UrbanWire

UrbanWire gets cozy with the girl every guy is fighting for on Channel 5’s new reality dating show.

There’s always a reason why we’re watching reality TV shows, no matter how tasteless they are sometimes. Be it a hefty ka-ching, recording contract, a prince charming in a fine suit or a sexy cheerleader with a 34-24-34 figure at the end, reality shows attract us in many ways. So much so that Channel 5 is starting a new reality show somewhat adapted from The Bachelorette called Eye for a Guy.

However, Eye for a Guy is not about falling in love and getting hitched in a multi- million wedding (read: the self-absorbed Trista Ryan) but the ultimate chase to win the heart of one beautiful girl. This is simply a romance test, not a Social Development Unit (SDU) or government conspiracy to make people marry and later procreate.

10 hopeful local bachelors will battle it out for the chance to go on a Paris vacation with the babe (or wet fantasy) of their dreams – 23-year-old full time model Rachel Lee who represented Singapore in the FHM Bikini Heaven contest . They will have to make a good impression on Rachel and 2 poor lads every week will be eliminated until the last 4, where the elimination will go down to 1 per episode.

UrbanWire spends some time with Rachel on the phone to find out why this girl deserves all the attention of 10 brave gentlemen who will have to bare their feelings (and punches for some) on national television to win her heart. If 22 sweaty men chasing after a ball makes for good viewing, surely 10 men getting sweaty running after a babe can be too.

Rachel: The director of the show called me last year. She told me about the show but I was quite apprehensive to do it. But she was very persistent and her enthusiasm made me excited to do Eye For a Guy.

UW: So how do you feel about being in Singapore’s first dating reality show?

Rachel: My family, especially my parents, are quite used to it because I have been modelling since I was 16. For most of my friends, they treat it as if it is another job but some of them are rather excited!

Rachel: The crew was very fun and a vibrant bunch of people! The best part in the show is mixing with of the production team. They are very fun, young and entertaining.

UW: Tell us about the 10 guys you met. Any difficulties handling all of them at one go?

Rachel: They are different in every aspect, like their personalities, careers and a lot more. On the 1st day, it was very overwhelming as I was trying very hard to remember their names and what they like to do. My concentration was very split up because the time given to talk to them was very short and I had to remember so much! It was rather tough to eliminate the first 2 especially since I barely knew them.

Rachel: I just did not have much of an impression of them. I mean I cannot pick them if I did not have an impression of them. [The] First impression is very important.

UW: Ok, ahem, 10 men with you must be too hot to handle. Any naughty moments?

Rachel: No raunchy stuff definitely because of time constraints! The filming was over weekends and I only had a few hours with them, so nothing more than getting-to-know sessions went on. But then, I heard rumours about some bitching among the guys! I heard that some of them were not on very good terms with each other.

Rachel: I do not know how it is going to be edited, but in the 1st and 2nd episodes, I was not very open yet. I had to remember a lot of things like what not to say on TV. It was very boring and my memory was bad! But eventually I got used to the camera and the stuff to avoid.

Rachel: Haha, I would say that there were many new things that I have learnt and we have been to some scenic places on and off … Singapore. For example, we learned how to dance hip-hop, visited Pulau Ubin on the 3rd episode and also to Terengganu for 3 days on the final episode.

UW: The show reminds us of other reality shows. What are some new things that audiences can expect instead?

Rachel: It will be very fun because we get to do plenty of new and fun stuff during the group dates!

UW: It seems as if this show is part of a bigger picture that is to ask Singaporeans to procreate. Is it true?

Rachel: Erm, I do not think it is true at all because it is about the last man standing. The rest of the guys got rejected and I chose only one, so I think it is not exactly trying to encourage couplehood in Singapore.

Rachel: No, it is just something fun and it is a dating show. We were having fun and might not even date after the show. I am not sure what is going to happen in the future. Maybe we will meet new people.

Rachel: Neither. I prefer a good guy but more edgy who has a fun personality. We have to click and have some chemistry!

UW: If you were given a choice to date 3 local celebrities, who would you pick and why?

Rachel: Randall Tan, Rod Monteiro and Glenn Ong. It is going to be exciting as they are very fun to be with and also they are my friends!

Rachel: Awesome! I mean I say this because the men in my life are awesome like my dad, relatives and friends.

UW: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Would you have met your special someone by then?

Rachel: No. I would probably stop modelling and hopefully [be] working in an advertising agency or a magazine.

Her family consists of . . . herself, her dad who is a Peranakan Chinese and her mum who originates from Trinidad and Tobago.

Hobbies . . . Muay Thai (Thai kickboxing), watching F1 and playing her piano and guitar.

When she has some free time . . . she hangs out with her friends as much as she can because she’s a workaholic!

Chills out places . . . Holland Village’s Wala Wala or coffee places around Siglap.

Holiday destinations . . . Canada or Trinidad and Tobago. (“To visit my relatives!”)

At the moment . . . she is a full time Elite model and is pursuing a degree in Mass Communications at MDIS after graduating with a graphic design diploma last year.

Her most valuable characters are . . . “My confidence and optimism in life!”

One of her major achievements in life . . . Top 15 finalists and representing Singapore in the 2003 first ever FHM Bikini Heaven in Miami!

Miami Action . . . being given princess treatment, getting along with otherfriendly finalists and rubbing shoulders with Justin Timberlake at the party!