BEHIND the glitter and shine of runways, with each models wearing beautifully sewn pieces carved by the hands of its designers, audiences would watch in awe, but one thing that terrifies the watchful eyes the most would be the tall heels worn by the models.
A question that will certainly passes through each minds, Evelyn Ting Fu-May answered with her eight years of experiences, “Oh, yes! I’m always worried about whether I might fall especially if the catwalk involves stairs but a tip that I have is to stay on the balls of your feet because that way, you won’t risk your heel not getting on the stairs and falling because your weight is already on the front.”
Raised in Kuching, 22-yearold Evelyn started pursuing the stage at the tender age of 14. “My mum told me about a church in Kuching that was looking for interested participants to model for their catwalk show in a fundraiser event.
So, I decided ‘why not?’ because I’ve always been interested in fashion and honestly, I was pretty excited to try it out!” Luck found her way, after the show, she was chosen by famous fashion show choreographer Vicky Fong to walk the stage of ‘World Eco-Fibre Textile Fashion Show’ in 2010. And she has been cat-walking since! A little chat over e-mail with the beautiful lady allowed New Sarawak Tribune to get the insight and what it feels like to be onstage, carrying the weight of each designer’s apparels.
How was your first time experience? Are you still nervous now? For my first show, I was pretty nervous during the lead up to it however, once I get on the catwalk, all those feelings just disappear and it becomes so incredible, especially when I get into the beat of the music and just let myself go! I don’t quite get nervous anymore unless I have to do something different in my walk that is necessary for the designers brief but other than that, I’m quite comfortable doing it now.
Feelings onstage? Toughest experience throughout your career? Wow, onstage, it’s truly quite an experience. It’s almost like getting a sense of euphoria every time I’m on the catwalk. I can’t say anything bad about it! From my experience, it’s right before going on stage that gives me the jitters but once I’m out, it all goes away. As for my toughest experience so far, I think it would have to be not being able to fit into an outfit.
Show’
It only happened to me once but it made me feel really bad for not being able to satisfy the designers in the sense that they put me in that particular outfit for a reason and I was not able to perform and secondly, for feeling as if I was not skinny enough to be a model, which really made me doubt myself.
However, I just want to say that health always comes first and I’m okay with it now – because if it happens to me again in the future, I’ll know that I’m happy with who I am and I’m always striving to be the best version of myself.
Lessons learned during career? Be respectful and kind, always. You meet so many people in this industry and it is so important to establish a good rapport with the people you work with, especially since you’ll most likely work with them again in the future for different shows.
Who do you have to support you? My parents are my number one supporters and of course, my family. They’re with me through thick and thin, no matter what and I’m very lucky because of that. They made sure that I was working for good designers and with good people that didn’t have any bad intentions for me. I was very young so it was great that I had that guidance.
Besides them, I have to say that Vicky Fong has always been a supporter too. She was the one who got me my first job and is the one who saw the potential in me and believed in what I could do so I’m very glad I have her.
Will modelling be a permanent thing for you? Actually, no it isn’t! I have just graduated from the University of New South Wales in Physiology and I am about to start my Master of Nursing degree next year. So since I fly back a few times every year, I try to do as many jobs as I can because I just love it.Get in touch with Evelyn at @evelyntingfumay on Instagram!
