She's a picture of serenity as she pounds the runway in killer stilettos, but Singapore's top model Sheila Sim says that's actually her worst nightmare.

"My biggest fear, ironic as it sounds, is high heels," she told Daily Chilli when we met her at the PUMA Social Finale Party recently.

Her fear stems from tumbling on the catwalk a few years ago. "Since then I've been paranoid about modelling in high heels, especially with a long dress on."

Her phobia reached a stage when she even considered calling in sick for a show. "It's a matter of mind over body. I keep telling myself that I can do this," she said.

"I used to think that I wouldn't wear heels beyond four inches. These days I tell myself to just try."

Sheila, the niece of Singaporean supermodel Ivy Chng, was only 16 when she was "discovered" at Ivy's wedding.

A year later, the teenager moved to Hong Kong to launch her career.

The fresh-faced beauty soon expanded her portfolio with jobs in Milan and Tokyo.

Four years later, she returned to Singapore and made her acting debut in the 2008 movie Autumn In March.

Recently, the 27-year-old became the first Singaporean to be appointed as an ambassador for the SK-II product range.

While she's clearly in top form, don't expect her to bare it all in the name of fashion. "I don't do lingerie and swimwear shoots or nudes. I'm not comfortable flaunting my body.

I don't want my father, my grandfather or my relatives to see me like that," she said.

"Not that I'm against others doing it," she added. "It can be good if it's artistic and tasteful.

Your body won't stay like this forever.

There may come a day, when I'm pregnant or at the peak of my looks, that I may do a nude shoot, so that when I'm old I can look back and show my grandchildren, 'This is how great your grandma used to look!'"

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