Seven Princesses / 七 公 主

Twenty years ago, when it was SBC (Singapore Broadcasting Corporation), or ten years ago, when it was TCS (Television Corporation of Singapore), a prodigious and high profile stable like the Seven Princesses would be unfathomable.

For starters, there weren't enough A-listers to go around; all we had were a couple of 'Queens' who ruled Caldecott Hill and that was it. Moreover, TV-philes wouldn't buy such a gimmick given its conceit and contrivance.

Today, where packaging and marketing are the keys to a successful commercial product, MediaCorp has boldly taken a leaf (along with the whole branch) from KBS's book and rolled out it's own version of what it feels could generate a great impact on the local TVscape, thereby propelling the industry beyond the new frontier.

Felicia Chin, 23: The unofficial – rather, de facto – ‘Crown Princess’ of the Magnificent Seven. Being the only Star Search Champion of the septet, this entire assemblage, one might even go as far to assert, was more or less created for and built around Her (Impish) Royal Highness. Felicia can be seen weeknights in Channel 8’s 9 p.m. drama THE GOLDEN PATH.

Jesseca Liu, 28: Arguably the most popular among her counterparts, this tall and lanky charmer from Langkawi, Malaysia, captured and forever cemented her place in the many hearts of local viewers with her plum role of Ruan Mian in PORTRAIT OF HOME. Likewise, Jesseca can also be seen weeknights in Channel 8’s 7 p.m. drama KINSHIP II.

Rui En, 26: Also an accomplished crooner under Ken Lim’s music label Hype Records, once SingTel’s ‘Running Girl’ scores the distinction of performing ‘live’ at the 40th National Day Parade. Indisputably the coolest cat of the batch, Rui En is also one of the more consistent honorees of the Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes award – having brought home the bacon for the last three years.

Fiona Xie, 25: Her six years of tenure with MediaCorp puts her ahead of the pack in terms of showbiz experience and exposure. Voted Sexiest Woman of 2005 by FHM Singapore, the versatile and effectively bilingual ‘Genie’ conjured up not one, but two Star Awards – for Best Newcomer and Top 10 Most Popular Female Artiste – in 2001, a feat not since repeated by her palatial peers.

Joanne Peh, 24: Primed for a ‘monster(-sized) push’ by the company after participating in Miss Singapore Universe 2002, the Miss Elegant and Miss Personality sash donner seems to have lost much of her glamor – and that purported push – over the years. These days, Ah Lian-type parts seem to find the sprightly LUX spokesperson like bees to honey, whereas the coveted Top 10 trophies have eluded her for the past two years. That single-dimpled smile, though, still sells.

Jeanette Aw, 28: My favorite and, IMHO, the fairest of them all. Talent-spotted by MediaWorks (anyone remember them?), this academic high-flyer attended Raffles Girls’ Primary School, Crescent Girl’s School, National Junior College and National University of Singapore. Whoever said beauty and brains cannot coexist? In a somewhat surprising outcome, Jeanette was shut out of the Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes glitterati for the first time since 2002.

Dawn Yeoh, 21: The unabashed baby of the group, this ‘Little Princess’, detractors may readily dismiss, could be roped in just to make up the numbers (seven is lucky, after all?). Whether or not the Fann Wong glimpse-alike is worthy of her divine appellation remains to be seen. At present, Dawn has only figured in four MediaCorp productions while headlining her first (THE SHINING STAR).

5Swim team: Felicia, Jeanette and Fiona take a dip in THE CHAMPION.