Most people don't take beauty pageants seriously. But Alicia Ng is one beauty queen you won't want to mess with.
The mother of two, who won the Mrs International World title last year, is a certified fitness instructor teaching aerobics and yoga, among other things.
She also holds a senior brown belt in taekwon-do and runs her own business in image consulting.
Ng, 37, who has been taking part in beauty pageants for three years, says beauty queens work hard for their winning figures and poise.
As the reigning Mrs Singapore United Nations, she will travel to the United States next month to take part in the Mrs United Nations Pageant 2008 in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Asked to share some exercises that sculpt the body into pageant shape - hey, we may snigger at "world peace" but we do admire the bodies - she immediately chose the three exercises she demonstrates on this page.
"As for the face, we beauty queens smile a lot. That, I believe, is all the exercise needed for the face."
Looks like this beauty queen has a sense of humour too.
What it works: Arms, especially the triceps, and upper back
How to do it: Resting your weight on your left foot and palms, placed about shoulder-width apart, slowly bend your arms and lower your buttocks towards the floor as you keep the right leg lifted up in a straight line. Stop just before your buttocks touch the floor, hold for a moment and return to start position. Do four sets of eight repetitions each, alternating the extended leg.
GLUTEUS LIFT
What it works: Glutes (buttocks)
How to do it: Resting on your forearms (placed directly under your shoulders) and your knees (placed under your hips), lift the left leg with bent knee till the thigh is parallel to the floor. Imagine that you are balancing a drink on the sole of your foot and slowly lift your heel towards the ceiling without moving the hips and return to start position. The movement should be slow with lower abdominal muscles held firm. Do four sets of eight repetitions each, alternating the leg held up.
DYNAMIC BREATHING
What it works: Abs (especially good for those who don't like doing crunches and other floor-based ab exercises)
How to do it: Standing tall with your hands on your buttocks, inhale slowly and deeply, imagining that you are pulling your navel to your spine. Hold the position for eight seconds as you keep breathing, then gently exhale and return to start position. Repeat 10 times, slowly but continuously.
This article was first published in Urban, The Straits Times on Jun 5, 2008.
