This girl just enjoys lapping up all the attention eh? And no, fading into oblivion is definitely not on her cards.

Anyone in Singapore would definitely have heard of this notorious Miss Singapore World 2009 winner, who was stripped of her beauty crown after being found guilty of credit card fraud charges.

And just last week, news surfaced of her being the brand ambassador for Espire Condoms.

So let’s recap … this is how you thrust yourself into the spotlight for as long as you can, Ris-Low-style:

1) Speak horrible English during an interview segment carried out by RazorTV, the Straits Times Interactive video news site.

2) Look rather ordinary, in contrast to other Singaporean girls (I’m not saying that I am prettier than her, but you know that you have certainly seen much prettier girls on the streets, NUS, NTU, SMU etc).

3) And yet go on to win the title of Miss Singapore World 2008.

4) For lack of a better word during interview responses, come up with expressions like “BOOMZ! SHINGZ!”

5) Wear something RAD! and LOUD! whenever you’re feeling naughty.

6) Strut down Orchard Road in a bikini top and jeans whenever you’re feeling skanky bold.

7) Wear leopard/zebra PREENS with khaki colours.

8) Rack up police charges for credit card fraud incidents.

9) Do all that while you’re suffering from bipolar disorder.

10) Be the poster-girl for the Speak Good English campaign

11) Talk about wanting to open up a cake shop

12) Catch the attention of CNN, and then be voted as one of the “Top 25 Influential Asians of 2008”.

13) More recently, work part-time in a HIV clinic

14) And even more recently, be a youth ambassador for (Espire) condoms.

Actually, the list goes on and on.

Yes, it is benevolent of her to be working in a HIV clinic … or is it? Is the media merely trying to portray her in a more favourable light by highlighting the fact that she is working as a HIV clinic assistant? 2 years ago, when she was working as an assistant in another clinic, she started on her credit card fraud rampages while apparently suffering from bipolar disorder. The irony of working in a medical clinic.

But that aside … I find it somewhat unsettling to learn about her being the youth ambassador of Espire condoms. Why so? Certain excerpts from the January 15, 2009 edition of MyPaper.

“…Miss Low read - haltingly - from a prepared speech: ‘First, we encourage abstinence among those who are unmarried. But if they choose to engage in sexual intercourse, they should be educated on safe sex and how to protect themselves.”

Asked why Zander Asia chose Miss Low as its youth spokesman, its executive director, Ms Joy Tan, said: “It’s not easy to find a spokesman for this issue. Ris was game and she believes in the message.

…

“And sleazy poses with condoms are a no-no, because she is promoting a safe-sex message, not the products, she stressed.

She has not tried any of the products she is endorsing - no pre-marital sex for her, she said.”

Isn’t the ability to articulate oneself well an important consideration for being an ambassador for any cause or brand? If she truly did believe in the message, I don’t see the need for having to read off a prepared speech. If she truly and sincerely felt for the cause, articulation and finding the right words would come more naturally to her. And shouldn’t her English lessons at NUS for the past few months have taught her a thing or two about speaking and expressing her opinions better?

The issue about her being “game” enough to be the ambassador because of the difficulty in finding a spokesperson for this issue … well if her face is plastered on every advertisement with Espire condoms in all forms of media, naturally she would be game enough! It is after all, a means of her perpetuating her presence in the limelight.

I also personally feel that there is a conflict of interest between the cause and the ambassador.

The cause: Promoting the usage of condoms for safe sex

The ambassador: The so-called virginal lady who says no to pre-marital sex.

If that’s the case, wouldn’t it be even more appropriate for her to promote the cause of abstinence, instead of contraceptives? How can one feel 100% for a cause if she claims not to directly/indirectly engage in it?

It’s just me, being the Poster Girl for, say, … Air Pork. Even though I don’t eat pork at all because of my religious/dietary beliefs.

If you’re talking about her being tasked to front the Speak Good English campaign, or educating the public about credit card fraud, yes, then I would turn the other way round and give her a chance. But certainly not in this aspect!

Espire PR, you really have alot more work to do, in order to convince the general public that Ris Low IS the choice ambassador for condoms. Because Espire Condoms will not be my choice of condoms, should the need arise!

So, to whom it may concern … the next time you and your partner are getting it on decide to reach for that box of Espire condoms … don’t be surprised to see the words BOOMZ! SHINGZ! printed on the condoms!

Because Boomz! and Shingz! are , shall we say … really unintellectual more down-to-earth wordplay to describe that mind-blowing foreplay/sex.