IS THE FRESHIE CONTEST MAKING A SILK PURSE OUT OF A SOWS EAR?
When the Freshie Contest began in 2001 there was no precedent for such an undertaking. Cambodia continued its attempts to rise from the ashes of its turbulent past. Finding experienced beauty and talent contestants was virtually inconceivable. The answer was there was a need to teach and the Freshie organizers had an answer. Ana Zhang Ling Ling is a former model from China. She was chosen to teach the final contestants how to walk and comportment since the initial contest. For the most part what she had to work with were young people that had no experience. What she found the most difficult in training them for the modeling aspect of the show was “They don’t know how to walk with shoes,” she said. “Without shoes they’re OK. It’s difficult for them to walk with shoes. I want them to do catwalk (a fashion models walking stride) to show themselves.” Zhang said the attitude is good, that the contestants apply themselves when instructed. She also noted the biggest difference between last ye
