By Tay Shi'An

SHE felt a bit shy to be wearing just a bikini bottom and heels at first, but soon, became more comfortable.

"Because I was not alone, there are other girls doing it.. Like some topless catwalk," said Jenny, 21, one of the four models at the topless car wash.

Jenny, an administrative assistant who has been modelling part-time for about half a year, said she found out about the event through word of mouth.

A friend called her and asked if she was interested.

She said she had never done a topless or nude shoot, so she decided to give it a try.

She said: "It's something extra for the portfolio, you can keep it. It's something you can just look back on.

"When you're still young, you want to try something different, like bungee jumping."

Casting call

The organisers held a casting call last month to pick the topless models, after sending out invites through model websites and photographers.

About 15 girls answered.

Said organiser Gerald Chen: "The girls came in all shapes and sizes." The most important criteria was if the girls were comfortable being topless.

However, they did not have to take off their tops during the selection or training.

Jenny said Mr Chen assured her that if she felt uncomfortable about the pictures later, her face could be taken out..

"Because sometimes after you do it, you (have second thoughts)," she said. After selection, the girls were taught how to wash the cars properly, so they wouldn't accidentally scratch them.

Jenny said they were taught how to pose while washing too.

"At first, I was passed a cloth and taught how to dry the car in a sexy way. I tried it, but I don't know if I looked sexy.

"They said, "maybe try to hold your hand higher, movements slower."

"It's like something you see on TV. I didn't know one day I can actually do that."

Then came event day itself.

Said Jenny: "At first, I felt a bit shy. After a few minutes I felt more comfortable."

She was also reassured by the crew, who made sure none of the winners could touch the girls, and there were people guarding the door, "or else any Tom, Dick or Harry could come in". Jenny, who is currently single, also felt more comfortable because of the girlfriends and wives present.

"They could ask their boyfriends to behave themselves. That was good for us." She said that some of the winners did whistle and clap from afar when the models took off their tops.

"It was like watching an F1 race, like we were behind a fence. It was not too bad an audience.

"After a while, you pretend they are not there, pretend you're just playing and washing the car with the other girls."

She said she was pleased with the way the pictures turned out.

"I thought it might be quite sleazy. But the pictures turned out quite nice, the lighting."

While she didn't mind having her face shown, she felt safer now her identity is being kept confidential.

She felt the pictures are artistic, but admitted that "not a lot of people see it that way".

She was also not very sure if such an event is allowed in Singapore.

She told only a close friend about the topless event.

"She was shocked. She asked, "what are you doing?" I said it's just a shoot. I asked if she's keen next time... just joking."

This article was first published in The New Paper.