Angel Chua has appeared on every calendar published by Jeffery Chung models since she joined the agency in 1996.
But she was discovered on a beauty pageant that was organised by her previous employer - an electronics manufacturing company.
According to a LianHe WanBao report, Angel was working in the electronics, drawing a salary of a few hundred dollars, where she was 'discovered' when she took to the catwalk.
And it proved to be a momentous turnaround in her career.
The judges at that competition, which included Jeffrey Chung, founder of Jeffrey Chung Models, were impressed with her poise and confidence.
Angel was crowned winner, while Mr Chung offered to sign her on as one of his models, convinced that she had immense potential.
Now, at 28 years old, Angel is one of the agency's hottest models, and a model as well for the agency's younger talents. She also draws a monthly salary that figures in the thousands, a far cry from her days as an electronics factory worker.
Mr Chung told LianHe WanBao: "When I first laid eyes on her, my instincst told me that she had lots of potential."
He said: "Angel has good work ethics and a good work attitude. Besides having a good figure and looks, it's also important that they are willing to go through training and undergo tests."
Standing at 173cm and with a figure measuring 34-25-36, Angel revealed that her life did change after being 'discovered' by Mr Chung. She adds: "What came next were the modelling classes, personal grooming and social ettiquette.
"After that, it was taking to the catwalk for real, attending social events and gaining my self-confidence as I did so."
But Mr Chung adds that being a successful model takes more than just good looks and a good figure. As for Angel, he complimented her work attitude and says: "She's a professional."