'Now, I'm a star

Makeover by charity and S'pore fashion labels turns migrant workers into models

- Christine Tan

On a typical workday, Mr Madhurajan Prakash wears his company's T-shirt and a simple pair of trousers as he checks electrical containment installations.

The electrical supervisor traded that attire on Oct 27 for a lightweight striped shirt and grey trousers, olive leather boots and a taupe bag slung around his shoulders.

Mr Prakash, 27, a 1.8m-tall Indian national, then posed gamely under the blistering sun as photographers snapped away.

He is one of 10 migrant workers who joined a photo shoot at Sembawang Recreation Centre, organised by ItsRainingRaincoats (IRR), a charity for migrant workers' welfare.

IRR said it thought of this project to get Singaporeans to see migrant workers as unique individuals and not just as groups of foreign workers who work at construction sites or industrial estates.

The Indian and Bangladeshi men got a free makeover with professional make-up, hairstyling and a wardrobe change before striking poses like the models in men's magazines.

Mr Prakash said the makeover reminded him of how his parents bought him new clothes every Deepavali.

He has never bought new apparel in Singapore in his three years here, as he finds it too expensive.

He is not celebrating the festival with his family in 2024 because of work. "(This makeover) is a Deepavali gift," he said.