From beautyy qqueen to TV actres ss

Miss International Yacht 2013 Elvina ChuaC tells Dennis Chua why she chooses acting over modelling

MENTION the name Elvina these daysandfansofMalaytelevision dramas may ask if we are referring to Elvina Mohamad or Elvina Chua. The first Elvina needs no introduction since she has become a household name in dramas such as since 2014.

The second Elvina has been an actress for six months, having left her job in a brand marketing company and was a beauty queen.

She maybea“freshie” in entertainment but her Malay-speaking fans are growing steadily because of her strong command of the national language.

“As a kid, I didn’t think of becoming an actress. I wasinterested in beauty products and modelling.

“When I was 20 and a business marketing student at Help University, Kuala Lumpur, I started a career on the catwalk and appeared in advertisements,” she says in a recent interview at GSC Cineplex, The Gardens, MidValley, Kuala Lumpurtomark the launch of HyppTV’s Laku Mall channel.

She is one of several actors of film company MIG, the producer of Laku Mall, who appears in the channel’s home shopping programmes.

Elvina also has her own blog which reviews women’s beauty products such as cosmetics, lotions, shampoos and creams.

“I’ve always loved to look pretty, because it makes me feel confident. I believe in sharing health andbeauty tips with women, to encourage themto develop confidence in work and social life,” says Elvina.

ADVENTURE

Elvina is from Klang and spent her early education in Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Convent Klang. She pursued a three-year business marketing degree, graduating in 2013.

While modelling, Elvina wasencouraged by family and friends to enter beauty contests. She made it to the top 10 of Miss Earth 2011 and top six of Miss Global 2013.

“I finally struck gold, winning Miss International Yacht 2013,” she says.

Elvina met model-actresses during photo shoots, and they encouraged her to try her luck at acting.

“Having watched Malay movies since my schooldays, I’ve been a fan of them ever since. However, I didn’t see myself as actress material until I turned 23.”

Elvina’s debut was a horror directed by Michael Ang, screened on Astro Citra a month ago.

Starring alongside Emma Maembong and Alvin Chong, she played the ghost of a young woman who was murdered and haunted visitors to her house in a rubber estate.

“I was heavily made up, and got a fright when I saw myself iin the mirror!” says Elvina.

She then appearred in the romantic drama series on HyppTV’s channnel HyppSensasi, alongside UngkuIsmaail andNazeeraSardi, playing acompassionate friend of Nazeera.

“This series’ title mmay mislead viewers into thinking it’s a vaampire story, but it’s a love story involvinng a company chief executive officer and his kind-hearted and honest-to-goodness teat lady,” says Elvina.

Having played a girl-gnext-door which she loved, Elvina wwill turn “nasty” in Astro Ria’s directed by Eyra Raahman and starring Syafiq Kyle and Hannah Delisha.

“It’s challenging toobeabaddie, because of my ‘nice girl’ wayss. Nevertheless, Eyra andproducer David Teeoadvised metothink of despicable witchees and model myself after them!”

Elvina would love to act with Keith Foo someday. She identifiees with Foo as he, too, is a model-turned-acctor.

“Keith has workeed hard to become a leading man. He’s madem the transition from model to actor ssmoothly.”

Elvina describees acting as an “adventure” becausse she gets to play people different fromm herself.

“No matter how difficultd the role, I love challenges. At leaast it’s not aroutine catwalk!”

If given a choice, Ellvina always opts for good characters because she has a fear of getting pelteed with eggs.

“I wouldn’t mind playing baddies, but I don’t look mean enough!”

Elvina is in no hurry to graduate to the big sccreen.

“TV is a training ground, because drama serries are about team work. I must master TV acting firrst, and

I’m loving it!”