SINGAPORE - From strutting her stuff at Orchard Road to walking the runways in Paris, Vivien Ong has certainly come a long way in a short while.

Just two years ago, the communications and information design diploma holder from Republic Polytechnic was crowned the winner of The New Paper New Face 2010 at Takashimaya.

In the past two weeks, the 20-year-old has walked down the international runways of Milan Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week.

It's a refreshing success. Vivien almost gave up after getting negative feedback about her looks while modelling in China, Japan and Hong Kong.

The 1.76m-tall babe, who credits The New Face contest for her first big break, told The New Paper: "It's been an amazing experience.

"I've had the chance to work with some really big names from designers to casting directors to renowned hair and make-up artists as well."

"For example, the Anthony Vaccarello show in Paris was amazing. I would have never imagined myself doing a show filled with supermodels."

She walked with the likes of Karlie Kloss, Anja Rubik, Jourdan Dunn and Arizona Muse.

"I was also able to work with Vivienne Westwood in person. That was a dream come true for me."

Before she won the New Face title, Vivien had worked as a freelance model since 2008.

Fresh off her win in 2010, she was signed to Carrie Models International.

After a year of working in Asia, she was placed in Beatrice Models Management in Milan before eventually being signed by Next Model Management in Paris.

Vivien blogged on Sept 20 about her challenges.

"About a year ago after my Shanghai trip, I was crushed. None of the clients liked my look, I was cheated of some money by a Chinese casting director who eventually hinted to me that I'm not good enough," she wrote, concluding that the China market just did not work for her.

She was then rejected in Hong Kong and Japan.

"And the same issues that people find me too short, too fat, (with) too strong a jawline for a girl," she wrote.

"Then I go to Paris. And got a few offers from agencies there. I eventually signed on with Next Paris. The general feedback I got was positive. Honestly, I was pretty overwhelmed," she wrote.

Read the full story here.