Xandria Ooi had originally considered pursuing a corporate career. After all, she does have a degree in finance and management. Her recent win in Astro’s UVJ Search contest, however, has set Xandria on the road to stardom. Her victory, though unexpected, was the result of a well-planned strategy. Find out how she did it.

Oon Yeoh

MW: “Xandria” sounds quite exotic. Is it a glamour name?
XO: Not at all. It’s my real name. My dad’s name is Alex, you see, and instead of naming me Alexandria, which is rather long, my parents just shortened it to Xandria.
 

MW: How was it like contesting to be the new UVJ of HITZ.TV?
XO: I initially signed up just for fun. We started out with 10 contestants and went through three eliminations – two down, then one down, then two more down – leaving only five left. When I found out I was in the Top 5, I really became competitive. I was determined to win.

MW: The winner was determined by SMS voting, right?
XO: Yes, but during the initial rounds, we didn’t ask any of my family members, relatives or friends to vote. We just wanted to see how far I’d get on my own. But after I made it to the Top 5, that’s when I started a serious marketing campaign.

 
MW: What did you do?
XO: I got everyone I knew to vote for me. Friends from as far away as Australia gathered together and chipped in to send in lots of SMS votes.


MW: So, it was just brute force SMS voting?
XO: No, there was strategy involved too. We told them not to vote until the last day of voting – I was in fourth place at that point. That way, the other contestants had no clue how many votes would come my way until all the votes were in. I think the front runner must have been shocked when the final results came out.

 
MW: So, what’s next for you?
XO: I see this as an opening for me. It’s a good platform for me to launch my career in the entertainment industry.
 

MW: How did you develop your speaking skills?
XO: I like talking! I was a member of the Toastmasters’ Club in Australia. That was really good for me. All the members were Australian so I developed good speaking skills there.
 

MW: You write as well, right?
XO: I have been a freelance journalist for the past three years. I began writing for The Star while still a student in Melbourne. My column was called Tale of Two Cities and it came out every fortnight.



 
MW: What kind of articles do you enjoy writing?
XO: Interviews and profiles. I also do some food reviews.
 

MW: Is writing a passion for you?
XO: Actually, I like reporting and interviewing more than writing per se. I like meeting people.


MW: Do you see journalism as a career track for you?
XO: Maybe broadcast journalism. I like TV work. I’d like to host TV shows and maybe someday write and produce my own program.
 

MW: What type of show would it be?
XO: The ideal would be an interactive show where the audience can participate?
 

MW: You mean something with SMS voting?
XO: Most definitely.


MW: You’re quite a confident person, eh?
XO: I’ve never had low self-esteem. I think I can credit my parents for that. They’ve always been supportive of what I want to do.

 
MW: Will your forays into the entertainment industry distract your writing career?
XO: Oh, I’ll always keep writing. Even now, I still write articles for Female and The Star.
 

MW: What kind of phone do you have?
XO: It’s a simple Nokia 2300. Basic phone. No camera, no PDA functions, no MP3 player.

 
MW: You planning to upgrade soon?
XO: Yes, definitely. For Christmas, I hope to get a Nokia N70. It’s a 3G phone, has a 2 megapixel camera, but yet simple to use. I don’t like complicated phones.
 

MW: Are you really into mobile phones?
XO: No, I’m not crazy about phones but I can’t live without my phone. All my contacts are in there and it’s how I keep in touch with everyone.
 

MW: Any other gadgets for you?
XO: I’m thinking of getting a PDA. Perhaps an iPaq. I see myself getting busier and will need something to organize my schedule.

MW: Do you use the Internet a lot?
XO: Yes, mainly for research. I also chat and e-mail a lot. Of course, I am on Friendster. I also have a blog now (http://www.freewebs.com/xandriaooi) so, yeah, I’m online a lot.