Ethel Opens Up About Her Highs And Lows

One of Singapore's first supermodels opens up about her highs and lows, her rejections and reinventions, and her thoughts on ageing gracefully and fighting fiercely.

- Jeffrey Yan

Thirty-three years after she hung up her modelling boots, Ethel Fong is back in front of the lens-working it as though no time has passed at all. As she nails shot after shot, outfit after outfit-be it power suits and Le Smoking tuxes, or cropped, jewelled jackets and sequinned hot pants-the 59-year-old proves why she is one of Singapore's OG supermodels; one who broke through barriers geographical and racial to grace countless magazine covers both here and abroad, walk the runways of the world's fashion capitals, and even land a global Armani campaign. What one doesn't expect is that supermodels get stage fright too. “I must admit, I was nervous [doing this shoot] because times have changed, she reveals. “You don't want to look like a has-been, or like you're out of touch. What if people go, 'Hey, it's the 21st century-why is she posing like it's the 1980s?

Blazer; matching trousers; choker, Alexander McQueen OPPOSITE: Jacket; matching skirt; briefs; belt; socks, Miu Miu. Heeled sandals, CELINE