SHE seems to have everything - good looks, intelligence, an outgoing personality and a successful career. Yet, beauty queen Genecia Luo has turned to a local dating agency to help her find Mr Right. The willowy 1.72m-tall bachelorette has many pageant titles under her belt, among them Miss Singapore Universe 2006 second runner-up and MissSingapore International 2006. She was also a finalist in The New Paper New Face modelling contest in 2003. What Ms Luo, 25, doesn't have - but is keenly longing for - is someone she can spend the rest of her life with. With all her outstanding qualities, surely men would be beating a path to her door?
SUITORS GALORE
Ms Luo admits she is not short of suitors, adding that a few have already expressed their feelings towards her.'But I'm not interested in casual dating or short-term romances,' she told The New Paper on Sunday. A former occupational therapist who worked with children with learning difficulties, Ms Luo is now running her own personality development business for women, where she also trains girls to compete in local pageants. However, like some busy young professionals, what precious personal time she gets is spent with loved ones rather than socialising or clubbing.
'They are my family, friends and cats,' she said of those who do get her love. She usually meets men through mutual friends, her community grassroots work or scuba-diving and outdoor activities. She has had four serious relationships, each of which lasted at least two years. 'I went into them with marriage in mind', she said.
Two months ago, Ms Luo decided for the first time in her life to outsource her dating needs to professionals - namely, one-year-old boutique dating agency The Dating Loft - after hearing success stories from co-owner Ada Wong, whom she met at a social function two years ago. Ms Wong stresses that Ms Luo is not a regular member of the agency, but a 'special VIP single'. Their first assignment? Finding her a dinner date this Valentine's Day. Interested bachelors can register their profile online at www.thedatingloft.com, after which the agency will consult with potential candidates and pick the most compatible one for Ms Luo. Hard to believe, but even the pretty ones need help in the love department sometimes. Ms Luo related how she hasn't met anyone she can truly connect with and who shares similar life aspirations - even though she admitted her most recent ex-boyfriend was 'husband material'. 'It's like some piece of the jigsaw puzzle is missing and I feel so lost.'
She reasoned: 'Then I thought, maybe I should just use a different method. To change the outcome, you have to change your response to the event. 'I'm quite impressed with the profiling system (of the agency) because in my previous job (as a former occupational therapist), we did a lot of initial assessments when we met patients, so that was important. 'Maybe (the agency) can make a match and probably find out what's that missing element.'
NO HARM TRYING
She also doesn't see any harm in 'trying something new', even if the system 'isn't 100 per cent'. 'I want to move with the current trends and be more open-minded to options. 'If we can put ourselves in an optimum environment where you meet like-minded people, there's a higher chance of success.' Ms Luo revealed jokingly that her mother's initial reaction on learning that she sought a 'matchmaking' service was an incredulous. 'Are you sure you need it?' she had asked her. However, the beauty queen believes that risk-taking has served her well professionally. And, going public with her dating woes isn't a big deal to her - unlike most female members of dating agencies who prefer to remain anonymous because they are embarrassed or self-conscious. She said: 'Having to stand on the Miss Singapore Universe stage in front of a national audience, having people criticising you, and talking to the press - all this media exposure has definitely helped me.
'So when you have confidence and dare to go out there and get what you want, why bother what people say? 'Because this is my happiness, not yours or other people's.'
What she's working towards is the 'fairytale dream' of 'settling down with a good husband, having three children and running my business at the same time'. But she insists her standards are not extremely high. Her ideal partner has to be at least five years older, at least the same height (or slightly shorter), supportive, financially stable and on the same spiritual wavelength. And because she claims she's 'not high maintenance' - the most expensive gifts she's ever received from her lovers were an iPod and a pair of diving fins - she doesn't need a rich fella.
She said: 'I'm simple, down-to-earth and practical, so guys don't need to buy flowers that will die or jewellery that I'll hardly use.
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