I heaved down onto the cushy seats at SMU's TCC café and scanned the room. Good, coast clear. Except for two ladies chatting animatedly at the far end of the coffeehouse, there was no one else in sight that Saturday morning. I was not late for my interview with Kim Zhang. I toyed with the idea that one of the two aforementioned ladies might be the subject of my interview, but it was easier to discard that idea than entertain the thought that I actually might be three minutes late.

That was, until my mobile beeped and a foreign number announced, "Hey, I am here. Call me when you reach." I did as I was told, simultaneously flipping a coin in my head and deciding who of the two ladies was Kim.

It was a piece of cake. Larger than life, Kim's personality immediately overshadows her petite but athletic frame. Her bright "Hi!" echoes through the room (because there was no one there, remember?) and I relax immediately. No recalcitrant ice queen, but a bouncy long-haired energizer. And no wonder. The vice-president of Latin ballroom dancing in Caderas Latinas (SMU's dance club), has even taken part in the OSIM mini triathlon, braving 250m of choppy seawater, and approximately 12 km in cycling and running. Not satisfied with that, the 2nd year student wants to try her hand at the full triathlon, backpacking in India, scuba diving and sky-diving.

Speaking about extremes, I was slightly taken aback when I discovered that the 20-year-old was not a model (there is hope in the world!); even though her charming small and merry eyes are definitely push factors. Even though the TPJC Prom Queen loves to perform, she has "better things to do in life". Kim confesses that she was surprised to have won the crown back in JC days. Speaking like a true prom queen, she says over iced tea that, "you really have to want it and work hard" to be a model.

Presently, Kym is dating her first boyfriend. I detect a slight bashfulness as she switches to shy mode, talking about the man-in-her-life whom she met while working as a transport coordinator at the International Olympics Committee meet. I ask her the all-important question, did she see David Beckham?

"David Beckham was too elusive. I managed to catch a glimpse of the back of Tony Blair's hair though."

Right.

While most girls her age are donning make-up and the latest catwalk fashion to prim and prime them selves, the Aries relies on the age-old balm to looking good: being comfortable in your own skin and confidence. She says thoughtfully, "some people try really hard to make themselves look good."

With a healthy respect for life as her prime asset, Kim is influenced by her aunt, a stockbroker based in Hong Kong.

"She likes to take risks and have fun but she knows her limits. She appreciates the good things in life, loves her job and stands for her rights."

A for-the-moment-girl who also plans long term, Kim always looks at the silver lining when there are dark clouds. The dare-devil pooh-poohs the "wait till you are older" advice dispensed by her mom each time she wants to try something new, and says indignantly, "when is it that you will be older?"

Kim's zest for life overflows and bubbles into effervescent laughter periodically through the interview. She is that organic blend of girl and woman who loves her jazz blues and her food. Even her love for baking rooted from her I-love-to-eat tendencies, and I think to myself, this one is pretty good.