Her controversial comments on local men have stirred up a hornet's nest online.
On Monday, The New Paper reported that local actress Felicia Chin had written in the April issue of Nuyou magazine that Singapore men "lack quality" and that "it's hard to find mature and steady men of the olden days like my father".
In a subsequent interview with Lianhe Wanbao, she added they lacked substance.
"(Local men) are a bit arrogant and think too highly of themselves."
The 27-year-old's remarks quickly polarised opinion, with the majority of netizens disagreeing with Chin.
Netizen Win S Ton Li posted on Facebook: "Well maybe the fault is not with Singapore men but that (she) has characteristics that attract the shallow men."
Facebook user Krisnadi Imam's criticism was more measured, stating: "There is a saying that birds of a feather flock together... perhaps she would have better luck if she broadened her social circles.
"But to say (as a public figure especially) if the entire population is shallow, she probably needs to (self-)introspect."
Chin, who based her observations on what she has heard from female friends, had also told The New Paper: "Some of these men in their 20s are successful, but the focus is on wealth and what they have on the outside... (they) spend little time honing other skills and on... inner self."
Amused
Netizen miloice74 said on the Stomp website: "She is entitled to have her own opinion even if it's a very bimbo one."
Mr Jerome Png, a 27-year-old local sales executive, was more amused than outraged.
"Of course, my first instinct is to be offended. But... her words reflect her own insecurities more than the actual state of Singaporean men."
Mr Png said that Chin should take a look at herself in the mirror.
"It's easy to tar all (local) men with the same brush. There are good and bad eggs everywhere in the world, and it's certainly easier to blame the population at large than admit to yourself that you can't find the right person to settle down with."
Miss Julie Koh also disagreed with Chin.
The self-employed 24-year-old said: "You can't generalise about Singapore men because there are really a lot of good local men out there."
But some were on Chin's side.
TNP online user singaporeandilemma posted: "Singaporean men: No creativity, no fashion sense, no quality, no courtesy, no manners, no ideas, no humility, no common sense, no logic, full of themselves...
"You all are a little bit arrogant and think too highly of yourselves... Singaporean men are completely stupidly arrogant."
HardwareZone forum user prinnydo0d added: "Hard truth: Many girls in Singapore actually do feel this way...
"If you are a good man, you're probably already taken. Same with women."
Facebook user Vivien Choi posted on Chin's page: "I think the real problem with Singaporean men is they are too superficial (looking for only looks in a girl)."
Chin said in Monday's TNP report: "Would people be offended? Whether they agree or disagree, their reactions could be larger than what I expected.
"But Singapore is a liberal society and I'm not making a personal attack."
Chin added she doesn't expect people to agree with her and admitted she may not be seeing the full picture.
She could not be reached for further comment.
But she posted on Facebook on Monday: "... Just wanna say that I do not care about what others say or interpret... Some people might just read the headlines or trust the paper too much.
"Things are said in a particular way to sell papers and I'm just a guinea pig of it all.
"What I would just say is that for you guys that have stood by me, thank you and thanks for trusting me enough."
Other netizens felt the whole affair was simply a storm in a teacup.
Stomper STuserock called on local men not to respond with petty remarks, posting: "Look at the comments... None that speaks of depth, only childish reactions.
"How (do you) let girls look up to you? No wonder they look down on local men.... you 'sia-suay' (Hokkien for 'embarrass') the population."
Stomper YouMirinbro added: "If you are matured enough, you won't be bothered with her comments if you are not what she said (you are).
"We're all getting too uptight over this. Thing about Singaporeans is (that) we can't accept criticism. Whenever someone makes a minor comment, we complain like losers."
HardwareZone forum user Kiton12345 hadthe last word, saying: "All the people getting angry over this, only proves her right. Nuffsaid."
This article was first published in The New Paper.
