Interview with Natasha Monks

Arzish Baaquie | arzish@gmail.com
the ridge Lifestyle
Aaron Su
Radiopulze DJ

Photo credit: Arpan Roy

Born in a country town in Western Australia as a child of mixed heritage (Thai/ Australian), Natasha has enjoyed the best of what both countries and cultures has to offer in her upbringing, and while completely respectful and appreciative of her Thai and Eastern values, she is undoubtedly more Western in her ways and mannerisms and this makes for an energetic and vibrant character with a unique charisma and soft charms melded into her personality.

Natasha and her childhood friend successfully entered the casting call for The Amazing Race Asia, Season 2. An adventure and experience of a lifetime, which saw their strengths and weakness tried and tested, the show was filmed in July 2007 and is currently airing across the Asia and central Europe. This is the highest rating show in the region, with over 75 million viewers weekly.

After emcee-ing in Australia and Bangkok, Natasha recently relocated to Singapore to pursue opportunities for her to realise her dream career. She has appeared in various media for The Amazing Race Asia and is currently featured in both the Singapore and Philippines editions of Maxim magazine, as well as endorsed by the Singha Corporation, in a regional TVC and print advertisements. Most recently, Natasha has taken on the exciting role of Principal Host for iTalentstar, which exposes and illuminates talents in Asia.

Photo credit: Arpan Roy

Interviewer: How is Singapore currently treating you?

Natasha Monks: (Laughs) I love Singapore, Singapore’s good. It’s a good choice to come and live here, for career, and all other reasons as well. The people are great, the food’s great, everything about it. I like the weather; I can’t stand cold weather, so when I left my hometown in Perth, it was a lot colder than here, so it’s a nice change.

Interviewer: So, you decided to leave everything and come down to Singapore?

Natasha Monks: Singapore, right now, I’m liking it, so as long as I keep liking it, I’ll keep staying here. So who knows what holds the future?

Interviewer: Alright, so, is there anything you currently miss about Thailand?

Natasha Monks: I miss Thai food. And I miss my friends there, of course. And I’ve got a few family members there that I miss a lot as well. But in general, it’s just the food I miss. Thai food is pretty unique, you know. Yeah, I love the food there, and of course the culture and the shopping and the bars as well.

Interviewer: So the Singapore Thai food is not up to standard?

Natasha Monks: It’s, oh I hate to say it, but unfortunately, no. It’s the street food, when you go out and just … It’s that kind of food I miss from over-there. So, yeah, definitely.

Interviewer: You tend to be associated with adventure themes. Was there anything in your childhood that kind of brought you towards this path?

Natasha Monks: Hmmm… Well, I guess I don’t know, I grew up on a farm, my dad was a farmer, I was a farmer’s daughter. Maybe that has to do with the outdoors? Perhaps, maybe not? Just in general, I’ve always had that sense of… I grew up in a city that’s probably the most isolated city in the world, so once you get out, that’s it, it’s all over. It’s quite hard to go back again, I think, to something like that.

Interviewer: Is that one of the reasons why you actually went on a lot of backpacking trips alone?

Natasha Monks: Yeah, definitely. I mean, once it’s so expensive to get a ticket out of out of Perth, so once you get out you have to spend a lot of time away so you can actually make the most of it, so on. So you get the most value for money, definitely, I guess that way.

Interviewer: So we kind of hear that previously you were a peer consultant, right?

Natasha Monks: Ahh, I’ve worked, I’ve done a few things. I was working; we opened up a boutique at, importing in Australian fashion labels, in Bangkok. I worked in the mining industry for a little while. And now I’m working in Grand Managing events.

Interviewer: So you went from fashion to explosives?

Natasha Monks: That’s right. One extreme to the other.

Interviewer: How did that come about?

Natasha Monks: Well, I guess, the whole fashion thing was fun, and I enjoyed it. And then I thought, I needed to be more sensible when I returned to my original career path. Then as soon as I did that, I had a, I guess, a quad-life crisis. And I realized it’s not exactly what I want, where my passions lie, so, I’m taking a step into something I feel I’m more suited to.

Photo credit: Arpan Roy

Interviewer: They absolutely loved you in The Amazing Race! Do you feel the need to prove yourself?

Natasha Monks: I think everyone that goes on The Race has something to prove. No-one wants to be first out, no-one wants to be seen doing silly things, which maybe we have or have not. I guess, we had something to prove to ourselves, we’ve always watched the show and we’ve always enjoyed yelling at the TV screens, telling people to go faster, thinking we can do this better, so in terms of just jumping from the couch to actually doing it, we definitely had something to prove to ourselves, in that sense.

