The New Paper New Face 2014: Contestants get ready for Grand Final

The day these 20 young beauties have been eagerly anticipating - The New Paper New Face 2014 Grand Final - has almost arrived.

Tomorrow, they will strut the catwalk at Takashimaya Square in a bid to walk away with the crown.

The New Paper quizzed the finalists on what they have been doing to prepare in the run-up to the big event.

In particular, have their diets changed since they entered the competition?

Most admitted to watching their calorie counts.

Aisyah Salleh, 22, said she has been making it a point to eat more healthily.

"I've been opting for salad and ensuring that I drink juice once a day," she said.

Other contestants like Victoria Yue, 20, and Abby Sompolpong, 19, said they keep a close eye on the amount of food they take in.

One contestant believes that exercise will help more than a strict diet.

Said Amanda Lim, 22: "I've no special diet, but I have been doing cardio exercises more regularly."

The girls are no strangers to making sacrifices in the name of beauty.

Each has given up an indulgence or two, in the hopes of looking their best on the big day.

Said 17-year-old Jun Minook: "I stopped eating chocolate, to prevent pimples. Instead, I have been eating fresh tomatoes and apples every day."

Other girls have bade farewell to every day favourites.

NOODLES & FRIES

Said Annmarie Pang, 22: "Things like instant noodles, which I have a constant craving for, I've given up."

"Fries!" exclaimed Farhana Mazlan, 18, who has not had the potato-based snack for the past two weeks.

With eyes on the prize, fellow contestants Nicolle Lim and Tiara Skadiang have steered clear of their favourite food, fried rice.

To keep in shape, youngest contestant Iman Fandi Ahmad, 14 chooses healthier snacks such as yogurt, fruits or dried fruits.

The least conventional approach was taken by 21-year-old Aurelia Ng, who claimed that her diet has not changed one bit.

Instead, her strategy has been to watch more runway shows to prepare herself for the finals.

Resisting temptation may be tough for the moment, but once the frenzy of tomorrow night is over, all the diet rules will go out the window for many of the girls.

And, boy, are they looking forward to liberation. Said Chanel Lyn, 24: "A pact has already been made between my friends and I. We're going for fried chicken buffet!"

Other girls mentioned that they will be loading up on sugar.

Personal trainer Mira Azman, 19, is looking forward to fried Mars balls while Diya Prabhakar, 15, plans to reward herself with ice cream.

Said 15-year-old Lim Jia Yi eagerly: "I'll eat everything and anything because I love food a lot."

But Grace Ling, 17, said: "There's nothing much that I really crave, I'll just continue with my normal diet."

lwenqi@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Oct 1, 2014.
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