They have made the cut for modelling contest

Ten girls have become the first batch of contestants to get through to Round 2 of The New Paper New Face 2015.

They were selected during Sunday's Street Hunt at Bugis+ and Bugis Junction malls.

Nine New Face 2014 girls went round the malls to look for suitable candidates.

Each was given the task of looking for someone who can go straight to Round 2 of the modelling competition. Those selected can skip the walk-in audition to be held on Saturday.

The alumni worked hard.

Despite the rain, they covered their bases and scouted the areas surrounding the malls as well.

There were also girls who had learnt about the competition and who were determined to present themselves to the New Face alumni.

But one girl did not and was chased instead.

Student Chan Jia Yi, 22, was at the basement of Bugis Junction when Diya Prabhakar, Jun Minook, Tiara Skadiang and Jasmine Sim spotted her.

The team gave chase and caught up with her.

"I felt shy that I was approached out of the blue. I actually saw an advertisement about (New Face) on the train," said the National University of Singapore applied mathematics student.

"I didn't plan it at all, but I was really happy I went down."

Melanie Woo, 18, was also ambushed.

"I'm just speechless," she said.

BY CHANCE

The Singapore Polytechnic mass communications student was at Bugis Junction by chance.

"I came with my friend to shop because of all the sales going on. Suddenly, a group of really tall girls came out of nowhere and asked if I wanted to join New Face, and I said 'Yes.'"

At Bugis+, Chanel Lyn, Syiqah Marican, Grace Ling, Aurelia Ng and Annmarie Pang did their rounds and found 19-year-old Shahira Bakar.

She had taken part in the Social Hunt and had posted three photos on Instagram under the New Face #TNPNewFace15 hashtag, but was concerned that "they will not be seen in the sea of hundreds of posts".

"So I came to Bugis+ today, just trying my luck," said the design student with the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.

"When one of them spotted me, it was too good to be true. I felt shocked, but am so happy I came down today."

The hunt was also exciting for 2014 finalist Lyn.

"I feel it doesn't matter who scouts whom. I could tell some girls really wanted to be a part of the New Face, but were shy about approaching us," said the Murdoch University tourism and events management student.

"I believe if you see the opportunity, you have to go for it," she added.

The girls came together when time was almost up, but managed to score twice before it ended.

One girl was making her way down the escalator when she was stopped by a couple of the finalists.

Nicole Ng, 21, said: "I didn't know how to react. I was just so shocked to get noticed and even have a passport."

It was the second time that Diya Prabhakar, last year's New Face winner, had to run after someone.

She said: "I felt the girls (the team picked) have the potential to be a part of the next New Face. I ran after some and approached others because felt I really had to get the girls.

"TNP had given me so much and I owed it to them to get good contestants. And I think the ones we picked... look like they have the confidence to try something new.

"I think they have real potential."

The final passport was given to Lee Qian Hui, 22, who was at Bugis+ with her mother.

Said the Nanyang Technological University graduate: "It's a long-running competition so I knew about the New Face. My mother was telling me there were girls looking at me earlier.

"I didn't expect to be approached. I'm flattered."

This article was first published on June 9, 2015.
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