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The Singapore Girl

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The Resume

    (1972- )
    Symbol of Singapore Airlines
    Created by British advertiser Ian Batey and French designer Pierre Balmain
    Motto is ‘Singapore Girl, you’re a great way to fly’
    First advertising icon immortalized in Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum (1994)

Why she might be annoying:

    For the first two years of her existence, she wore a traditional stewardess uniform.
    Her co-creators are European, not Asian.
    The airline has stringent regulations on hair, cosmetics, and accessories.
    In particular, she is not allowed to wear nail polish unless it is the single shade ordained by the airline.
    Those under 5’2 or older than 26 years need not bother applying.
    Up until 1995, only women from Malaysia and Singapore were permitted to become Singapore Girls.
    Singapore Airlines continued to refer to her as a ‘stewardess’ (at least it’s politically incorrect).
    Compared to her lively uniform, the male attendants’ uniforms are grey or any of three nondescript shades of blue.
    There is the usual sexist ballyhoo surrounding her image.

Why she might not be annoying:

    Since the change of uniform in 1974 to the sarong kebaya, her outfit has changed very little.
    She is trained to handle customers of all manners.
    At least she doesn’t have to worry about comparisons to Tila Tequila!
    The language barrier was one reason for eventually allowing women from other Asian countries (including India) to become Singpore Girls.
    Her kebaya isn’t just for show.
    Either her toenails are painted or she wears stockings.
    The color of the kebaya indicates the status of the attendant — blue for flight stewardess, green for leading stewardess, red for chief stewardess, and purple for in-flight supervisor.
    At least one certified genuine Singapore Girl appears in every airline advertisement.
    For advertisements where food safety is not an issue, she can wear her hair all the way down.
    Singapore’s top newspaper declared, ‘To remove the Singapore Girl icon from SIA is like removing Mickey Mouse from Disneyland.’
    Customers are very willing to pay premiums for her image and service.
    Contrary to the views of outsiders, seldom do Singapore Girls past or present complain about their image.
    She will live as long as the airline does and never grow old.

Credit: Cool It All Right?


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 59 Votes: 27.12% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 13 Votes: 23.08% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 13 Votes: 69.23% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 10 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 34 Votes: 94.12% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 8 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 25 Votes: 48.00% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 17 Votes: 41.18% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 16 Votes: 68.75% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 18 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 44 Votes: 52.27% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 26 Votes: 50.0% Annoying