Upping the ante

AS a full-time model, many would have thought that Shikin Gomez, 25, is a social butterfly. While this deduction may seem reasonable, especially when you consider the industry that she is in, nothing could be further away from the truth.
"I'm not someone who loves going out and spending time with friends. Rather, it's more common to find me unwinding at home with my cats. I love to mingle, but I usually do it for work purposes," she elaborated, before adding that people often misinterpret her quietness as unfriendly.
Standing tall at 1.77m with a blond pixie cut, sharp jawline, defined cheekbones, and a pair of fierce-looking eyes, she does emanate an air of aloofness at first. But this glacial facade instantly gives way to a vivacious personality once she starts to speak.
And that is when one discovers the other side of this towering beauty.
Making headway
A familiar face in the local fashion scene, Shikin is no stranger to runways and editorial shoots. Having been in the industry since she was 18, she tried out modelling on a part-time basis before embracing it fully three years ago.
"Initially I juggled between modelling and another job because I was afraid that a modelling career couldn't sustain my lifestyle. My mother also did not approve of it as she perceived modelling to be more of a hobby than career.
"However, since I was always torn between the two, I was forced to choose and I picked modelling. I wanted to see how far I could go and if it was viable in the long run. Once my mother saw how committed I was, she became supportive too. So far, it has turned out quite well," she said.
Her existing accomplishments aside, Shikin was chosen to compete in a regional modelling competition in the esteemed reality television show, Asia Next Top Model (AsNTM). As one of the two Malaysian contestants in season five, she'll be competing with other models to make the country proud.
"AsNTM is a huge deal for me because I auditioned for cycle four but I didn't get it. So not only am I elated that I got in this round, but it's also a defining moment in my career. The show has definitely helped to polish me into a more well rounded model.
"For example, prior to the competition, I never thought I could do commercial shoots because I have always been more of a high fashion model – with the straight face, angry look, and squinted eyebrows. It was awkward in the beginning because I'm not used to smiling during a photo shoot, but I did my best and I'm now confident enough to do it."
Sky's the limit
Besides a lively personality, this communications and media graduate is also adventurous – both in spirit and in professional capacity – and advises aspiring models to try everything and expect anything.
"I think it's important to experiment, to go crazy during a photo shoot. Don't hold back or question if it's weird; instead, immerse yourself in the mood board, feel the moment, and do it. It's all about trial and error, even for myself who has been doing this for quite some time," she added.
Nonetheless, Shikin cautioned that as important as experimentation is, it's vital to know your limits and set the boundaries.
"I feel that girls are constantly told that there are certain things we can't do. It's not just in Malaysia, but it's happening globally. While this is grossly untrue and we shouldn't listen to it, it's also necessary for us to only do things that we're comfortable with. We have to always remember that we have a choice to say yes or no."
Having said that, she also dispelled the misconception that being a model means you have to pose for racy shoots.
"There's this fallacy that models will be asked to pose nude. This may be the case in the western world, but it almost never happens in Malaysia. We're still quite a conservative country, so you're well protected. In fact, we practise safety measures such as wearing safety pants, using body tapes and more," explained Shikin.
Therefore, she urges aspiring models to go for it. Similarly, Shikin will take her own advice in striving for an international career. And rest assured that – just like everything else – she'll do it in a quiet, determined yet unapologetic manner.