Sexy secrets

Ana Rivera sticks out like a rare, exotic flower, even in the midst of a jam-packed shopping mall. Then again, it is hard not to notice a sleek, tall woman in an eenie-weenie corset that peeked from beneath a black blazer.

East and West meet beautifully in the Korean-Spanish model.

With porcelain skin, long black curls and legs that go on forever, it is no wonder Rivera, better known as Ana R, is the talk of the catwalk.

In the flesh, the 178cm Ana is a picture of glamorous beauty.

Her lips are coquettish-crimson and she speaks at breakneck speed.

"Red lips is the signature look of the day," she points out, laughing away as she dishes on her sexy secrets at the launch of the La Senza Pin-Up concept store in 1 Utama, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Ana, who flew in from Hong Kong exclusively for the event, says she finds excitement in the mundane.

"Everything makes me feel sexy," she says, tossing her hair carelessly. "When I eat my favourite meal, when I accomplish my job, even when an event goes really well - it makes me feel sexy."

Her flirty disposition aside, the sultry miss insists it's what inside that counts.

She oozes seduction, even as she reiterates the platitudes: "A woman is sexy when she is smart, clever and has confidence in herself. She is someone who can stand on her own without attracting the wrong kind of attention.

"I think Jennifer Lopez is extremely sexy. It really depends on what kind of women you like. For myself, because I'm half-Korean and half-Puerto Rican, I like women with that Latin vibe and beautiful curves. I think sex appeal doesn't just show on the outside, but also in the way a woman talks, the way she smiles and how she looks at you."

At 29, she is still a much sought-after figure in the Hong Kong fashion scene, where she is based.

Ana, who has been modelling since she was a teenager, has graced the covers of countless magazines and fashion campaigns.

While her stunning good looks have made her one of the most coveted models in the Asian region, she says that physical appearances aren't everything.

"There are a lot of beautiful women out there who aren't successful because they have the wrong kind of attitude. I think if you're pretty, nice and charming, and you are willing to be kind to others - or is simply well-mannered, like basically saying please and thank you - it makes you a beautiful person all around."

That being said, Ana has no qualms about flaunting her slender figure.

She brims with ostentatious confidence as she parades about in her skimpy outfit.

True to her candid, larger-than-life persona, she admits she feels empowered by her sexuality.

"I think every woman does. I think when a woman gets dolled up, she gets dolled up for a reason. We want to feel pretty, we want people to notice us, we want people around us to be as happy as we are about ourselves."

As if her smouldering stares aren't enough to turn one into mush, Ana reveals: "I love to wear sexy lingerie, as much as I like to get my hair done and have really nice make-up on."

She shares she has a penchant for colourful underwear.

"I love things that have lace and beautiful designs, and patterns on it. When you're wearing a nice business suit or a really pretty dress and underneath, you're wearing the naughtiest underwear, it adds a playful sexiness to your personality."