Bend It Like The Beckhams Of Singapore

Unlike the Met Gala-ready Beckhams, Fandi Ahmad and family have weathered life-threatening trials and tribulations (failed businesses, Wendy’s debilitating mystery illness) and emerged triumphant, while looking like they’d just walked straight out of a magazine spread. Speaking of the latter, this is their first-ever family cover shoot. That’s how you score #familygoals.

- Jasmine Teo

He’s a soccer superstar. She’s a model mum. They have a genetically blessed brood. It’s not hard to see why all eyes are on the Fandis the second they walk into a room. As Singapore’s favourite footballing icon, Fandi Ahmad already commands the sort of fanfare usually reserved for baby-toting politicians and Zoe Tay. But put him together with his wife of 20 years, Wendy Jacobs, and their five kids (all of whom have hit the genetic jackpot, by the way), and their combined hotness will make you feel as attractive as a lump of uncooked prata dough. And this is even before they’ve done their hair and make-up. This must be how plebeians feel when they run into the Beckhams on the streets.

“It’s normal for people to compare us to the Beckhams, since I’ve been in [the soccer] industry for many years and I have a big family too,” says Fandi. “But we do have one more kid than them,” laughs Wendy.

So, yes, the Beckhams are the Beckhams. The Fandis are the Fandis. We doubt Posh Spice would’ve deigned to round the troops herself bright and early in the morning like Wendy has done today. The 42-year old model/host/self-proclaimed family taxi driver glides into Caldecott Hill today for the first shoot that the whole clan has done together. Ever. She leads the pack with a regal-yet-amiable Cate Blanchett-like air about her. Clinging on to her side are the youngest two munchkins, Iryan, 10, and Ilhan, 14. Their only daughter, Iman, 16, is content to just float along quietly with the pack. Behind Wendy are big bros Irfan, 18, and Ikhsan, 17.