Kelly Poon's new look sparks plastic surgery rumours

When local singer Kelly Poon unveiled a new look for her latest EP in July, it sparked speculation on whether she had gone under the knife to enhance her looks.

Netizens commented on the photos that were uploaded on her Instagram account (@kellypanjiali), asking questions like: "Did you cut double eyelids?", "Did you do Botox to make your face smaller?" and "Where did you get your nose job done?"

But at a press conference yesterday to promote her new release, Miss Kelly, in Singapore, the 31-year-old singer denied having had work done.

She said matter-of-factly: "Many people have commented that I look different now. When I hear such comments, I feel happy because I take it that they think I have become prettier." Referring to the comments in her Instagram account, the Mandopop singer added: "They asked if I did my eyes and my nose but I did not."

It seems that Poon is not a suitable candidate for plastic surgery. She said she suffers from keloid problems, meaning that she scars easily after a wound heals. "Even if a mosquito bites me, it takes very long for the bite to heal," she said.

Poon, who spoke in a mix of Mandarin and Singlish, admitted that she had seriously considered going for plastic surgery in the past because she wanted to have double eyelids.

But when she consulted a plastic surgeon, he advised her against it . She said: "I even went home and used a paper to cut myself to test if the wound would take very long to heal. In the end, it left my skin with a bump that didn't heal well. So I gave up on the idea."

These days, Poon makes do with double- eyelid sticker tapes to make her eyes look bigger.

She even shares make-up and beauty tips with her 11,000 fans on her Instagram account.

Poon made her professional debut in 2005 after she came in second in Project Superstar, a local television singing competition. She has released five albums, including Miss Kelly.

FOXY SIDE

For this record, Poon shows a sexier side, wearing revealing outfits that show off her long legs and her bare back in the promotional pictures. The 1.62m singer, who weighs 40kg, said: "Initially, I was resistant to the idea because I felt uncomfortable about wearing such tight clothes and showing off my body to everyone.

"It took me seven days before I finally agreed. I was very stressed, though."

She prepared for the shoot by eating small meals once every three hours and exercising daily.

"I need to emphasise that I only did this because I was releasing my EP. Usually, I wouldn't be so hard-working."

She said she used tape for her bareback look to prevent "accidental exposure" and it took two hours before she got the look right. But Poon still got into trouble with her conservative family. She revealed that her grandparents were furious after seeing the pictures from the photo shoot.

They scolded Poon's mother for allowing her to go ahead with the shoot.

"My grandparents said I had embarrassed the family name by wearing so little," Poon said,

"Thankfully, they got (over) it after everyone kept telling them that I look pretty in the pictures."

Kelly over the years

2005: FRESH-FACED

Only 22 then, Poon emerged earnest and fresh-faced after coming in second in local singing competition Project Superstar. She soon gained a wide following in Singapore for her versatile performances.

2007: The next Jolin Tsai?

Two years later, Poon released her second album, In The Heart Of The World. Her dance track, Shakalaka Baby, reminded many of Mandopop Queen Jolin Tsai. Some wondered if she was trying to replicate Tsai's success by emulating her image.

2008: SINGAPORE'S NEW STEFANIE SUN?

Poon shocked many when she chopped off her luscious locks for a short crop in her third album, Smiling Kelly. Her image went from cutesy to stylish, with echoes of home-grown star Stefanie Sun.

2011: INDIE CHIC

Poon projected an indie look when she signed on with Asia's largest independent label, Rock Records, in Taiwan. She wrote four of the five songs for her mini-album, Super Kelly, showcasing her composing skills.

2014: SEXY

Poon bares it all in her latest EP, Miss Kelly, showing fans a side of her never seen before. She showed off her long legs and her bare back in revealing outfits in the EP's publicity shots.

This article was first published on September 05, 2014.
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