"Acting doesn't pay well in Singapore, only product endorsements do. Actors are at the beck and call of producers and expectations of the public. It might feel nice to be famous but the lifestyle is extremely unstable and lonely. Personally, I seek reward more than nobility, so you would never find me to be a struggling artiste - giving stability up for art."

Swyn Teo
School: SMU
Faculty: Economics
Age: 20 +
Horoscope: My star sign is Libra
Single/attached? Not married.

In bold pursuit of passion, Swyn Teo made the pivotal decision and took a year off school to further her endeavours in the glitzy media industry. You may find her familiar, for she was once a finalist on Miss Singapore Universe'2004. It was thereafter, when a whole new door of opportunities opened up for her. The former Arts and Social Sciences undergraduate from NUS feels she has grown immensely after the year off. She now calls SMU her new alma mater. Swyn Teo tells us about her ambitions and dispels the myths of the shimmy-shammy media industry.

Taking a year off is a pretty big move, considering that the typical local student would loathe the idea of lagging behind their peers. I bet that decision has knocked a few new perspectives in your head. What's on your mind right now?

I wanted different things at different points in life. Right now, I would like to graduate with honours and work in the finance sector. On the side, I would like to dabble in some creative media ventures. For the longest time, I was and maybe still am torn between my interest for the entertainment industry and succumbing to the pragmatic option of working in the finance sector. After taking a year off to try out various aspects of media and entertainment, I come to realise that as much as it is fun and stimulating, it is not very rewarding and not as respected as it should be.

You seem to be quite the triple threat - having been a model, host and actress. You were also Miss Singapore Universe finalist, what do you say to people who think it's all merely shallow business?

It really depends on what level the pageants are on. On a national level, I suppose they celebrate the beauty and intelligence of local women/men. On a smaller scale (schools, grassroots), it's really more for entertainment and, I guess, a chance for good-looking people to be acknowledged. I learnt a whole lot. I was exposed to what goes on behind the scene of television productions. More importantly, I still keep in touch with a few wonderful friends whom I met then. It has definitely been instrumental in opening up doors for me.

Do you feel that people make mental labels of you as "just a pretty face"?

Well people don't say it in my face, but I do get teased for being 'bimbotic' at times. I don't think that is necessarily a bad thing because when you try to act smarter and know more than you do, people are less forgiving towards your mistakes. The only instances that infuriated me were when my school teachers made some related remarks with regards to my academic results. Hey, I was just lazy but I wasn't dumb!

It's not quantum physics for people to assume that you use your looks in your favor. What do you make of it?

I think I make use of the fact that I'm a girl and my confidence to appeal to people and everyone can do that if they bother. Anyway, I had terrible teeth when I was growing up and I wore braces for a few years. I think most girls blossom after they graduate.

Now that you're in SMU after a 1-year hiatus, how has adjusting back to undergraduate life been for you so far? How do you like SMU so far?

I love the school. The environment is very conducive and the place's self-sufficient! I feel as though I can stay there all day, for lessons or project-meeting or self-study and I won't grow tire of it. Of course, the workload isn't light and everyone, including myself, complains about it, but I think at the end of the day, this is where everyone wants to be. A friend of mine joked that SMU students live as though they are having 'A' Levels tomorrow, to which a senior replied 'Really? My batch behaves like tomorrow is PSLE!'

Now that you're back to school -and stuck in it -, gone are the days when you can choose to do idle away at your whim and fancy. What annoys you most about school?

Professors (when I miss classes)... Haha. Well, I don't particularly take to presumptuous people, gossip queens or people who are too eager to please. I don't like people who pre-judge people or people who easily dislike others just because they don't do things or behave the same way they do. I'm a strong advocate of free will and I hate restrictions. I also abhor the turnstiles. Now I've developed the eccentric habit of reaching out for my student card whenever I reach a door even when I'm outside school!

What do you indulge in during your free time?

I sleep, chill with my friends, participate in church activities and just degenerate. Actually I really enjoy walking around my neighbourhood mall sans make-up and dressing shabbily. I enjoy walking around like a ghost and even if I bump into people I vaguely know, they don't recognise me! I can just be myself and do what I want.

Hurm....Pretty face, showbiz and SMU. Sounds like a rumoured concoction that party girls are made up of.

Well, I don't think only people involved in showbiz are party animals. Nowadays, it seems as though in order to be 'cool', you should adopt a clubbing lifestyle. I think it is ridiculous! In the past, mainly working adults club to establish social networks useful for their work; now kids as young as 15 go because they think it's 'cool' and kids who aren't working club at their parents' expense.

I usually enter clubs when I'm working for a certain launch or for events that involve my friends. Of course, once in a while, it's nice and harmless to hang out with your friends in a club and fool around. Currently, I don't lead a partying lifestyle.

I bet my bottom dollar that you've got a horrendous pick-up line to share.

I haven't heard of a good pickup line before, but I think the worst is when I was walking to my friend's house and this dude just came up to me asking if I needed a lift. Even after I said my friend's place is like 5m away, he still insisted.

What are three things you can't live without?

Freedom, love and humor.

What's the craziest thing you have done?

Gee, I don't want to sound boring but I think the craziest thing I've done is rather private.

Who would you take with you if you as one half of your amazing duo if you had to go on Fear Factor to win a million dollars?

I would bring a friend of mine who really loves insects. He has a whole collection at home.

If you had a million dollars right now, what would you do with it?

Well, if the government isn't taxing this amount, I would give one-tenth to my church, invest one-quarter of it, give the rest of the money to my parents and yes, give $1000 to the auntie who sells tissue outside LIDO. Actually, come to think of it, one million is not enough!