Zoe's destiny: Whatever will be, will be.

Singapore's brightest star she may be today but Zoe was certainly not the model student of yesteryears. The Queen of Caldecott Hill divulges her childhood secrets.

Playful as a kitten, young Zoe would frolic in traditional games like "zero-point" and "police and thief" all day and night in her Lim Chu Kang neighbourhood - even if it meant skipping her meals (yes, she's that obsessed). Obviously, this mischievous kiddy hated schoolwork.

"My friends and I would always group together to copy answers from the diligent ones before classes start," confesses the former tomboy as she fondly recalls her school days at Kay Hua Primary School (which has since been closed down) and Yuan Ching Secondary School.

"And you bet I looked forward to school vacations 'cos that meant no homework!" she continues gleefully, in her famously low and throaty voice.

Naturally, her academic grades suffered as a result of her playfulness. "I was simply lousy in my studies, unlike my 3 brothers, particularly my eldest one (my role model). In fact, all 4 girls in the family did not fare as well as the boys when it came to academic results."

Suppressing her girlish charm, Zoe mimics impishly how her worried mother used to nag, "Can le (Mandarin for 'oh dear'). Don't know how'll you survive in society in future."

But her stern pig-farmer father was less tolerant of her frivolous conducts. To teach her a lesson, Zoe recalls vividly that he once locked her up in her bedroom and refused to grant her dinner. Luckily, her doting granny, whom she is closest to, came to her rescue - secretly sending food via the window and not forgetting to give her hugs of encouragement. "I felt like a prisoner," she chirps.

Well, who would have expected the "rebellious lassie" who did not even enjoy music classes - let alone the fact of not being an ace in school - to have an enviable high-flying career now?

Still, she lives with the regret of not cherishing her school education and urges her young fans to "study hard". Hmm, wise words from the Queen of Caldecott Hill indeed.

Just who is Zoe Tay's best friend? Being such a likeable lady "blessed with many good pals", we really wouldn't want the Queen of Caldecott Hill to be torn between having to decide on the honour. But wait… she has one in mind already - diamonds are it, she tells you. Truly, a woman's best friend!

Indeed, Zoe's passion for the precious gem, her well-known humble beginnings and her current reign as Singapore's most-loved star have made her the perfect person for De Beers' latest diamond drizzler - Trilogy, a 3-stone diamond ring where each stone embodies the challenges, perseverance and achievements of today's women."I love diamonds… Anything that makes me beautiful," she exclaims in her usual quiet, confident manner.

Classic Cuts
Lest you think that the former model is an expert in gemology, she confesses unabashedly that she is not.
Forget the 4Cs - colour, clarity, carat and cut. Zoe knows only that she prefers her diamond jewellery to be simple (a solitaire ring, for example) and in white gold. "It's more classy this way," she says matter-of-factly. Classy is certainly the keyword here, for her right-hand ring finger is a slender size 9.5, perfect for showing off the fiery facets of a diamond ring.

Did you know that this glam chick used to be a fashion victim? She recounts, "I used to wear all my diamond jewellery at one go, regardless of their compatibility with my clothes and the occasion."

On her weird habit, she explains good-naturedly, "When I was young, my family was not well-off. Laying my hands on diamonds was an unreachable dream. No…the earnings from my modelling days didn't help much. So, when a handsome jewellery voucher came along as part of the ($100,000) prize package for my Star Search triumph, you can imagine how thrilled I was! But instead of redeeming it for a big item, I chose the full set and wore them wherever I'd go. Very kiasu." She shakes her head in mock horror at the fashion faux pas.

With This Ring I Thee Wed
These days, the ring is her jewellery of choice. "It's more convenient to put on than the other items because of my frequent costume changes during filming."

While waiting for her turn during shoots, the artiste enjoys playing with her ring and watching its blinding brilliance. "It excites me to see the sparkle from the gems," she says, demonstrating with her sparkling Trilogy ring.

"When I'm at home, I like to clean them (the diamond pieces) with toothpaste," she adds. But after being told by a De Beers spokesperson that this is a no-no, she blushes and promises to use the correct method instead: brush it gently with mild detergent and rinse it under running water.

Does she buy her own diamond rings? "I do, but I still think rings should be given by men," she asserts and (proudly) reveals that she has received bands from 2 men. One is from her hubby and the other, well, she's not telling.

Realising that her loose lips could lead to tabloid titillation, Ah Jie brushes it off and gives her advice to aspiring male suitors: Nothing beats a diamond ring for a marriage proposal because "a diamond is forever". We couldn't agree more.

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