Interviewer: So talking about silly things right, are there any things that have been sent to the bloopers?

Natasha Monks: The producers have an image of you and they want to edit it in such a way that you keep the character. But I think we’re quite easy to stick to certain things. We had fun, we had a lot of fun. We’re quite bubbly people, we had a lot of fun along the way, so even if we did silly things, we can laugh at ourselves, so it’s not a big deal. It’s very important to be able to laugh at yourself, I think.

Interviewer: I really sort of admire the patience that you guys have. They are showing, currently, the episode in Prague, the episode where you had to wait for six hours…

Natasha Monks: I don’t know if you saw tears or me being crazy, singing songs. There goes my singing contract for the year. Definitely, but in terms of patience, I guess it definitely tries to test you. All the things on The Race definitely try your patience. And it was definitely an interesting adventure.

Interviewer: So is there any animosity between you and the previous teams that were supposed wait for you or something like that?

Natasha Monks: Well, oh no, not at all. You’re talking directly to that, so no, I mean, we’re very good friends. We’re all really close … Whatever happened in The Race, stays in The Race. And that’s how it’s been for all the teams, pretty much, so I’ve got nothing bad to say about it, anyone, anymore.

Interviewer: Alright, so maybe, you could tell us a little more about the ITALENTSTAR and what drew you into hosting such a programme.

Natasha Monks: Well Italentstar it’s just, a way for anyone, absolutely anyone, who can get involved, and you’re not alone in this world, you can get your friends to help you out, in terms of shooting your video, being your hair and makeup stylist, any of that, they can help you. So, it’s something that, if you’ve ever had the need or desire or the want to get into something like that, to get into this industry, Italentstar’s a great way to break in, so it’s available to anyone, it’s so accessible.

Interviewer: So do you think there’s going to be a platform for bigger, better things for you, and all the contestants that go on it?

Natasha Monks: I hope so, that’s the whole point isn’t it? But Italentstar is definitely a great way for people to get exposure, it’s going to get a great audience. And I just know that we’re going to find some real gems out there in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines, definitely.

Interviewer: So now that you’re stepping into a line that best friend is on, will there be one day you, Paula and Natasha show on MTV or something like that?

Natasha Monks: Oh, I hope so, I’d love to work with my best friend again, it’s so much fun. But no, definitely more Paula’s field. But for me, this is just fun. As long as I keep having fun doing it, then I’m going to keep doing it, that’s my rule. Rule number one.

Interviewer: Since Italentstar is pretty closely linked with social network sites like Friendster, what is your whole opinion on the whole social network phenomenon?

Natasha Monks: I love it! I think it’s great, I’m addicted to it. I can’t get off the computer, it’s great. It’s a great way for kids to be keeping in touch especially when there’s someone like me who’s away from home so often, or I have friends that I’ve met traveling across the globe, it’s a great way to stay in touch, for people to see what you’ve been up to. It’s a great way to show your photos and just to lull about the things you’ve been up to. And yeah, Friendster in particular, it’s one of those tools that is really good.

Interviewer: So would you consider yourself kind of tech-savvy in that sense?

Natasha Monks: I hope so, I guess so. I mean, it’s quite user friendly. You don’t need to be too tech-savvy to use Friendster. It’s all very straightforward, so, even for me, I find it quite easy to use and very straightforward, definitely.

Interviewer: Right, what is the one thing that you have always wanted to do but haven’t have the chance to do so?

Natasha Monks: One thing I’ve always wanted to do? Well I kind of do everything I want to do anyway, so it’s just a matter of getting there, I think. Amazing Race, I got to do bungee jumping, that’s one of the things I’ve always wanted to do. I guess taking it to a greater height up there’s the next thing up there, so maybe hosting a talent show? That’ll be fun. Who knows what’s next, yeah?

Interviewer: So what have you found in Singapore that’s blown your mind away?

Natasha Monks: Singapore food? Singaporean Chilli Crab and also all the little side stalls, the hawker stalls etc, they’re all great as well, definitely.

Interviewer: Alright, final question, tell us a secret.

Natasha Monks: Secret huh? Ooh gosh. I like long walks along the beach under the moonlit sky.

Interviewer: That’s not going to cut it.

Natasha Monks: Oh gosh. I don’t know. When I sing and I dance during five hour intersections? That’s not very Natasha, but it still comes out! No-one ever likes to hear me sing, so that’s probably something that I’ll keep to myself.

Interviewer: Alright, that’s about it! Thank you very much for your time.

Natasha Monks: Thank you, not a problem!

