By Tan Kee Yun and Catherine Robert

The Flame Awards is celebrating 17 years – gosh, how time flies! – of discerning adulation and witty irreverence with a bang.

For nearly two decades, the sharp-tongued team at The New Paper has been handing out laurels to the crazy kids on the entertainment scene for adding colour to our lives.

We either praise these beloved stars or roast them with sadistic glee.

This year, expect a few new award categories that give special mention to celebrities who amused and perplexed us with their acts of impulsiveness.

But first, a classic readers’ favourite – BABE OF THE YEAR.

BABE OF THE YEAR

1. RUI EN
2. JEANETTE AW
3. MUNAH BAGHARIB

Two gorgeous veterans are up against a spunky newcomer. Will it be a case of youthful victory, or will experience and massive fan base win the day?

Want to find out more about these ladies?

Babe of the year

She’s icy cool over Flame nomination

1. Rui En

Staying true to her ice queen reputation, the 31-year old took in her Babe of The Year nomination coolly.

“Thanks for nominating me again,” she wrote in an e-mail reply.

“As usual, regarding any awards, I normally have zero expectations.”

The Hype Records artiste was juggling a hectic filming schedule and could not speak to us on the phone.

Rui En was nominated this year because we loved it that she kept it real at Star Awards Show 1 in April.

A comedic skit spoofing the A-list stars of Caldecott Hill mercilessly teased her about her then-highly publicised spat with actor Zhang Yaodong and she looked moody for the rest of the show.

Zhang had talked to the media about a rape scene he did with Rui En in the drama On the Fringe in August 2011. Rui En, who was working in Malaysia then, immediately posted a heated blog entry, stressing that she was against doing kissing and rape scenes.

At the Star Award Show 1, she didn’t even pretend to be happy for the cameras. In her acceptance speech, she said firmly: “We are here to film (dramas), not create news.”

Now, if that isn’t a dig at her colleagues’ – and perhaps, also the media’s – “kaypoh” chatter about her and Zhang, we don’t know what is.

In her e-mail replies to TNP, Rui En said: “All the teasing and ragging is really part and parcel of the game. Some said my face was black, only to realise afterwards that it’s my default look.

“I just honestly wish they could come up with some new material to tease me with.”

She didn’t say much about her chances against the other two nominees, labelmate Jeanette Aw and Maimunah Bagharib (Munah), but expressed concerns about her fans spending too much money on SMS votes.

“I know there has been plenty of voting going on this year for various awards, do vote within your means,” urged Rui En.

How to vote

For Babe of the Year, the keyword is TNPFLAMEBABE

Send your vote by SMS to 146077877 in the following format: TNPFLAMEBABE Answer NRIC Name

For example, if you want to vote Rui En as Babe Of The Year, SMS “TNPFLAMEBABE 1 S1234567A MIKE TAN” to 146077877

Each SMS costs 20 cents. Voting ends at 11.59pm on Sunday (16 December 2012).

RBKD: The crumpledness on page 19 is an intended effect by The New Paper and is not a compromise in scans’ quality on RBKD’s part :)

Source: The New Paper

Categorised in EN, Flame Awards, Flame Awards 2012, On The Fringe 边缘父子, Star Awards, Star Awards 2012, The New Paper.