The swinging bachelor status takes a backseat to the image of doting father with the crowning of Lim Wee Lee as winner of the NÜYOU Men We Love 2010 contest.
Contributed By Yeo Zhi Qi
Father to a four-year-old son, Lim Wee Lee proves that it takes more than the carefree, hang loose bachelor status to win the NÜYou Men We Love 2010 contest. The 32-year-old events program executive beat 24 other contestants for the title, charming the crowd with his boyish good looks, a disarmingly unassuming demeanour and a sunshine disposition.
The NÜYOU Men We Love contest is an annual editorial feature and event that introduces 25 men with desirable qualities to readers of the magazine. Held on Nov. 11 at Zouk, its predominantly female crowd whistled, screamed and cheered for their favorite contestants.
Lee expressed that the win was entirely unexpected as he felt that the other participants, with one being a manhunt finalist and others being professional models, were more deserving than him. He attributes his win to his sense of humor and easy-going nature. “I tend to get along easily with people; they feel comfortable relating to me,” he says.
A freelance theater actor, Lee shared that he loves to act and is open to opportunities in the media industry if there are open doors for him. When asked about the plans and goals he has for himself, the newly crowned winner cheekily shared that he hopes to have a new addition into his family with his wife Wendy Woo, a regional marketing assistant manager, within the next five years.
Each of the contestants was placed in the hot seat during the Q&A segment when emcee, 93.3FM deejay Ling Zhi grilled them with personal questions, such as the most romantic gesture ever done, their idea of a perfect date and more.
When the time came for the contestants to make the requisite man-strut down the stage, one of the contestants, Sean Phua, who won the Most Popular and Most Stylish awards, made the most out of his time in the spotlight and stripped down to his pants, much to the delight of the screaming crowd. Melting hearts not just with his looks but with the supportive role he plays in his athletic girlfriend’s life, he shared that he would ferry her around for her marathon races and help her with the necessary paperwork.
With the contestants coming from all walks of life, comprising, among others, students, a cabin crew and an interior designer, it was a tough call for the audience to make their pick. The winner was decided based on the results of online voting as well as the highest number of audience votes received on the night of the contest itself. Other titles include Mr. Urbane, won by Indra Salim, who shared his proposal experience, revealing that he brought his then-girlfriend to a hotel room where he had rose petals arranged to form the question: “Will you marry me?” Of course, the blissful look on his face as he recounted the experience left no doubt in the minds of the audience as to the reply he received.
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| CN PHOTO: Gay Sen Min |
Another scene-stealer that night was Edward Gunawoun, who bagged the Topman We Love award. He shared that his most romantic gesture was when he cooked dinner for his girlfriend, which did not unfold without hiccups. “Lasagna was pretty tough, as I found out, because I had to prepare the ingredients overnight,” he admitted sheepishly.
The evening also featured performances by local artists, such as Zheng Ke Wei and Dong Zhi Yi. Despite being relatively new in the local music scene, they delivered more than decent turns of performances, crooning melodious ballads to the audience.
Edward Fan Pin Wei, 21, is another contestant who also took part in the contest. Having emerged third place in the Asia Conference 2010 pageant and played various roles in his church’s drama productions, Fan is a familiar face to many. The avid basketball player who has a personal interest in modelling shared that he signed up for the contest under his friends’ encouragement.
Lim walked away with an Ebel watch worth S$6,000, Topman vouchers worth S$400, Redken products worth S$300 and a Subaru hamper.
