The
Electric New Paper
MUCH ADO ABOUT
ADA
New Taiwan sex symbol's much-awaited pictorial
is on hold after saucy pictures were leaked online
By Chang May Choon, 16 November 2007
HER dream was to have her own pictorial book. But when revealing
photos for her upcoming book got leaked online recently, her dream
came to a halt.
With its thunder stolen, Ada Pan Huiru's pictorial book has been
shelved indefinitely, much to her disappointment - and surely, that
of her adoring male fans too.
In some of the leaked photos, the sexy actress-host had posed
braless in a see-through, dripping wet white blouse.
A year ago, Ada, 30, had shot to fame overnight as Taiwan's new sex
symbol when she appeared on the cover of FHM Taiwan.
Sounding almost resigned in a video clip posted on the FHM Taiwan
website, Ada said she has no idea when her pictorial book will see
light.
'I'm looking forward to it, but I don't know when it can come
out.
'Who would have thought some people would exploit (the leaked
photos) and deliberately slime it?'
China Times Weekly reported that Ada has been trying to get the
book project going since late last year.
Call it a natural progression after her sweet-to-sexy
transformation grabbed headlines last year.
Ada, who started out as a girl-next-door actress, went on to host
variety shows and fronted advertising campaigns for products
ranging from lingerie to mobile phones, credit cards, furniture and
even popcorn.
Her blog, which she started in March last year, has registered an
impressive 7 million hits since.
Next in line was a pictorial book, but with her reputation getting
tainted by all kinds of gossip and scandals - from cosmetic surgery
rumours to a wardrobe malfunction and rivalry with other artistes -
it was easier said than done.
Even her own mother objected to it, and to this day, Ada said she
has to yet to persuade the older woman to give her blessings.
'She can't even accept my lingerie ads,' lamented Ada.
The determined actress had better luck with sponsors though, and
she managed to convince a beauty advertiser to sponsor her
pictorial book.
Around July, she flew to Harbin in China to start shooting.
Ada was so excited that she even posted some photos on her blog to
share with fans.
She also raved to FHM about the dedicated team and their
efforts.
'We put in a lot of hard work to present something very beautiful
and trendy, definitely not something crude and revealing like what
you see in some magazines.'
Nevertheless, netizens were taken aback when they got an eyeful of
her when some of the photos were leaked.
These are arguably her most revealing photos to date.
China Times Weekly reported that the beauty sponsor pulled out as
it had reservations about the impact of the photo leak on the image
of its product.
There was also conflict between the sponsor and Ada's management
agency over the use of some photos and a suspected publicity
stunt.
The sponsor protested against an article in Next magazine that
claimed Ada cried when she was 'almost forced to drink' with some
guests in Harbin, but her managers insisted it was a
misunderstanding.
More recently, Ada told the Taiwanese media that she was deeply
affected by the pictorial book saga both mentally and
emotionally.
'It's hard to gauge how much damage it did to my image,' she added
according to China Times.
Her manager Amy Wu revealed that her company and the book's sponsor
and publisher suffered losses up to NT10 million ($449,000).
Ms Wu berated the culprit who leaked the photos for 'ruining an
artiste' and added that they will press charges.
Ada herself is not giving up hope though, telling reporters that
she believes her book will get see the light 'one day'.
'You will always rise after you fall,' she conceded with a
smile.
After all, she has always been known to be optimistic.
Starting out as a fashion model, Ada was spotted by her manager and
made her acting debut in 1999.
You might remember her in supporting roles in dramas like What A
Beauty, which co-stars Phyllis Quek in a fat suit.
But it was only after posing for FHM last year that Ada shot to
instant fame - and ended up attracting plenty of gossip and flak
too.
For one thing, sharp-eyed netizens pointed out that her flat chest
seemed to have 'grown overnight' to C-cup.
Also, there was so much discussion over her assets that she nearly
lost a hosting job, reported ET Today.
With her star on the rise, there was also talk of her fighting
verbally with Jessica Song Xinni to win a hosting job for a
Taiwanese variety show.
Ada's manager also allegedly spoilt her and even employed an
assistant just for her, which angered the more senior Jeff Chen (of
Taiwan Ah Seng fame), who is signed to the same agency.
China Times reported in August that Jeff threatened to quit after
the agency used his photo without his permission to plug a drama
that starred Ada and not him.
Even when the FHM magazine cover hit the streets, Ada drew
criticism for copying German supermodel Heidi Klum's pose in the
September issue of Arena magazine.
What next? No one knows yet.
But it seems Ada, who has been busy filming in China, has realised
that it is sometimes wiser to cover up.
For an autograph session promoting FHM magazine in Taipei on
Sunday, she wore a sporty white dress that is deemed conservative
by some fans.
When asked, she replied with a smile: 'The star today is not me,
but the Ada Pan in the magazine.'
Also, she has announced that she draws a line at nudity.
The furthest she would go in baring herself is to don a G-string,
since it's next to wearing nothing, she told FHM.
'It's not necessarily beautiful to go nude, and it's something that
should be reserved for your closest someone.'
