Levy sees the bigger picture

By CARSIFU | 7 December 2008
Hitting the books and getting assignments done are routine for any undergraduate.



Though they might sometimes make university life a bit dreary, that is the price to pay for graduation.



Well, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman undergraduate Levy Li managed to find a meaningful distraction " she entered the Miss Malaysia Universe 2008 pageant and won.



With the title under her belt, Levy's university days are definitely more exciting and different now, with a dash of glamour.



The title is just a part of the bigger scheme of things for the 21-year-old who is studying for a degree in mass communication majoring in broadcasting.






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''I have always been interested in the entertainment industry. The Miss Malaysia Universe exposure will be a boost,'' the 170-cm tall Levy tells Star Motoring.



Even when Levy was 13, she was already sought after as a child model but her parents wanted her to concentrate on studies first.



At 19, she took part in ntv7's StarCeleb reality TV show where contestants vied to win a place as TV host, model and brand ambassador. She was one of the finalists.



Runway modelling and emceeing jobs are nothing new to her.



With only a year left before finishing her studies, Levy has already set her eyes on becoming a television host or VJ.



That's not all. Behind her winsome smile, Levy is a budding entrepreneur who has set up an e-fashion house, which has proven to be a worthwhile venture that has brought in extra pocket money.



Called Sisterly Vintage, the online portal set up with close friend Low Ivin, offers trendy clothes aimed at those aged from 14 to 28.



Already in operation for a year, the clientele are mostly college students and working women in the Klang Valley. The site has surprisingly even attracted customers from as far as Singapore and Australia.



Levy aims to use the site to test the market first before embarking on bigger plans to set up an actual fashion boutique with its own label and designs.



''Everyone wants to look pretty and it makes me happy when I see people wearing my clothes.



''We are revamping the site to make it more interactive and also expand our product range,'' she says.



For mobility, Levy drives a 2004 Perodua Kelisa which she likes because it's possible to squeeze into just any available space at her university's sardine-packed car park.



''It might be a manual transmission car but I still find it fun to drive as I feel I have more control.''



She has another car, a 2004 Honda City, which her mother used previously.



''Although I prefer manual transmission cars, the City still comes with steering wheel gear-shifting switches that make driving automatics less boring.''



We got her acquainted with the City's cousin, the latest Honda Jazz 1.5V hatchback, which also came with steering wheel gear shifting controls " this time paddle shifters instead of switches.



She's quite taken with the sporty interior and the overall trendiness of the Jazz. She found the Modulo bodykit attractive as well.



And the Jazz's 1.5-litre engine felt much more responsive and powerful compared with the same capacity block found in her City, getting her nod of approval.