In 1985, Nora emerged as winner by coveting two of the most prestigious awards in Singapore’s fashion scene. She snapped up two titles in rapid succession – she was crowned the Glamour Awards Model of the Year (July 19, at the Mandarin Hotel’s Ballroom).
At the
time, the Glamour Awards were Singapore’s ‘richest contest’
- $28,000 in prizes… fashion shoots with FEMALE magazine… a
trip to New York… a one-year modeling contract with the
prestigious Ford Models New York. 12 finalists vied for
these prizes. Nora reigned supreme!
Two
weeks later on August 1, Nora won two additional awards
-
Supermodel of the Year and
Best Photogenic Model at the
celebrated Studio M discotheque, Hotel Plaza.
The Studio M awards paved her way to San Francisco with $10,000, where she signed with Look Model Agency. She also won a $20,000 one-carat diamond pendant. At 17, Nora, the youngest entrant, wowed the judges and triumphed over 13 other finalists.
In May 1987, already made her mark in Paris, Nora was yet again short-listed as a finalist in the prestigious Ford Models ‘Supermodel of the World / Singapore’ contest. However, she was forced to pull out due to her busy international modeling schedule.
Twenty-something years later, Nora clearly still has it!
She continues to shine as one of the most sought after
faces in Singapore’s fashion industry. She has worked on
the international fashion circuit - in Asia, around Europe
and in the US – boasting an impressive portfolio. Her face
has become associated with many prestigious brands and the
world’s top fashion magazines.
Nora, indubitably the undisputed Singapore’s first
supermodel.
“You
must practise walking
lah.
Use the classroom when it’s empty. You think people like
Nora Ariffin born to win contest, huh? She practised so
hard before the finals of “Discovery of the Year” contest,
you know? Everyday she came back to walk. Look at her now,
her pictures all over Europe”.
“Excuse me, are you a model? – The Bonny Hicks Story”
(Angsana Books, 1990, page 18)