As a school girl, Jessica Tan could chomp into 10 hamburgers at one go. She was so tubby she had to join the Trim and Fit club, and was constantly mocked by her friends.
But the svelte and lean flight stewardess displays no trace of that ugly duckling as she sashayed her way to being crowned Miss Singapore Universe 2007 at the finals of the beauty pageant last night.
She also won the subsidiary award of Miss Body Beautiful.
Miss Tan, 23, who stands at 1.67m, was a clear favourite with both judges and the public alike.
Miss Singapore Universe winner, Miss Jessica Tan, with 1st and 2nd runners-up, Miss Joey Feng and Miss Christabel Campbell.
She was awarded top marks in the swimsuit and evening gown rounds, keeping her ahead of the other contestants.
Judges felt that she appeared calm, steady and comfortable throughout.
A public SMS poll also showed that she was a hot favourite with the public.
And you will probably never guess that she lost 10kg when she was 13 years old.
On being crowned Miss Singapore International, she gushed: "It's really surreal for me. Of course I'm very happy and it's the best birthday present for me."
The flight stewardess, who flies with an international airline, turned 25 yesterday, and friends and family who turned up to watch her crowning moment sang out "Happy birthday" during the show.
On top of receiving $25,000 cash, Miss Tan will be represent Singapore in Mexico City at the Miss Universe International Pageant.
For a girl who was once taunted because of her weight, this is indeed a sweet victory.
A BEVY OF BEAUTIES
There were no surprises in this year's line-up of Miss Singapore Universe contestants.
The other hot favourites were Miss Joey Feng, 23, Miss Christabel Campbell, 19, and Miss Peggy Chang, 21.
Miss Feng, an economics and theatre studies undergraduate at the National University of Singapore, was first runner-up while Miss Campbell, a communications and media management diploma graduate, came in second runner-up.
Miss Feng was also named Miss Photogenic while Miss Celeste Foo, a postgraduate, won Miss Charisma.
Miss Peggy Chang was finalist at last year's New Paper New Face contest
