FOR Shenise Wong, there can never be too many beauty pageant titles.

In 1999, she was crowned Miss Singapore Asia-Pacific.

In 2002, she nabbed the title of Miss Singapore International.

And in 2005, she emerged victorious as Miss Singapore World.

She is certainly three for three - she has joined only these competitions and won them all.

This year, the sweet and soft-spoken pageant veteran is hoping to continue her winning streak as one of 16 finalists of this year's Miss Singapore Universe (MSU).

The grand final will be held on 20May at Marriott Hotel.

Shenise told The New Paper at the MSU preview show on Saturday: 'Entering pageants and representing Singapore on the world stage is still my passion - you can say I'm addicted to it.

'It's been my dream ever since I was 5 years old, when I was watching pageants on television.'

Shenise initially wanted to join MSU in 2005, but missed the application date.

So she chose Miss Singapore World instead, which was still open and widely regarded as the No 2 local pageant after MSU.

After reigning as Miss Singapore World for a year, Shenise took a break from the circuit and focused on her career as a foreign exchange broker.

But it wasn't long before the former Singapore Airlines stewardess was bitten by the pageant bug again.

MSU is also particularly significant for her because, at 26, this is her final shot at wearing the most prestigious tiara.

The age limit for MSU is 27.

Shenise, who stands at 1.73m, said: 'After winning three titles, this is the last and biggest one and I want to give it my all. Whatever the result, even if I don't win or my 'record' is broken, it's okay.

'At least I tried and I gave myself a chance.

'After this, I wish to concentrate on my work and maybe get married and start a family soon.'

Shenise clarified that she was allowed to join MSU even though she had already won Miss Singapore World because they are 'two different contests' and have 'different organisers'.

She added that there wasn't any clause in the MSU rules and regulations that banned previous title-holders from entering.

Yet, she was visibly concerned about potential criticism, like how she may enjoy an unfair advantage or take up rookies' spots.

When we raised the topic, a worried Shenise requested that we play down her past titles and not paint her as being 'all out to win'.

She said: 'Even the organisers advised me not to let the girls know because it's not so nice, which is why I wanted to keep it low-profile. Only a few of the girls who have joined the same pageants know.

'I treat everyone with respect and I'm friendly, so nobody will feel threatened.'

Shenise claimed she hasn't been the target of any direct backbiting from her rivals - yet.

Still, she feels she has a little bit of an upper hand because of her experience competing on an international level (even though she wasn't placed) and confidence (it showed in her catwalk and poses as she sashayed in front of about 100 guests).

Shenise also makes no apologies for wanting another stab at yet another title.

'I think I deserve a chance and I'm equal with any other girl in this competition. I hope to be judged on a level playing field as the rest.

'If nothing else, expectations for myself and other people's expectations of me will be higher.'

SUPPORTIVE OF SHENISE

Coming to Shenise's defence was Farhana Abbas, who was first runner-up at last year's Miss Singapore World and winner of the La Formula Una talent quest in 2006.

She said: 'It's not about how many titles you have, but about who's good enough to represent Singapore on the international stage at this time.

'She's beautiful, and she has every right to win MSU.'

Farhana, 24, joined MSU because she couldn't 'go for anything less so the only way is to take a step up above Miss Singapore World'.

And like Shenise, it's also her pageant swansong ('It's the one thing I must do before I turn 25').

You may remember the 1.76m-tall model from her small-screen stint as briefcase babe No 13 on both seasons of the local gameshow Deal Or No Deal.

Farhana, who was a 2003 The New Paper New Face finalist, is hoping she'll be asked to return when producers hold the Season Three casting call in October.

Her other television credits include the skit comedy series The Noose and the new variety extravaganza The Showdown.

Even though Farhana is passionate about modelling, pageants and television, she is 'adamant' about achieving her next goal - surprisingly, to become a flight attendant.

After all, a common career trajectory for some stewardesses is to join pageants for the exposure, with the ultimate objective of being groomed for TV stardom.

The irony is not lost on Farhana.

She said laughingly: 'It seems like I'm going in reverse, but so what? I guess I do things out of the norm.

'I'm humble and was brought up to be grounded. I can be on TV and then be serving you drinks. At the end of the day, I'm just being me.'

Farhana is also famed for having dated Singapore Idol 2 champ Hady Mirza.

But after an acrimonious break-up early last year, she insists they're 'still in contact' and are 'good friends'.

'I don't harbour anything and there are no hard feelings. I was proud that he won Asian Idol and it's great he's doing well and even singing the new Channel 5 jingle.'

TAUFIK'S BRIDE ENTERS

Meanwhile, fellow MSU contestant Natasha Madhavan also has a Singapore Idol connection.

In 2004, she appeared in media reports as one of the 'five brides' of singer Taufik Batisah.

Together with four friends, Natasha turned up at the finals dressed in white with bridal veils and 'Marry Me Taufik' placards, a gimmick which caught everyone's attention at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

The embarrassed 20-year-old business undergrad from Singapore Management University cried: 'Oh no, don't bring that up, that was so long ago! I had straight hair, braces and was still in secondary school!'

She set the record straight that she was no 'crazy fan', but Taufik's acquaintance who wanted to create a 'fun' way to show her support for him.

She also frantically denied ever having a crush on him, dating him or wanting to marry him.

Unlike Shenise and Farhana, Natasha - a 1.69m babe whose father is Indian-Chinese and mother Eurasian - is a pageant virgin.

But she believes it might have been in her blood all along.

She explained: 'In 1987, when Miss Universe was held in Singapore, my dad was on the organising committee and my mum was pregnant with me at the time and went to watch the show. So she always joked that I had a head start!'