Eunice Olsen Nominated Member of Parliament Link >>

May 2005 Eunice Olsen became the youngest Member of Parliament at 27, when she was appointed one of nine Nominated MPs in late November. In an interview with Asia Inc, Olsen explains her new role: “It is a good platform for me to help the youth of Singapore. I want more youths to come out and speak their minds. This can be done by organising forums in schools to get more feedback on what youths want and to see if any of their ideas can be implemented. I am here to help them with their various projects and see them through to the end.” Even before Parliamentary sittings have started, detractors are already accusing Olsen of being just a pretty face with nothing to offer. One online chat room even labelled her a “Bimbo in Parliament”. But Olsen, a political science and philosophy graduate from the National University of Singapore, takes the criticism in her stride. In her usual poised manner, she says: “I cannot stop people from criticising me. I have to tell myself to put all that aside and to focus on my work with the youth. Adversity is a part of life.” Despite her busy schedule over the past four years as Omega’s Singapore ambassador, Miss Singapore/Universe 2000 and Singapore’s version of Vanna White in TV game show The Wheel of Fortune, she made time for volunteer work, a concern that is close to her heart. She started her counselling stint at the Toa Payoh Girls’ Home and Andrew and Grace Home for troubled teens. Olsen, the only child of a Chinese mother and Swedish/Portuguese father, also volunteered at the Eurasian Association until 2003 and then became one of the committee members of Kebun Baru Youth Executive Committee, which is part of the People’s Association Youth Movement. She is also actively involved in PAYM’s other organisation known as T-net, a club for kids aged between 11 and 16 to help them develop their creativity through fun and games. Olsen wants to encourage the younger generation not to be “driven by materialistic concerns” but to pursue their dreams — something she is all too familiar with as she has just recorded an English-language album called Believe. It was produced in South Korea as she was told the Singapore market was just too small. “Doing this album was a personal journey for me and I want young Singaporeans to know that dreams can be fulfilled if you put your heart in it. People told me I couldn’t do it and I am glad I didn’t listen to them and give up.” The album, which is not yet available in Singapore, comprises cover versions of contemporary songs and a piano solo she wrote called Believe. Olsen is not only an accomplished pianist but an actress as well. Her debut in MediaCorp’s TV drama A Child’s Hope got a lukewarm reception but her fluency in Mandarin was applauded. Ask the former beauty queen whether she wants world peace and she rolls her eyes, saying: “I think I’ll start addressing issues at home first. I want to start small, think big and act fast.” — By Audrey Simon Nominated MP Eunice Olsen appointed Youth Volunteerism Ambassador by NVPC Link>> Miss Olsen's first task is to lead 700 volunteers at Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon on 5 December – International Volunteer Day In conjunction with International Volunteer Day on 5 December 2004, the National Volunteerism & Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) announced the appointment of Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) and former Miss Singapore-Universe Eunice Olsen as its first youth volunteerism ambassador. Miss Olsen, 27, is the youngest Singaporean ever appointed as an NMP since the scheme was introduced in 1990. Considering that Miss Olsen intends to use her newfound NMP position as a platform for raising awareness about youth issues and volunteerism, the decision to appoint Miss Olsen as NVPC's youth volunteerism ambassador was a logical and appropriate one, says Mrs Tan Chee Koon, Chief Executive Officer of NVPC. "Since her Miss Singapore-Universe days, we have seen Eunice getting increasingly involved in volunteer work. She is a true-blue volunteer and her track record as a volunteer is excellent. Her passion for volunteerism, coupled with her intention to raise awareness of youth issues and volunteerism in her position as NMP makes her an ideal choice as our very first youth volunteerism ambassador." Parliament ...Eunice's CV Mediacorp article Social entrepreneurship>> Singapore: Citibank-YMCA Launch Social Entrepreneur Program “Youth For Causes”