"Once when we were at the zoo, I was crying. My parents then whipped out a camera and I stopped crying and started smiling and posing for them. I think it helped take my mind off things.

"My parents used it every time I threw a tantrum as a kid."

Collette, 17, a mass communications student at Ngee Ann Polytechnic still loves the camera.

She has also been modelling since she was six.

"My mum has always encouraged me to join lots of pageants and contests which were where I got a lot of experience and exposure that helped prepare me for New Face."