The Thirteenth: Gift Ideas by The Ridge

^{Illustrations by Claryce Lum}

	Parents		Sister
	Brother		New Mom
	Greenie		Dormies
	Boyfriend		Girlfriend
	Tai-tai		Pet

The Thirteenth: Gift Ideas by The Ridge Page 2

Illustration by Agnes Christina

The Parents
Image from http://usb.brando.com.hk/	For the executive Dad, this USB-powered mini-fridge is thoughtful, functional and stylish to boot. Plug this pint-sized widget into any plain-vanilla USB port on his office PC or laptop and it is good to go! - the temperature of the cooling pad decreases to 8.5 degrees in just 5 minutes. USB Mini Fridge, US$33.50 from http://usb.brando.com.hk. Site offers free shipping worldwide till 1 Jan 2008.
Image from Isetan Singapore	They say a man’s watch tells more than the time. Help Dad impress with this ultra-cool black wristwatch from Agnes B. Only from Isetan.
Image from OSIM Singapore.	The traditional Chinese therapy of acupressure meets modern chic in one elegant device- One end of the massager works as a pen, while the other has a gentle vibrating textured head that stimulates. Press the massager onto any point of the face or body to relieve stress, cramps and muscle strain. The perfect antidote to counter holiday rush madness. OSIM iPen from OSIM retail and online store.
Image from Isetan Singapore	Silk Dreams Mommy deserves more than just a good night’s rest. With these silk sheets, she’ll sink right into Dreamland without as much as a Zeezee. Only from Isetan Singapore.
Image from Gifts.com.	Rattan Magic Spoil Mom with a trip to the Festive Street Mall at Danga Bay, Johor, which houses the most magnificent rattan and woodcraft store this side of Asia. Get set for the beach with stylish sunhats, sexy rattan bags and incredibly cute picnic baskets. There’re also baskets which can be used for storage or laundry for the home. Only at Danga Bay, Johor. To get there from Singapore, you can either drive up or take a cab from the Johor Bahru checkpoint. Keep an eye on the meter, though! For more information, visit Danga Bay online.
The Sister
Image by Lim Renhui	Sweet Secrets Pay homage to the chocolate goddess in your family with this cheery and whimsical chocolate fondue set, as featured in Urban of The Straits Times. Stick a tealight into the burner, pour in decadent, warm chocolate sauce, dip your goodies and enjoy your little slice of cocoa heaven. Chocolate Fondue Set, from Tangs, Vivocity. Available in 4 different colours.
Images from The Paper People	The Write Tools Local designer Suffian Sumamaili infuses graffiti art, haute couture and pop culture into fashionable, intricate notebooks and other paper products. Add that special touch by personalizing her notebook with her photograph transformed into pop-art. Notebook, various sizes and prices (from $10 upwards) from The Paper People, Far East Plaza. Enquire via their website for personalization requests.
Image from Curtsey.	Bubbled Babydoll If she’s into cute fashion and has a tall and shapely figure, Curtsey’s Bubbles is just for her. With a quilted top, bubbled hem and the cutest buttons ever, if you won’t get it for her, get it for yourself! Looks fantabulous with leggings or dark skinny jeans. Comes in cream, brown and navy blue. Brought to you by the local girls at Curtsey.
Image from Etsy.com.	Glass Pendants This beautiful ornate filigree pendant would brighten up any outfit she wears, be it a black tube with jeans or a simple cocktail dress. She’ll love it! And maybe even you, until your next squabble. Only from LingGlass.
Image from Etsy.com	Gepetto’s Playbag Bring back childhood memories with this gorgeous bag. Perfect for the sister who is either just entering kindergarten or who never wants to leave. Just one piece left from JKZiel.
The Brother
Image from Sony	Sony Playstation Portable Nothing less than a revolution in handheld gaming. Sony’s Playstation Portable is jam-packed with groundbreaking features, including wireless internet, video and digital music playback, and incredible data storage and connectivity options. Pure audio bliss to match in the form of built-in stereos with Dolby Digital 7.1 surround sound capability. Only if he’s been really really nice to you. From all good electronic stores.
Images from Gelaskins	Sexy Gelaskins Instantly transform your brother’s plain-ol’ iPod or laptop into a seriously hip work of art. Choose from avant-garde designs by international contemporary artists or timeless favourites such as Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night and Edvard Munich’s The Scream. Each GelaSkin has an ultra-clear, scratch resistant coating for maximum durability and photo quality finish, making them truly Protection with Style, not Bulk. Gelaskins are available for most models of iPod, laptops, iPhone and Motorola V3 and V3i. US$14.95 upwards from Gelaskin retail locations in Singapore (check website at http://www.gelaskins.com/where.php) or Gelaskin online store.
