As a result, even small modeling agencies like e-zen have suddenly found themselves swamped - its owner Esther Choo says that she has nearly 400 contracted and freelancing models under her wing, and that the number is still rising. She said that fresh graduates and former white-collar workers who have been laid off, make up a large bulk of these "new" faces in the local modeling industry. "There are 40 percent more models in the market right now," said Choo. "Recently, there have been many approaching my agency looking for freelance jobs, some due to the fact that they have recently been retrenched, while others are fresh graduates who either can't find jobs or are looking to supplement their low salaries."

Singapore's economic downturn appears to be a major factor in modeling's rather unexpected popularity among the educated young in this city state of 4 million people. Singapore started the year with expectations of 5-7 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth, but a recession due to a slump in overseas demand has seen a 2 percent contraction in the economy for 2001. The country's third-quarter contraction was the sharpest such decline since independence in 1963.

Local media reports say that this has already led to the loss of 92,000 jobs. A survey done by the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) has shown that at least 30 percent of its 2001 graduates are still looking for work. Last year, 85 percent of its graduates were already employed within three months of finishing their final exams.

While other sectors are in a slump, the modeling industry seems to be among the hardier businesses. Even though most companies are cutting costs, many are continuing promotion efforts in hopes of attracting consumers to the goods and services they offer. This has apparently resulted in more modeling assignments being available in the market - although the jobs now pay significantly less.

Yet even reduced modeling fees are often bigger than the salaries offered by other sectors. Part-time model Sara Ann and eight other friends, who earned their arts diplomas in July, decided to try their hand at modeling after becoming dismayed by the low salaries on offer. "The starting pay for arts graduates has dropped by about S$800 (US$444) since the beginning of the year to about S$1500 dollars now," she laments. "Most people find that they are better off looking for part-time jobs or, like myself, are in modeling."

Model booker Saee adds: "You see graduates right now earning only S$2000-S$2500 a month. In modeling, if you get a good contract you can earn that same amount just by doing one shoot. And if you are paid on a monthly basis you can get at least S$4000 dollars - and that's like the minimum. It's easy money."

Saee adds that models do not even have to limit themselves to local stints. She said that Singaporeans and other Asians can always try their luck overseas, especially in Europe, where the exotic looks of the East are always welcome on the catwalk.

Paerin Chua, a National University of Singapore (NUS) law graduate, decided to sacrifice what could have been a successful profession in litigation to pursue a career in modeling and entertainment. A finalist in a local talent hunt, "Star Search", Chua remarks: "Models who 'make it' and succeed do make a lot of money, and for them, giving up a normal job is nothing."

Twenty-seven-year old Johnny Lim is another NUS graduate who is now into modeling. After earning his electrical engineering degree in 1998 with first class honors, Lim qualified for the accelerated masters program, but chose to leave for Silicon Valley in the United States for work experience. When he returned home a few months ago, though, he found himself dabbling in modeling and acting. But unlike many in the industry, Lim does not seem too impressed with what he is getting from his modeling stints and said that he just might consider a "routine job" if things do not start to look up by the end of the year. "The money really isn't all that good unless you can constantly get new projects or assignments that pay well," he said. "Modeling is not a good long-term career choice as is based solely on one's looks and everyone knows that looks come and go."

Even newcomers like Sara Ann understand that the business has its pitfalls. "There is no guarantee in modeling," she said. "Even if you fall back on it, so to speak, you might not necessarily succeed because people's tastes change every season and the stylists continually want a different kind of look."

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