Madam Maggie Yeo is usually a reserved person, maybe even an introvert, says her 19-year-old daughter Germaine Chng.
But mention the name of South Korean actor Hyun Bin, star of the hit series Secret Garden (2010), to the 54-year-old clinic assistant and she changes into a different person.
She turns into an excitable teenager going ga-ga over her crush. She says effusively over the telephone: "I watch Secret Garden every day! I think I've watched it at least 15 times."
Of her obsession, interior designer Denise Chng, 28, the elder of her two daughters, says: "I find mum very entertaining when she talks about Hyun Bin. It's a side of her I've never seen."
Now everyone can see this side of Madam Yeo as it is available online.
Her younger daughter filmed and uploaded a video of her animatedly expressing her love for Hyun Bin, 30, star of two hit TV series, My Lovely Sam Soon (2005) and Secret Garden (2010).
Madam Yeo's video is one of 50 entries in a Straits Times Communities contest to win one of five pairs of top-tier tickets to Hyun Bin's fan meet here on April 27. Each ticket in the premium category, which is sold out, costs $250.
For her entry, administrative executive Lily Tan, 48, penned a heartfelt letter addressed to the Korean star, in which she said she hoped to make Korean spicy rice cakes for him to eat.
"I chose to write a letter because I'm quite shy. I don't dare to show my face in a video or a picture," she says.
The self-proclaimed "ajumma" (Korean equivalent of the Singapore auntie) says she spent a few days drafting what she wanted to say to Hyun Bin in secret. "I'm afraid my sons will tease me," says Madam Tan, who has two sons aged 18 and 16.
Younger fans such as 20-year-old Natasha Tiara have fewer concerns about hamming it up for the contest.
The polytechnic student, who spent a few days thinking of ideas for her entry, decided to film a video showing her various exaggerated reactions to Hyun Bin's emotions.
Another fan, 16-year-old Jane Foo, who is about to enter Lasalle College of the Arts, drew a small but elaborate doodle proclaiming her passion for Hyun Bin. She says: "Drawing is my passion and I hope by drawing something, my entry will be more eye- catching."
Winners will be notified by e-mail by Tuesday and can collect their tickets at the door on April 27.
Mr Ernest Luis, editor of ST Communities, is happy to see Hyun Bin fans get into the right spirit for the contest. He says: "When we started ST Communities in October last year, we threw in the latest social media features into our website so you would literally see an online hangout of readers, journalists, artists and community partners.
"This contest tie-up together with Life! has seen really creative posts submitted by our readers. They add so much personality and character to our growing website.
This article was first run in The Straits Times newspaper on April 20, 2013. For similar stories, go to sph.straitstimes.com/premium/singapore. You will not be able to access the Premium section of The Straits Times website unless you are already a subscriber.