI’m very happy that I was chosen.”

So which part of her body does she consider sexiest?

“My fans would probably say it’s my smile, where as my fiance thinks it’s my curves, especially the areas near my waist and back,” she told The New Paper, in a separate interview after her press conference.

East To West “defines her life”, said Coco, who is now based in HongKong.

“My whole world revolves around a combination of cultures, from both the East and West,” she said.

“In a way, it has given me an advantage in the music industry, especially when it comes to artistic ideas for myattire and make-up.

“Due to my upbringing in the West, I’m more open to trying innovative and daring styles.”

For example, she adores the new image she sports in her album photos, one that sees her wearing a gleaming, shimmering gold-plated blouse. She pointed out that some Asian designers didn’t take well to that outfit initially.

The customised costume cost the equivalent of $13,000and two weeks to make.

“Admittedly, the outfit’s design draws attention to the breasts,” said Coco with a grin. “But I really like it a lot.”

She added that the gold outfit differs greatly from her previous styles.

“It’s not sweet and girlish, but very cool and masculine,” she said. “I get a feeling of female empowerment when I wear it.”

A pity that the public would not be able to see this favourite attire of hers during live performances, or at any of her promotional events.

“I would love to wear it to meet my fans, but I can’t,” she said with a sigh.

“The blouse is constructed in such a way that the designs appear to ‘move upwards as my body moves.

“Then, I will appear to have four breasts!” If there is someone who loves the costume as much as she does, it’ll have to be Mr Rockowitz. The couple manage to maintain a close, loving relationship despite their busy schedules.

“Every day, he is the first person I talk to on the phone in the morning, and the last person I talk to at night,” said Coco.“Also, we text each other very often. “You should ask anyone who works with me, I’m the undisputed text queen.”

Coco said they were both home loving types who would prefer to “stay at home and watch DVDs”, rather than do the party circuit. “We’re huge fans of TV dramas, like Criminal Minds and Mad Men.”

The 16-year age difference was never an issue for them, she said.

On the contrary, she feels Mr Rockowitz is a “wonderful listener and communicator”, traits which come only “with age and experience”.

“We have never once fought,” said Coco. “Whenever we disagree on something, we will face it rationally and try to... solve the problem.”

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This article was first published in The New Paper.