Miss Mandy Soong did not make the cut as Miss Singapore Universe, but the audiences were definitely cheering for her as the next FHM Girl Next Door 2008.
Earlier last month, Miss Soong was one of the eight finalists at the Miss Singapore Universe 2008 pageant, but did not make it to top three.
Despite that loss, the 19-year-old student was on top of her game and beat nine other contestants at the St James Powerhouse to be crowned the new FHM Girl Next Door 2008.
Prior to her win, she said: "I don't want to have too much hopes (of winning), if not, I'll be disappointed if I don't get it.
"I was really scared and nervous."
Never mind that her friends' below-the-stage cheers of "Number 8! Number 8!" - which was her contestant number - minutes before the winner was announced had further rattled her nerves.
But as it turned out, her worries were unfounded.
Mandy, who has a penchant for men in bank uniforms, credited her winning factor to her experience at the Miss Singapore Universe contest.
Looking confident and sexy as she appeared dressed in a high-heeled, patent-leather outfit to fit the opening sequence's fetish theme, she revealed: "It is Miss Singapore Universe 2008 that groomed me and prepared me for tonight's finals.
"So that is why I have the posture and confidence level in me."
Her newly found poise won the judges over, who awarded her the title after a tight race for top spot with the eventual runner-ups, Cordelia Low and Elyn Chong.
Mr David Furhmann-Lim, one of the night's judges and the senior editor of FHM, told AsiaOne that Mandy was the "one girl who had the little bit more than the rest".
She was everything the judges were looking for, he said.
And AsiaOne forum-ers agree. An online poll conducted by AsiaOne showed Mandy emerging as one of the AsiaOne favourites, as she garnered 18 per cent of the votes.
Unfortunately, top favourite Merry Chen, who got 32 per cent of the online votes, walked away with nothing that night.
When asked if she had hoped to win the contest, the 28-year-old secretary said: "A little bit...especially with all the support online.
"I feel very happy that so many people voted for me," she added with a smile.
