Singapore - The two actresses were friends for more than 15 years.

While working on theatre productions and at parties, they chatted about clothes, jewellery and Louboutins, that sappy movie Twilight and the best food joints.

Whenever Denise Tan read something funny online, she would forward it to Emma Yong.

Yong died in May last year of stomach cancer.

Now, Tan is stepping into her shoes as the third member of the Dim Sum Dollies, one of Singapore's most well-loved cabaret acts.

Audiences will see them again next month at a year-end Christmas revue.

The trio will also make a full-length comeback in the second half of next year.

Says Tan, 38: "The last thing I ever want is to replace Emma. She can never be replaced."

Agreeing to come on board was not an easy decision, she adds.

"I thought on it for a month. I didn't want to step on anyone's toes, or take something that didn't belong to me.

"In the end, the deciding factor was that Emma wanted the Dollies to keep going."

Yong had apparently told one of the Dollies - Selena Tan - this before she died.

After Yong's death, the remaining two Dollies struggled with grief.

They fought back tears while performing a tribute to Yong's life at the Esplanade a month after her death.

Pam Oei, 41, recalls: "Being backstage again was very hard.

Those were the same dressing rooms where we laughed and played for (the) whole 10 years."

"I even 'threatened' to punch Selena if she cried on stage. It was the only way we could pull ourselves together to perform."

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(Photos: TNP, ST, Dream Academy, Wild Rice, Tigertiger pictures, Emma Yong)