Fugitive David Rasif's daughter is New Face first runner-up

She was in the spotlight as the first runner-up in The New Paper New Face 2013 modelling contest.

But Jade Rasif also found herself in unwanted online glare - all because of her surname.

After her fashion spread appeared in The New Paper on Sept 5, the 19-year-old psychology student at the National University of Singapore received criticism and nasty e-mails when netizens learnt that she is the daughter of rogue lawyer David Rasif, who is still at large after running off with $11.3 million of his clients' money in 2006.

In an exclusive interview, Jade talks about her relationship with her father and how her family has coped since his disappearance.

YOU HAD YOUR SURNAME LEGALLY CHANGED TO FONG, BUT USED 'RASIF' FOR THE NEW FACE COMPETITION. WHY?

I was born with the name Jade Rasif and I don't feel like I need to change it because of what my father did. My mother changed my name to protect me and my sisters, but I don't need to be protected.

Over the years, I have learnt to be brave and proud of who I am. My name is part of my identity.

ARE YOU TIRED OF PEOPLE ASKING YOU ABOUT YOUR FATHER?

Some people are genuinely concerned about my welfare and they ask me how I cope, but there are also people who are motivated by idle curiosity.

Just to put it on the record, my family and I have neither heard from my father nor have we received any money from him since he left us and disappeared.

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WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAW YOUR FATHER?

He abandoned me and my sisters when we were young.

When he left, it was June of my PSLE year. It affected my results as I was unable to concentrate on the exams.

We haven't heard from him since.

What happened in our home was painful, personal and private. I chose not to play up my background for the TNP contest because I want people to judge me on what I do, rather than what my father did.

THERE WAS A RUMOUR THAT THERE WAS A TRUST FUND IN YOU AND YOUR SISTER'S NAMES HOW DID YOU REACT TO THAT?

There was definitely no trust fund and this is the first I've heard of it. If it were true, my mother wouldn't have had to work so hard to achieve financial security for the family, not that she would have allowed us to accept it if it was stolen money.

WHAT WAS THE TOUGHEST PART ABOUT GROWING WITHOUT YOUR FATHER?

I don't think having a single- parent household is a unique situation. Many friends of mine have lost parents in worse ways. I count myself lucky because I have my mother, my sisters, my grandparents, my aunts and uncles, and my friends.

HOW DID THAT AFFECT YOU?

My mother and family were my rock. I coped the way my mother coped. We did what had to be done. For me, it was to focus on my PSLE (which was four months away).

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My mum used to say, 'Life is tough, deal with it' and she meant it in the most supportive and protective way. We managed the best we could, with love, help and support from friends and relatives.

For example, my school, CHIJ Toa Payoh, was immensely understanding and arranged counselling for me and my sisters.

DO YOU FORGIVE YOUR FATHER?

There's nothing to forgive. Your parents won't be in your life forever. Whether they leave your life now or later, willingly or unwillingly, it will happen eventually, so it's best to just let go.

DO YOU MISS HIM?

Yes. I haven't seen him for a long time.

DO YOU REGRET BEING IN THE NEW FACE LIMELIGHT?

Because of New Face, I've had so many opportunities to act and model that I would otherwise never have had.

And I'm incredibly grateful to the judges for giving me this exposure. Honestly, I would never have the experiences I'm having now if not for the competition.

But at the same time, the exposure opens you up to criticism, some of it constructive, but some of it mean-spirited. I guess part of this experience is learning how to take the criticism while shrugging off the hate mail.

HOW DID THE OTHER GIRLS REACT TO YOUR STORY?

The great thing about New Face is that it's not just about looks but it is also about personality, so I am fortunate and grateful to be surrounded by girls who went out of their way to protect me.

Many of the New Face girls had challenges in their own lives which they had to overcome. And we knew of each other's stories because we had become so close by the end of the five months we spent together and tried our best to support each other.

They encouraged me not to read hate mail, and warned me about people who had contacted them to dig into my family background.

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WHO IS DAVID RASIF?

1) The former owner of law firm David Rasif & Partners, Rasif, 48, absconded with $11.3 million of his clients' money in 2006. It is the largest sum misappropriated by a lawyer so far.

2) He is on international police organisation Interpol's wanted list.

3) American couple George and Kaori Zage were Rasif's biggest victims. They lost more than $10m that they entrusted to him to buy property with.

4) About $7.4 million of the missing amount, in the form of gold bars and cash, was later seized by police. The cash was recovered from bank accounts in Singapore, Hong Kong and Vietnam.

5) Rasif was last seen in Bangkok on June 5, 2006. It was a last-minute trip to join his wife, who was there for a company event. After telling his wife, who returned to Singapore, that he needed to see a client in Tokyo, he left Bangkok to go on the run. He was struck off the lawyers' roll in 2007.

She turns her disability into strength

Jade Rasif suffers from dyslexia, a reading disorder that impedes writing and spelling.

But instead of seeing it as a stumbling block in life, she has turned it into a source of strength.

"It is not an easy thing to live with, of course. But many do," she said.

"Different dyslexics have different experiences.

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"It takes extra concentration and focus to process words. But the great thing about setbacks is that they make you stronger.

"For me, my ability to focus became much stronger than my peers, so I should count myself lucky in that way."

Jade revealed that she can't read words phonetically.

"I memorise words and that's how I read," said Jade, who had to have extra lessons three times a week at the Dyslexia Association of Singapore when she was younger.

"Because I have been memorising individual words from such a young age, I have a strong memory which is actually an advantage."

Now the undergraduate wants to use her condition for her future career.

"I want to do well enough to get my master's degree in clinical psychology.

This is a goal that is very close to my heart."

For those who have children who are dyslexic, Jade suggested a way of dealing with it.

"I would suggest parents read to their children. It's great for bonding and awakening a love for reading.

"My mother instilled such a love of reading in me that even though I have problems doing it, I still enjoy it."

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