18/11/2014

選美如擇偶

　　10月17日當天，我被亞洲電視邀請為2014亞洲先生總決賽的評判之一。要成為勝利者，參賽者要在重重環節中展現非凡的才藝、魅力與個性等。每個環節均會評分，這些分數會加進面試的環節，最後，累積最高分的參賽者就成為比賽的皇者。

　　我在後台與16位參賽猛男共事，位位都有定期的健身習慣及令人羨慕的健康體魄，鍛鍊出完美的肌肉線條；20位前來打氣的亞洲小姐參選者、數不盡的舞蹈員及模特兒，絕大部分都擁有精緻的臉蛋、驕人的身材、無暇的妝容……華衣美服下，一個較另一個更動人，絕對帶來了感官震撼。問題是，當各人平分秋色，你要如何突圍而出？

　　我跟他們相處了一段時間，在簡介、綵排、用餐、小休之時看著他們走路、吃飯、說笑、相處……我跟他們每個人詳談，聆聽他們的想法，過了不久，我的想法便釐清。答案顯而易見。

　　John外形殺食又思路敏捷。他擁有健美的身段與好看的笑容。他會花上一小時以上從不同角度看鏡中的自己，展示肌肉，再做掌上壓，舉重……做完一次又再做。他明顯是沉迷於鍛鍊自己的身段，並對健身以外的事情毫無興趣，他對生活與世界所知的不多，在他身上實在找不到甚麼話題。

　　Peter同樣有外型又醒目，更是個機會主義者，親切的笑容及與人握手時的力度跟對象的影響力成正比。他會討好任何有財勢的名人，又或是有助他開展銀色事業的人。不幸地，他稚拙的技巧讓他成了個透明人。

　　David不只英俊，更家底豐厚，有教養，有學識。可惜他為人高傲。對他而言，任何的事情他都見識過，參與過，完成過，他所知的較其他人更多。遇上挑戰時，他會不屑地調侃他人，輕蔑地擺脫難題，彷彿他已是比賽的大贏家。真是可惜，竟在如此優厚的條件中摻雜自負。

　　Henry可以是彈出的一位，因為他具備別人沒有的優勢。遺憾是他為人自私，不能易地而處，並未能投入團隊。大會設下比賽規則，所有參賽者均要簽名遵從，偏偏Henry視規條於無物。他向傳媒披露了太多有關自己及其他參賽者的資料；在距離決賽尚有一段時間前，他已在個人Facebook披露大量後台的相片。

　　雖然以上名字實屬虛構，但故事都是真實的。到了最後，我的投票意向非常明確，其他的評判亦然。三位勝出的參賽者並非外形最好，亦非最多才多藝，他們只是在各方面表現平均，重要的是他們有作為男人基本的表現。

　　我認為這些選美比賽很耐人尋味，因為比賽就是尋覓伴侶的一個縮影。首先，我們先憑外貌選人，不合適的先被排除在外。不過，在那張候選名單之中，其他的質素如個性、態度、核心價值等等就重要多了。

　　（按：中文內容乃翻譯及撮寫版本）

Beauty Contest

On 17th Oct, I was invited by ATV to be one of the judges in the Finals of the Mr. Asia Contest 2014. Contenders have to pass and impress during various rounds including acrobatic challenges, talent award, charisma & personality, etc. etc. Each round earns points which are added to the interview round, and all points are added together to realize a winner.

Working backstage with 16 male candidates, all with regular workout routines and enviable fitness levels resulting in perfectly chiseled bodies, 20 Miss Asia Contestants who came for support, countless dancers and models, many with stunning features, gorgeous bodies, impeccable make up, glamorous dresses…one more beautiful than the other… definitively a sensory overload. The question is, when all things are equal, how do you make yourself stand out ?

We spent quite a bit of time together, during briefings, rehearsals, meal times, coffee breaks… I watched them walk, eat, joke, behave…, listened and talked to each at length, and very soon, the picture became increasingly clear. The choices were obvious.

John is good looking and agile, he has a fabulous body and a wonderful smile. He would spend hours looking himself in the mirror from different angles, flex his muscles, do a couple of pushups, pump another round of iron… then repeat the cycle all over again. Obviously obsessed with his own body & interested in nothing else, he knows so little about life & the world around him there really isn’t any material for conversation.

Peter is likewise good looking & smart. He is nevertheless an opportunist, the warmth of his smile and the intensity of his handshake commensurates in direct proportion to the significance of the person he greets. He would butter up to anybody rich and famous, or with a title he reckons big enough to facilitate his glorious career into the entertainment world. Unfortunately his unskilled demeanor rendered him totally transparent

David is not only handsome, apparently wealthy, highly educated and intelligent too. Alas, such an arrogant mien. Whatever the topic, he has seen it, done it, been there, and knows everything better. When challenged, he would humour others condescendingly, shrug off questions with disdain, and comport himself as if he had already won the contest. What a shame, such an attractive package so riddled with conceit .

Henry could have won as he has all the qualities the others have not. Sadly, he is selfish and inconsiderate of others, not a team player at all. There were rules and regulations stipulated by the organizer which all contestants have signed and were expected to follow, Henry did not. He disclosed too much finite details, about himself & other contestants to the press and posted many backstage photos on his Facebook long before the Finals even began.

Although the names of the above candidates are fictitious, the stories are true. In the end, it was apparent to me how I should cast my vote, obviously other judges thought likewise. The top three winners were neither the most handsome nor the most versatile, they simply scored better in the overall package as a contestant and, of equal importance if not more, with the fundamental human decency as a man.

I find these beauty contests fascinating, because they represent such a vivid synopsis of the search for spouse. Firstly, a contestant’s appearance matters, otherwise he/she would have long been eliminated. However, once in the short list, other qualities such as personality, attitude, core values… matter a great deal more.

（編按：《DIVA品味派》中的Beauty部分將於11月21日新增「Sex and Relationship」的內容，故《鑽石媒人Mei Ling》將於同日移至《DIVA品味派》，進一步突出專欄風格。）