PETALING JAYA, June 30 — Shikin Gomez is ready to explore new horizons after she finished runner-up on Asia’s Next Top Model (AsNTM) cycle five.
The model said coming up short to Philippines’ Maureen Wroblewitz, 18, in the reality TV contest won’t stop her career progressing to new heights.
“Onwards and upwards!” she gushed after Wednesday night’s finale.
“There’s no going downhill from here on out. I will carry on as a model.
“Modelling is my passion that I’ll continue. Anything else that comes with it is just icing on the cake.”
Yet there’s a case for Shikin, 24, to feel hard done by.
Despite Maureen heading into the final as favourite against Shikin and Minh Tu Nguyen of Vietnam, viewers were split over the last photo shoot which seemed to have swayed judges.
There was little argument the petite half-German Maureen had grown the most in the competition.
As the youngest and shortest at 5’6”, the Filipina developed from a shy teen into a confident soul.
The girls were tasked to model in costumes avant garde-style for the final photos.
Shikin’s tall, indelible look shone with the bold personality that has won her a legion of admirers over the course of the 13-episode show.
But judges opted for Maureen praising her “quiet confidence” in a less daring facade.
“That image is exactly what I wanted to see from you at the end of this competition,” said host Cindy Bishop.
There was outcry from Malaysians on social media.
Cycle five’s theme was ironically, “Expect the unexpected”.
They claimed the shock result stayed true to the mantra.
“Shikin slayed the avant garde theme shoot. How did Maureen win?” asked one Twitter user.
Another posted: “Shikin will always be the winner in my eyes.”
Fans rallied through the night with playful #ShikinDoIt (She can do it) and #TeamShikin trends.
Others commended the Bandar Sri Damansara girl, of Indian and Malay parentage, for breaking barriers and doing Malaysia proud.
“Shikin should’ve won. She can represent dark Asian beauty and break the norm of having light skin (seen) as a symbol of beauty in Asia,” said one social media user.
Shikin confided to Malay Mail:
“Of course I was disappointed not to win.”
Injustice?
“I understood why Maureen won. I saw her learn a lot on the show and maybe that’s why she won. She deserved it,” she said.
Shikin went on to praise her fans, affectionately dubbed her “Shikin nuggets”.
“My Shikin nuggets are my happy pills. They are so cute and make me laugh.
“It means so much to me I have a very supportive group of people.”
Maureen became the first Pinay to win AsNTM, dedicating the win to her mother who passed away when she was 11.
As reward, she won a new Subaru Impreza car, will star in a fashion cover spread for Nylon Singapore magazine and head to Europe for the chance to be represented by London-based Storm Model Management.
Shikin walked away as the newest face of online fashion outlet Zalora and Subaru ambassador for the region.
Malaysia’s other contender was similarly feisty Alicia Amin, 22, who recently picked up modelling work in Berlin on the back of newfound popularity.
How did they both find the experience? What next?
Read Shikin and Alicia’s stories in tomorrow’s Malay Mail.
