They smile as if they are lounging by the pool with a pina colada in their hands. The reality is, they are sweating profusely, their make-up is running and if they are hungry….tough!
The humidity on race day is a killer, with the F1 driver’s souped up engines creating noise pollution. They are forced to drink bottles and bottles of water as some have been known to actually pass out from the heat. On top of all that, they all have to show their pearly whites.
Yup, being a Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix Brand Ambassador is not just about looking pretty in a kebaya. It is all about endurance and being at least 167cm tall.
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| This year’s F1 kebaya designer Nazleen Noor taking the measurements of Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix Brand Ambassador Natasha Juliana. |
This year, over 150 girls came to try out for the job for the upcoming Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix on March 22, 23 and 24.
Thirty-one-year-old model Liza Abdul, who has a whopping eight years’ experience on the F1 grid, said a Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix Brand Ambassador had to be polite and disciplined no matter what.
“There are some girls who whine about being hungry and complain that their nail polish is running. That is very diva-like and that attitude won’t get you far on the grid, or in life, for that matter,” she said in Malay.
But it is not all heat and hunger at the Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix. There are perks to being a Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix Brand Ambassador.
Faris Waris, executive adviser of Tangerine Models, who handled the recent casting of the Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix Brand Ambassador at the Petronas Twin Towers, said, “It is about being on the grid and having Lewis Hamilton’s car next to you, while the crowd does a Mexican wave. The atmosphere is pure energy. It is an experience that money cannot buy. Even if you are a millionaire, you cannot get on the grid. That is why many are eager to try for the job,” he explained.
Besides, there are around 600 million people worldwide, watching.
The F1 pull is definitely there. And some go to great lengths to try it. Even a Top 5 finalist in Miss Singa-pore Universe 2010, Ziyi Kuek, flew into KL to attend the casting.
The 23-year-old model said, “I have been been for three F1s in Singapore and I wanted to try it out here because Malaysia is a bigger country and it would be different. The F1 is a lot of hard work but it is all fun. There are hot cars and hot guys!”
Unfortunately, Ziyi did not get to be a Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix Brand Ambassador.
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| Nisha |
But it was still a good effort. Ziyi wasn’t the only beauty queen who was turned away. Layka Sethuram, a Top 19 Miss Universe Malaysia 2012 finalist, did not get through either, despite having gotten through in 2005.
Layka, who currently organises function for kids, took it in her stride. The 26-year-old said she would definitely try out again next year.
However, her younger sister Thivya, a communications and media manager, made the grade, with Layka’s blessings.
The casting for the Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix Brand Ambassadors involved a short introduction and doing the catwalk in front of the judges.
While Ziyi flew in from Singapore to attend the tryouts, Normaliana Shah, 27, drove all the way from Penang to try for the job and nailed it.
“I was always interested in being involved in the F1 but I only got the courage to try for it this year, as I came with a bunch of friends to try out. I was the only one who got it but my friends are still very happy for me,” she said, literally jumping for joy, when she heard she got to be a Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix Brand Ambassador.
Anna Ryana, 23, did not have to travel that far a distance. She lives in KL but took the trouble to lose weight after failing at last year’s tryouts. “’You balik rumah.. kecilkan buntut,’ that what I was told last year,” she said.
So for six months, Anna went on a strict diet and hit the gym three times a week.
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| Liza is a veteran on the circuit. |
“I did it just to prove to myself I could do it and I am glad I got in,” said Anna, who is currently an events’ model.
The atmosphere at the tryouts was very laidback and casual, with girls chatting among themselves, camwhoring and one seasoned Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix Brand Ambassador even singing.
Sunshine Aileen Devi Eric, 24, who has been a Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix Brand Ambassador for four years, said it was great to reunite with girls she had known and had not seen since last year.
Speaking of singers, a member of the famed Soliano musical family also tried out. Nisha Soliano, 23, stresses she does not sing but loves to be involved at high-energy events, and they do not get more high energy than the F1.
“I like doing events, especially a huge event like the F1 where the world watches,” she said.
One of the judges included designer Nazleen Noor. Nazleen is incidentally, designing this year’s kebaya with a batik theme for the girls.
She said, Malaysia has a heritage of batik and she wanted to make it contemporary.“I’m confident all the girls will carry the costume well,” she said.
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| Here's looking at the 58 2013 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix Brand Ambassadors. |
