She's hot property, thanks to her COOL CURVES

By Avis Wong

A GROWING, young woman undergoes many transformations, so goes a Chinese saying.

For television host Andrea Fonseka, her transformation is not just striking, it is jaw-dropping and life-changing.

The Miss Malaysia Universe 2004 has gone from a pudgy 66kg to a svelte 57.5kg.

And her new figure has helped her gain a foothold in the local showbiz scene.

She said: 'It's a lot harder to break into the industry if you don't conform to the standards of beauty, and I'm able to do that now because I've lost weight.'

Andrea's weight loss is thanks to Marie France Bodyline, which unveiled her as its new spokesman in a press conference yesterday.

Since last year, the 23-year-old has also been the celebrity spokesman for Marie France Bodyline in Malaysia.

The 1.76m-tall beauty queen was 77kg at her heaviest when she was 17. She weighed 66kg when she won the Miss Malaysia Universe crown three years ago, which drew flak from her countrymen.

'When I was growing up, I was always very big, I was big-boned.

'Ever since puberty, I've always been really heavy... 66kg was the lightest I've ever been in my adult life and when you lose 11kg, you think you look really hot. So I joined the pageant and I won,' she said.

After that, Andrea came to Singapore to do her law degree at the National University of Singapore and is currently in her final year.

'I had hosting gigs (during my time here) but I could never model, and I could never hit the big time like I've always dreamed of doing,' she admitted.

But now, offers are flooding in.

Andrea is currently hosting Channel 5's reality singing contest Live The Dream alongside MTV VJ Utt and actress-host Michelle Chia.

She is also best known as the spontaneous briefcase babe No 10 on popular local game show Deal Or No Deal.

Since July, she has been signed on to talent management agency Tinsel Entertainment.

While Andrea is grateful for the opportunities knocking at her door, she is facing problems of a different kind - dating difficulties.

'When I was 77kg, I had a small problem (getting a date). At 66kg, I had no problems. Now I only have the problem of (meeting) sincere guys.

'Maybe it's because I'm coming out to the world, but now I see more (guys with) ulterior motives,' she said.

SUPERFICIAL WORLD

It's inevitable though, as Andrea acknowledged that 'we do live in a superficial world'.

Andrea had her first boyfriend at 18. She admitted that she has been through 'four and a half' relationships and that her last relationship ended last year.

'Half (a relationship) because I thought he was my boyfriend but I wasn't his girlfriend,' she joked.

None of her boyfriends then had minded her weight.

'They thought I was attractive. I think it had to do with the fact that I have always been a really confident girl,' she said.

In return, Andrea doesn't mind big guys either.

'My first boyfriend was fat. He was 1.92m and weighed 120kg... I think girls are a lot less superficial than guys.'

She likes guys with 'a sense of humour, nice eyes, charm, good breath, no body odour and someone who gets along with me.'

And strangely, Andrea has a weakness for bald guys. 'I'm hosting a gig with Chris Daughtry, I'm so excited. I have a thing for bald guys. I'm a rocker chick,' she said, her eyes brightening up at the mention of the rocker from American Idol 5.

Meanwhile, Andrea is just happy to embrace every project that comes her way - but don't expect her to be easily defeated.

'I have been through a lot worse when I was Miss Malaysia, it's going to take a hell of a lot to bring me down here,' she said.

Source: The Electric New Paper