How Women Can Shine On Stage

Need to make a presentation? Or nail your best friend’s wedding speech? Overcome your phobia of speaking in public and own your time in the spotlight. High-achieving women who wow audiences for a living share their secrets below.

It’s a little hard to imagine, but Sukki Singapora is shy by nature. With her rainbow-coloured hair and figure-flattering outfits, Singapore’s first burlesque artist is also an outspoken, selfprofessed feminist who clearly does not fear the spotlight. Case in point: she wore a cape bearing the words “Asians come in all colours” to the Singapore gala of Crazy Rich Asians. But even this bold performer used to be “crippled with stage fright”. “Nerves, sweats and shakes, I had it all,” she says.

Although most of us may never have to disrobe on stage, the tongue-tied terror caused by the mere thought of having to speak up in public is probably very relatable. But we’ve all got to do it at some point. Not everybody possesses the moxie to ham it up in front of a crowd, but what’s heartening to know is that even the best of us, from TV show presenters to corporate powerhouses and, yes, burlesque performers, learnt this skill the hard way. For instance, Sukki credits her craft with teaching her to project confidence in front of an audience. We get her and four other accomplished women to spill their secrets on nailing an appearance in front of a big audience.

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Su-Yen Wong,

CEO and founder of consultancy Bronze Phoenix, helps organisations and individuals reinvent themselves. Su-Yen has appeared globally as a professional speaker, moderator and guest lecturer.