TNP: Rumours? She laughs them off (Jan 24)

Rumours? She laughs them off

Project Superstar 2's female winner finds judges' comments more stressful than crazy gossip PSST - did you hear the one about how Project Superstar 2 female champion Tan Diya and runner-up Carrie Teo got married in Las Vegas?

By Yeoh Wee Teck

24 January 2007

PSST - did you hear the one about how Project Superstar 2 female champion Tan Diya and runner-up Carrie Teo got married in Las Vegas?

Well, so did they. And the two friends laughed about it.

When asked to confirm the rumour, Diya let out a laugh.

She said: 'This is the craziest rumour I've heard about us.

'You know, we are so busy with rehearsals and training, where do I find the time to go to Las Vegas?'

The 22-year-old Nanyang Technological University mass communications student has no idea who started the rumour. And she doesn't really care.

'They're funny to read. In fact, Carrie and I read each other's forum (posts) all the time and laugh at them.'

Rumours can break a newcomer,
but Diya remains unfazed by them.

In fact, she has a good time reading speculation about herself online.

'It's funny. These are generally ren shen gong ji (attacks on the character). Like the ones that said I look like Ru Hua (a plain Taiwanese comedienne).'

Project Superstar 2 at first pits females against females and then males against males.

The eventual winners will battle it out at the finale, which will be held at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on 4 Feb. The show will be aired live over Channel U at 7.30pm and the winner will win a recording deal with Warner Music.

Diya admitted that Carrie is a very good friend and that the intensity of their friendship, which started when they met during the competition, may have led to the rumour that they were more than friends. 'I'm not (gay), so it doesn't matter,' she said matter-of-factly.

While being mistaken for a lesbian doesn't bother her, some of the comments made about her by the judges left her 'completely stressed' and 'confused'.

'I'm naturally energetic, but when I'm performing they say I prance around like a monkey. But that's my personality, so I just try to strike a balance and do my best,' she said.

Project Superstar 2 has turned out to be a battle of the Tans, with Daren Tan being named the male champion last week.

And like his fellow Tan, there were rumours about Daren's sexual orientation.

But the 23-year-old told The New Paper he is not bothered about the gay rumours.

Whatever the case, this chatter will not affect these budding singers' chances of being signed up.

Mr James Kang, marketing director of Warner Music, said: 'We don't judge an artiste's worth based on rumours of sexual orientation. There are a lot of celebrities with similar rumours flying around anyway and it doesn't hurt their popularity.'

Daren's only worry now is facing the finals. The dimpled one, seen by his fans as the bad boy sex symbol of the competition, revealed his strategy.

'I'll come up with new stuff, probably visual effects,' he said.