MOST people will shy away from talking about their failed attempts at dieting.
The 21-year old American singer, currently based in Taiwan, gamely shared her experiences with The New Paper during a recent interview at Meritius Mandarin Hotel.
She was in town to promote her debut self-titled Mandopop album, an amalgamation of groovy soul numbers and dance anthems.
With her attractive Pan-Asian looks (her dad's American and mum's Taiwanese) and soaring vocals, Alisa first caught attention when she appeared as a 'challenger' on the second season of popular Taiwanese singing talent show One Million Star.
Her live, energetic take on Elvis Presley's classics Hound Dog and All Shook Up brought the house down and she outshone the other contestants.
Of course, there was also her full, voluptuous figure that made her stand out from the pack of stick-thin females.
'I wasn't heavy then, but I was definitely not toned,' said Alisa, with a laugh.
'There were times when I became easily tired after doing a song and dance routine.
'It dawned on me that perhaps I need to start working on my fitness and build up my stamina.'
The realisation firmed up her determination to lose the unwanted weight.
It wasn't Alisa's first weight-loss attempt though, and she was aware of the uphill task ahead of her.
'I've tried practically everything before, like the Atkins diet, as well as simply not eating for a lengthy period of time,' she said.
The attempts proved unsuccessful and she soon realised that the key to losing weight was not to deliberately go on a strict diet, but to change her lifestyle into an overall healthier one.
She said: 'This time round, I practised yoga and ate a lot of organic foods.'
The whole process turned out 'much smoother' and at the end of six months, she was sporting a svelte, sexy figure.
Mature guys
While she does not deny that her dazzling new look would help to move her new record off the shelves, there's one thing she is leaving intact - her personality.
'Though I've had more stage experience now, inside, I'm still the same person I was that went on the show two years ago (One Million Star),' she said, grinning from ear to ear.
The bubbly girl was upfront about her relationships - or rather, lack of - too.
'So far, I've never been in a serious relationship, but hey, I'm still young!' she exclaimed.
'Emotionally, I'm still changing all the time. I do hope to find someone in the future, someone who's mature and has goals in his life.'
And he doesn't have to be half-ang moh like her.
'Race doesn't matter one bit,' said Alisa.
'So long as he is a great man who respects me and gives me support in whatever I do.'
This article was first published in The New Paper
