Ask what her wish is for the new year and Ms Vivien Ong says unabashedly: “To make more money.”
But the Singapore model, who has drawn attention after catwalking for seven international brands during Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks last year, plans to put the money to good use.
“I want to go back to school so I’ve got to save up for the fees and expenses,” says the 20-year-old, who holds a diploma in communications and information design from Republic Polytechnic. She plans to pursue a liberal arts degree in New York University in three years’ time.
“Also, it’s good to have more money in the bank for rainy days and, of course, sale seasons,” she adds, laughing. Based in Paris since August, she is in town to visit her family before going back later this month.
She is the first Singaporean to walk at the big fashion shows since Hanis Hussey closed the Yves Saint Laurent show in Paris in 1983.
After winning The New Paper New Face competition in 2010, her career took off when she moved to Paris and was signed on by Next Model Management. The modelling agency represents big names such as Karlie Kloss and Arizona Muse.
“I realised that the Europe market suits me, especially now. Most designer labels are more receptive to Asian models and they want to have new faces in their line-ups.”
While she declines to reveal how much she earns, the 1.78m-tall clotheshorse says she now makes enough to afford a “pretty decent lifestyle”.
“I’m still a rookie so I don’t make that much money, she says. “But I bought a Balenciaga Weekender bag recently that cost about $2,000. All my money either goes to repaying my student loans or saving up for my university education.”
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Click on the thumbnails below for the 7 things in her bag.
