THERE were more requests for pictures when Ris Low visited the newsroom yesterday than when Formula One driver Kazuki Nakajima received when he dropped by The Straits Times last month.

That's how "boomz" the former Miss Singapore World has become.

Ris Low arrives at the Razor TV newsroom. With her is presenter Cheong Poh Kwan.
--- ALL ST PHOTOS BY TERENCE TAN

In it, the 19-year-old answers questions on every controversy that has dogged her since she first came under the negative glare of publicity.
 
And Ris still remained every bit as controversial.
 
The video featured the same shocking candidness (swiping stolen credit cards gave her a "thrill"), incoherence (she celebrated her one-month anniversary with her boyfriend by going on their first date -- HUH?), misuse of words ("sponsorers" and "evidences"), and bipolar versions of stories (first claiming she was single, then changing her tune by the end of the interview).

Ris's poise never wavered, and she kept her posture ramrod straight throughout the interview.

This time, however, instead of laughing and feeling disbelief at her foot-in-mouth comments, I walked away with the impression that Ris is simply naive - almost to a fault. She does not seem to realise the repercussions from her words and actions, and she seems oblivious to the negativity surrounding her - whether from a real lack of concern or awareness, it is hard to tell. At times, she even came across as enjoying her infamy.
 
If she sought to improve her situation with the interview, it sowed little benefit.
 
To be fair though, there were some redeeming qualities to the MDIS student.
 
When asked how she felt about all the criticism levelled against her so far, she said they did not bother her much as she had "very high self-confidence". This self-confidence was mentioned again in reply to what she thought was most beautiful about her. It could have been a scripted inner-beauty type answer, but she said it so fiercely and with so much conviction, no one can doubt the amount of self-belief this girl has. To me, it revealed a sort of strength in character not found in many.

Ris tries to explain what "boomz" really means.

 
Off-air, Ris came across as sweet and rather pleasant, greeting everyone politely and sincerely, even apologising for making everyone wait despite being early. Her smile never left her face and she carried herself with plenty of confidence. Hints of what the judges might have liked about her showed through.
 
Furthermore, at the end of the interview, Ris patiently obliged everyone's requests for photos despite a looming 10pm curfew. She showed no sign of annoyance and even gamely agreed to sign "Boomz" on a colleague's Speak Good English Movement T-shirt. Before leaving the studio, she gave a slight bow and thanked everyone for their support.

Everyone wanted a picture with Ris.

Signing "Boomz" on a colleague's Speak Good English T-Shirt.

Said Ris when I asked if she felt victimised by the reports and criticisms: "Victimise me all you want. It has only made me stronger."

The brickbats may yet come flying her way again, but even if sticks and stones may break her bones, words certainly don't seem to hurt this girl.

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Straitstimes.com editor Joanne Lee discusses why Ris is still a news story.