EUNICE Olsen usually radiates sunshine, sweetness and poise.

But two years ago, the former beauty queen's smile faded as she battled the darkest period of her life.

During a full body checkup, she discovered a lump the size of a 10-cent coin in her left breast.

The 31-year-old TV host told The New Paper in an interview: 'It was very traumatic, the moment the radiologist's assistant pointed it out on the ultrasound.

'We were talking and joking, and suddenly she went, 'What's that?'

'Just those words, you know... it was horrible. The surgeon explained that it was possibly not cancerous, but nobody can tell you it's 100 per cent until the biopsy results are out.'

So five days later, she went for a day operation to remove the lump. A couple of days later, the biopsy results came back: it was non-malignant and her health was given the all-clear. This is the first time that Eunice, also a Nominated Member of Parliament, is sharing her experience publicly.

She said she was emboldened to talk about her cancer scare after interviewing the Pink Paddlers - a dragonboat team formed entirely of breast cancer survivors - two weeks ago.

The paddlers will appear in the first episode of her new television talk show Rouge, which premieres over Channel 5 on Sunday at 10pm.

The show focuses on themes and trends concerning Singaporean women and features a mix of celebrity interviews and real-life stories.

Eunice still flinches when she recalls the pain from the stitches.

'After a few days of waiting, when the biopsy results finally came out, I was crying tears of relief,' she said.

Eunice admitted that she had never intended to speak about it publicly but said now is the right time.

She said: 'It was very difficult because it's something so personal.

'When I went dragon-boating with the Pink Paddlers - the oldest member was 69 - I was getting tired. And I train twice a week.

'But you see the amount of determination, positivity and strength they have and it's incredible.

'I felt that if these people can talk about it, my experience is nothing compared to theirs.

'I thought, maybe, by relating it, somebody out there who doesn't do breast self-examination may be motivated to do it.'

The first episode of Rouge will also pay tribute to other inspirational women, such as Singapore's very first Mount Everest women's team, and Member of Parliament Denise Phua, who is also school supervisor of Pathlight School for autistic children.

VARIETY OF TOPICS

Future episodes of Rouge will touch on cervical cancer, organic food, shopping, dating services, pets and relationships that have weathered ups and downs.

Eunice said she choked up while interviewing a guest, Mr Raymond Fernando, who has been married to a schizophrenic for more than 30 years and is his spouse's sole caregiver.

She had asked him what his biggest fear was, and he replied it was the thought of him dying first, leaving his wife all alone.

Eunice recalled: 'He's the epitome of dedication. My voice was breaking at that point. It's very touching to see your (studio) audience cry too.'

And since we're on the topic of love, is the eligible bachelorette not in a hurry to settle down?

Letting out a laugh, the contented singleton said: 'My optometrist asked me just the other day, 'You never go out, ah? Why?', and I said, 'No time'.

'I really cannot remember the last time I went out with my friends.'

She revealed that she hasn't gone on a date in the last six months, but added cheerily: 'Oh, we have a dating episode coming up where I am going to try speed-dating, so it may refresh my memory.'

Eunice, a recent winner of the Asean Youth Award for her contributions to the community, elaborated: 'I've not had the time to think about it. I don't actively go out looking for someone because I'm focused on my work. I'm not ruling it out - it just hasn't happened.

'My parents have given up long ago. They tell me to do whatever I want, they don't stress me and are very supportive.

'I thought I would feel pressure (to settle down) when I turned 30, but I felt more liberated instead.'

According to Eunice, her past relationships didn't work out because of 'personality issues'.

'You just find you don't connect at a certain level or have a totally different outlook on life, and sometimes, it takes a while to discover it.'

She said that her relationships always end because both sides have trouble communicating.

Besides her volunteer work, Eunice has been busy with parliamentary sessions over the past month, and shoots Rouge over the weekends.

She has appeared on the small screen as part of an ensemble in projects such as Front, The Arena and Wheel Of Fortune, but Rouge is the first time she's flying solo.

Eunice is heavily involved in the creative and production process to 'make it her own', and has been honing her hosting skills by watching popular US female-centric talk shows helmed by Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres.

So does she feel the pressure of carrying a whole show on her slim shoulders?

Eunice said: 'It's such a fantastic platform for women and their issues, and I care so much about it. I would like to think that the stars of the show are my guests, I'm just the facilitator.

'It's really much more work than I've done for any other show. But, as with everything else where you put in a lot of hard work, it's very fulfilling when you see it come to fruition.'

Noting that previous local talk shows like Tonight With Gurmit and Upfront With Najip had flopped, Eunice is prepared for bad reviews and negative flak.

'Oh, there will be, and of course it will affect me,' she said matter-of-factly. 'I don't think anything I've ever done in my life has never received criticism. What's important is that it need not detract from what you want to do.

'I'm still learning and I've got a long way to go as a talk-show host. I can only constantly improve myself, and I just need to listen to my producers and my manager, who've seen me do the show and can track my progress.'

Eunice has already been advised to reign in one habit.

She said: 'We were shooting the first episode and I was really excited about the show, and I have a tendency to express myself through my hands.

'It's actually okay when you see it in the studio, but because it's a tight shot (on television), it's like 'chup chup chup chup chup' (animates moving her hands up and down).

'So they're, like, 'Cool it with the hands, Eunice!'

This article was first published in The New Paper on Mar 5, 2008.