The Pet
Images by Lim Renhui	Puppy Catwalk These tasteful togs for dogs look good enough to be on any (human) tyke, we say. Made of lightweight, breathable cotton material so that your precious pooch doesn’t get all hot and bothered under the collar. Choose from racks upon racks of dresses, skirts, vests and jumpers, ranging from the sweet and sassy to sporty or smart. Available from size 4S (Chihuahuas and puppies) all the way to L (Labradors, Golden Retrievers), though clothes in the smaller sizes are more common. Dog Vest, $17 and Dog Dress, $24, from Mother Garden, Vivocity.
Image from US Doggie Bakery Singapore	US Doggie Bakery Let your dog feast like a king (or queen) this Christmas! These delectable eats from US Doggie Bakery, Singapore’s first and only AVA-licensed dog bakery are sure to tempt the tastebuds of even the most fickle eaters. The bakery uses human-quality ingredients with no salt, sugar, chemicals, preservatives or additives. From US Doggie Bakery, East Coast Road, Compasspoint or Turf City.
The Girlfriend
Image from J. Crew	J. Crew Velvet Bella Jacket Does your woman borrow your nifty jacket at each and every movie? Chase away the shivers with this fashionable yet practical jacket from American prep-designers J. Crew. Available exclusively at J. Crew online.
Image from Dooney & Burke	Dooney & Bourke Canvas Tote Bag Is your girl tired of her drab laptop case? Help her out. Get her a swanky laptop bag that she won’t be ashamed to be seen in town with. Available fromNeiman Marcus online.
Image from Ralph Lauren	Big Pony Tops from Ralph Lauren Ralph Lauren’s new line of ‘big pony’ logos has been a hit worldwide, endorsed by all sorts of celebrities. She may reward you with some horsing around. Available at Ralph Lauren retailers island-wide.
Image from Amazon.com	Justin Timberlake Futuresex/Loveshow DVD Thinking of getting your girl a DVD? Two words: Justin Timberlake. She’ll be thanking you for weeks. Who knows, you may pick up a move or two from JT. Available at HMV outlets island-wide and Amazon.com.
Image from Amazon.com	Molton Brown Moisture Bath & Shower Therapy Show your woman you know your shower lotions from your shampoos. Or at least you could pretend to know. Get her this luxurious concoction and you’ll have her feeling like a princess for the next few weeks. Which is good for you, trust us. Available from Amazon.com.
The Boyfriend
Image from Zirh	Zirh Tri-pack Gift Set Show your man how much you really care about him and his face. Zirh produces high-quality facial-care products exclusively for men. This tri-pack contains their essential products, perfect for beginners and regular users. Available at Zirh retailers and Zirh Online.
Image from Apple	Ipod touch Want to be in your boyfriend’s good books for the whole of the next year? Get him this. Its sleek design and touch-interface will make him envied by all his mates, and guess who he’ll thank for that? Available at Apple retailers and Apple Online.
Image from My PSP	Sony PSP Slim The new and improved PSP Slim is sexiness in the form of a handheld device. Not only is it aesthetically pleasing, it’s a pretty decent gaming device. What else could he want? Available at all Sony retailers island-wide.
Image from Glam Boulevard	CK Steel Boxers Calvin Klein’s new line of ‘Steel’ boxers has been touted as the coolest underwear around, and has a stylish soft-steel micro-fibre waistband. Your man will wear it and feel more confident than ever. Provided he doesn’t weigh 200 kilograms.
Image from Amazon.com	Led Zeppelin Mothership DVD Noticed that your boyfriend has decent musical taste? What better way to surprise him than getting him a limited edition Led Zeppelin DVD. He’ll be on the Stairway to Heaven (not literally) thanks to you. Available at all good record stores and Amazon.com.
The Dormies
Image from Tops Down	Go Dotty! Help her get that charming I-just-got-out-of-bed-looking-damn-sexy look with this red-hot polka dot halter. 8 A.M. lectures will never be the same. Available at Tops Down.
Image from Belle & Dean	Morning Wood If he can’t get it down, he can’t get it down. Say it with this beautiful print and your man will wake up smelling of pandan leaves and fresh autumn breeze. Yeah, you wish. From Belle & Dean, also available at Swirl, Stamford House #02-05 Stamford Road.
Image from Fred Flare	Kiss my booboo When Mommy isn’t around, these bandages do the trick. Also available in pirate, unicorn, bacon and CSI. Only available from Fred Flare Online.
The Tai-Tai
Image from Smeg USA	Freeze her assets You know you’re cool when you own a black fridge from the ’50s. Fully functional, it comes with all your relevant storage units including two egg bins and a dairy box, and also a whopping price tag. Not sure if you’re a tai-tai? This could be the test. Only available from Smeg USA.
