ORIGINAL: Melissa with a wedding gown she designed.
GROWING up, Melissa Wong dreamed of becoming part of the world of fashion and glamour.
In 2008, her dream came true – and it was only the beginning.
The runner-up of Miss Sarawak Model from Sibu agrees not everybody can be a model but she knows the exact occasion where people, especially women, can be the centre of attraction for one day in their lives – at the wedding.
Given her talents and aptitude for fashion, she has what it takes to make that ‘one special moment’ picture perfect.
With a diploma in fashion and textile design (specialising in wedding gown designs) and the Miss Sarawak Model runner-up title under her belt, she went on to set up ‘The Room Production’
– a design, decoration, event and modelling company.
MAKING IT HAPPEN: Melissa working on the design for an event.
Career decision
“When I was young, I had many dreams but modelling was my passion. Although many people said I could be a model, I brushed aside the idea for a while because I was a bit scared – I didn’t know much about the modelling industry and where it would take me,” she confessed.
After thinking the matter through and with the support of her friends, she decided to go for it.
She told her parents she had chosen fashion design as career and that the course she would be doing was related to the fashion and modelling industry.
She then enrolled at the Malaysian Institute of Art (MIA) in Kuala Lumpur – which was to change her life forever.
While in college, Melissa took part in many of its programmes but her main interest was fashion show.
“As one of the designers, I had the opportunity to meet a lot of people – that was how I met a teacher from Simones Models Agency.
“She saw me during one of the college’s fashion shows and persuaded me to become a model,” she remembered.
She had never seriously thought about becoming a professional model but when her friends mentioned Simones to her again, she took it as a good omen.
Soon, she was to become a professional model under Simones Models Agency in Kuala Lumpur and in that role, had represented Malaysia in the Elite Model Look World 2008 in China and was also involved in several high fashion shows, magazine advertisements and newspaper interviews.
She was first runner-up of the Miss Malaysia Model of the World in 2009 and also holder of the Miss Model 2009 Best Personality and Miss Model 2009 Best Catwalk titles.
Now, Melissa is set on expanding ‘The Room Production’ and has two things in mind for the company – fashion and wedding.
“After winning the runner-up spot in Miss Malaysia Model of the World, I had the opportunity to organise the Miss Sarawak Model pageant. That was why I set up the ‘The Room Production’ – to get the licence.
“The company’s work scope includes beauty pageants, weddings, fashion shows and event decorations – I guess that’s why I named it The Room Production,” she beamed.
With the company, she is able to find modelling talents in the state, particularly Sibu, to compete at the national level. Moreover, clients who need models for their fashion shows can get in touch with her.
Though still new, the company is growing.
Melissa believes helping her friends with the decorations during celebrations has given her some perspective on how to run her business.
She said apart from finding modelling talents, she also aimed to improve the fashion scene in Sibu.
Although Sibu people were now becoming more fashion-conscious, she believed there was still room for improvement.
“Compared to KL, Sibu has more room to improve and so whenever I see good things in KL, I will try and bring them back here and hope the people could accept them.”
She said, so far, response from the people in Sibu has been encouraging.
She revealed her decorations at events were based on inspirations and themes mostly from magazines, books and the Internet.
“However, I will always listen to the opinions of clients and at the same time, present them with my own,” she said.
According to her, not all clients are willing to accept change but so far, she has not met any difficult ones, saying most of them believed she could deliver.
On the future, Melissa said she was thinking of collaborating with bridal shops, videographers, photographers and wedding decorators.
“Basically, I would work as a planner. It’s only a thought – not planning right now,” she added.