Renowned celebrity hair stylist David Gan recently reacted to a local entertainment magazine regarding the constant comparison between him and fellow hair stylist Addy Lee.

David Gan responded with an analogy : Addy Lee is Newton Foodcourt's chicken rice - with a plate worth three dollars, whereas he is Mandarin Hotel's chicken rice - with a plate worth more than 10 dollars.

"We don't know each other. He styles the masses, whereas I'm servicing a more exclusive market. He's co-operating with other celebrities to launch a new hair salon, I rely on my own capital.

"Why is a plate of chicken rice at Newton selling for three dollars, whereas at Mandarin Hotel it's selling at 10 dollars? Both of us are of different qualifications and positions; there's nothing to compare about," says David Gan.

Going by this statement, most people would understand that David believes he services a more upscale market, compared to Addy.

David also expressed in a Shin Min Daily News interview that he is "famous not because of the relationships he has with people, but because of his own strengths."

He told Shin Min that while he works hard at achieving his own goals and constantly improves himself, Addy collaborated with celebrities to open a salon and uses their celebrity status to boost his business.

He stressed that Addy Lee specialises in the mass market and that he himself provides services to a certain social group, hence there is no room for collaboration.

"The charges for our services are naturally different, like the price of a handbag at Guess and Gucci. Customers can choose any of us according to their needs, as hair styling is like eating chicken rice - where you choose your chicken rice is up to you."

David Gan hopes that the media would stop comparing him and Addy Lee, in order to avoid forming the misconception that he is deliberately putting Addy Lee down.

Being referred to as Newton's chicken rice, Addy Lee hardly regards the matter.

When a Shin Min reporter contacted Addy yesterday morning, he said that he has already heard about David Gan's "chicken rice analogy" through word of mouth.

This article was first published in Shin Min Daily News on June 17, 2008