Ask Rochelle Lai (better known as Relle Lai) what she was like growing up, and she'd be quick to say that she was not known as an outgoing and gregarious child. Reserved and quiet, she was content with playing by herself, or focusing on her interests and tasks at hand. She loved art and fashion, but she certainly did not see herself getting into modelling as a career.
Life, however, had other plans. The 24-year-old, who has a Communication Design diploma, is now a fashion and lifestyle digital creator and model, with an Instagram following of close to 11,000. She's also a freelance graphic designer.
Facing an "identity crisis" in 2021, Relle decided to quit her full-time job as she felt that it limited her "time and energy for personal passions".
It was during this period that she began documenting her outfits and other visually pleasing items on her Instagram account.
This caught the attention of brands, who started reaching out with opportunities for her to model or create content for them. Her big break came when she published a post featuring Gentle Monster, an eyewear brand from South Korea.
"It became a turning point for me where I began taking it all more seriously," she says.
When it comes to her personal style, Relle says the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi (an appreciation of the beauty of imperfection) is something that deeply influences her.
She also adores Brutalism, an architectural style associated with rough, unfinished surfaces, unusual shapes, and a utilitarian feel.
Denne historien er fra January 2023-utgaven av Her World Singapore.
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Denne historien er fra January 2023-utgaven av Her World Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
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Is Social Media Really Necessary For Career Success?
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Nothing makes Karen Tan, co-founder of The Projector, more happy and fulfilled than making a difference to a film-goer's experience. For her, that spells \"f-u-n\" and brings people together. In the third instalment of the \"HER WORLD, HER SPARK\" series, presented in partnership with DBS, we speak to Karen about her journey.
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ONG is intentional about building the next blocks of her career
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According to Her World's annual What Women Want survey, a staggering seven in 10 women in Singapore are willing to take a pay cut for a job that offers better perks and benefits, with a flexible work schedule being a top priority. Are employers here ready to accept flexible arrangements as part of our lexicon?
Leading Singapore's Sustainable Innovations
In this second instalment of the "HER WORLD, HER SPARK" series, presented in partnership with DBS, we speak to Oh Chu Xian, founder of deep tech start-up Magorium. Determined to make the construction sector a more sustainable one, she's revolutionising it with a new technology that turns plastic waste into sustainable building materials.