Image from Goodrich Global	All papered up Help keep her busy with some redecoration. The lounge needs more life and the library must be done up. Wallpapers from Goodrich Global will do just the trick! Only available from Goodrich Global.
Image from Topshop UK	Sparkle me LBDs are so pubescent. Dare to shine in sparkly numbers. We call it the SBD- Sparkle Booty Dress. This beaded flapper piece from Topshop’s Kate Moss collection looks promising.
The Greenie
Image from Envirosax	Green Shopper This Christmas do your shopping using these eco-friendly re-usable shopping bags. Inexpensive, lightweight and colorful, these hip items are available as single pieces or come as an assortment of 5 bags in a pouch. Say no to the “Christmas edition” plastic bags and go for the “green” ones!For enquiries in Singapore please contact:C.O.T ISLAND ,30 Jalan Benaan Kapal, Singapore 399631. email: Contact.us@cotisland.com , telephone: +65-90492118 Also available at The Dotted Line Shop
Image from Marks and Spencer	The Smarter Choice Visit Marks and Spencer’s Greener Living Shop for environment friendly gift options such as Recycled Cool Comfort Satin Trim Camisole (£12.00) made from polyester from recycled plastic waste instead of oil. Other alternatives include organic cotton shirts, vests, pajamas, towels and recycled paper storage boxes,round bins and magazine racks.
Image from Etsy.com	Bag it It’s Sunday morning, the birds are chirping and the clouds are as white as snow. Bring ‘em along with you on shopping trips with this “forest-inspired oddity”. Only from littleoddforest.
The New Mommy
Image from Mustard Seed Wardrobe	Sexy Momma New mommies go for this elegant cocktail satin dress available in Black or Bordeaux Red. With a tube neckline, and asymmetric A-line it should give a comfortable fit. Be hip and trendy and join the league of celebrity mums like Victoria Bekham and Katie Holmes by picking this dress or from an even wider range, all available at Singapore’s online lady’s fashion boutique at Mustard Seed Wardrobe.
Image from Topshop	Tanned Baby Sizzle this holiday season with this bright spotty print bikini. This chic two-piece will label you as a trendy mom-to-be on the beach! Or go for the maternity un-underwired bra with animal print to add more spice to your life. For more information, visit the nearest Topshop retail store.
Image from Etsy.com.	Baby Blankie Keep baby warm and snug and Mommy deliciously trendy in this cute printed set of blanket and bib. Only from Sprouto.
Image from Pumpkin.	Toga Mommy Black is the preggy lady’s favourite colour and for good reason too. However, avoid looking like a ginormous rag with this super sexy toga top that accentuates your shoulders and arms and directs attention away from the BabyBelly. Only from Pumpkin.
Image from Pumpkin.	Sock ‘Em Good Baby only needs shoes when he/she’s a little older. For now, indulge in good old-fashioned socks in the brightest shades. Comes in a super-cute egg-carton thing that’ll make your friends squeal. Only from Pumpkin.
The New Grad
Image from Dotted Line.	Bibbed Lady This flowy georgette dress that hits around the knee will definitely be a welcome addition to her wardrobe. The transition from campus rat to successful money-spinner is made a little easier by local label Dotted Line.
Image from Singapore Mint.	Personalised EZ-Link Cards You’ll definitely feel the pinch once your student pass is no longer valid. Think $97 is a bit much for unlimited bus rides and 4 MRT rides everyday? As a working adult, you’ll be forking out a whole lot more just to get to work. Lessen the pain with personalised EZ-Link cards. You can get any of your personal photographs printed on the cards and be reminded of lovely memories while you shuttle to work and back. Only from Singapore Mint.

Dec 13th: Spend your 12 days to Christmas with The Ridge

Come back on December 13th for exciting gift ideas this holiday season!

the ridge says hello

WHAT IS THE RIDGE?

The Ridge is the oldest student publication in the National University of Singapore(NUS). Founded in the 1970s, it was a small A5-sized chilli-padi of a publication that pursued issues on politics and student activism without worrying too much about censorship. Since then, it has retained that chilli-padi attitude while evolving into a newspaper and eventually an A4-sized magazine.

Today, The Ridge is a compact, A5-sized monthly magazine filled with 44 pages of issues, events and trends and a circulation of 5 000 distributed within the Kent Ridge and Bukit Timah campuses. Being a student publication, The Ridge is the key read for students in NUS and other universities as well. We have also collaborated with the Nanyang Technological University(NTU), youth.sg and various corporate bodies to create the edgy and engaging read we are today!