Street smart Chantelle

'HUH? Encik, saya tak minum, (Huh? Sir, I don't drink)' has almost become a well rehearsed line whenever Chantelle Chuah gets pulled over at Saturday roadblocks.

Even when the breathalyser shows zero alcohol, police would still insist she gets out of the car for a sobriety test.

'Just because of the way I dress, they might have assumed that I would have drunk one too many on a night out in the city.

'It's possible they just want to see what I look like standing straight up,' says the KLite with a laugh as she settles down for an interview with StarMotoring.

She doesn't touch liquor - scout's honour - but loves to hang out and dance the night away with friends when the week's out.

Chantelle's numerous encounters with the law have quickly taught her to be 'street smart'. She has a good idea these days where and when the police roadblocks are.

But the Miss Malaysia Model of the World 2007 isn't blurting out the details to the world.

'Nowadays, I drive home much later, usually after the police have packed up,' says the 25-year-old of Peranakan and Iban parentage.

Most Malaysian models tend to be 'discovered' locally but Chantelle's experience was different.

She had her modelling break in Britain while studying for a degree in accounting and finance at Manchester Metropolitan University.

She was approached by a Caucasian talent scout with a modelling offer while she was visiting in Leeds.

Chantelle ignored him at first, thinking he was just trying to pick her up.

The man somehow convinced her that he was for real.

'The Japanese sports brand Onisuka Tiger wanted a Korean or Japanese model but was unable to find any. I happened to fit their requirement since I looked Japanese and could speak English,' she said.

That modelling job became a turning point for Chantelle.

Soon after, the lanky five-foot-nine returned home during her study breaks and began competing in beauty pageants and also delved into runway modelling.

She's also been seen on the second season of ntv7's Deal or No Deal gameshow as the Briefcase No. 7 girl.

After completing her business diploma in 2007, Chantelle returned home and worked in an auditing firm.

It wasn't until September that she built up enough momentum to quit her day job to become a full-time model and blogger.

Chantelle is currently the brand ambassador for Malaya Optical.

She says nowadays her modelling jobs pay the bills and has helped build up her network of contacts.

'Modelling allows plenty of opportunities to develop business contacts,' she added.

In fact, she has plans to go into online retailing through her blog chantellechuah.blogspot.com and developing her own brand called JessieChantelle.

She started selling chocolates under her brand name a few weeks ago.

'This month (January), I will start a lingerie collection and soon after, clothes and fashion accessories for young people.'

For a person who loves unique items, Chantelle requested to be photographed with her good friend's black Subaru Legacy 2.0GT all-wheel drive sportswagon, a rare specimen in this country.

'Black is my favourite colour. It's a colour that has its own mystique and will never go out of fashion. Cars in black are mysterious, sleek and sexy, something that also defines who I am,' she says.

In fact, Chantelle also counts her wardrobe as full of black dresses.

Her first car, a Proton Iswara 1.3 with manual transmission, was also black.

The Iswara was given by Chantelle's mother on her 17th birthday, so that she could drive to college.

But her current car, a Perodua Myvi with automatic transmission, is not black but silver since mom, who paid for it, picked the colour.

Chantelle's Hungarian friend who owns the Legacy wagon believes that there are not more than five such cars in Malaysia.

The car maintains its stock turbocharged 2.0-litre engine block and does not have any modifications except for the Tommy Kaira exhaust system and HKS blow-off valve.

'Being a wagon, it has a huge cargo area which is ideal for outstation trips besides allowing him to lug around his paintball equipment,' says Chantelle.

The wagon has a customised Mclntosh sound system, a remote start and other Japanese-specified features such as the Momo steering wheel, Bilstein shock absorbers and Defi meters.

Her Perodua Myvi with automatic transmission is much more usable on Kuala Lumpur's frequently jammed roads.

Chantelle's income these days is a mix of peaks and dips.

But it hasn't deterred her from seeking out big-ticket items.

'I am planning to buy a new car when I receive my next big pay cheque!' she says with a determined tone in her voice.