Sheila Sim Scouted By Top Paris Modelling Agency At S’pore Chanel Show: “I’ve Still Got It!”

Once a model, always a model — and Sheila Sim just proved it.

The 41-year-old former top model-turned-actress found herself scouted at the star-studded Chanel Cruise 2025/26 show at Raffles Hotel on Tuesday (Nov 4). Yes, even she can’t believe it.

“Being scouted by a model agency (!!)” was just one of the many highlights she listed on Instagram, alongside rubbing shoulders with British actress Tilda Swinton, Chinese supermodel Liu Wen, and Taiwanese actress Tiffany Ann Hsu, and soaking up one of the most glamorous nights Singapore’s seen in years.

Some of our own stars like Stefanie Sun, Zoe Tay and JJ Lin were also in attendance.

When 8days.sg caught up with Sheila two days later, she was still in disbelief.

Before the show began, Sheila was having her picture taken when a group seated in front of her started turning around to look and smile at her.

“I felt a bit paiseh! Then after the photo, they asked, ‘Are you a model?’ And I said, ‘I was, but now I’m an actress,’” she recounted.

Turns out, one of them is the managing director from, according to Sheila, "one of Paris’ top modelling agencies".

“They said it’s very obvious and that I have elegance and aura. Then they asked if I’m still modelling, and I said, ‘I’m too old for that.’ They said, ‘That’s nonsense, you’re never too old!’ and handed me a name card.”

That unexpected moment, she said, “completely boosted [her] confidence”.

“It was such a nice surprise. I really felt validated. I’ve been out of modelling for so long, and after becoming a mum, fashion has not been my priority. So it was just a nice reminder that I’ve still got it!” she said.

Sheila’s no stranger to being spotted. She was first discovered at 16 while attending the wedding of her aunt Ivy Chng, one of Singapore’s top models in the ’80s.

Later, she was talent scouted by former model Celia Teh, then a manager at a modelling agency, along Orchard Road, kickstarting a career that would see Sheila modelling across Hong Kong, Tokyo, Milan and Paris throughout the 2000s.

After more than a decade on international runways, Sheila transitioned to acting in 2013. In 2016, she started modelling agency Nu Models with Singapore Idol alum Olinda Cho. It shut in 2020 during the pandemic.

Sheila, who shares daughters, Layla, five, and Skyla, two, with her husband Deon Woo, 45, said the support she got at home made the night even more special. Deon, who's in the finance industry, is currently between jobs.

She laughed as she recalled her conversation with Deon, “I said ‘Let's just say they want me to be stationed there for two months, would you be okay?’ and he said, ‘Go, you should do it.’ And that he would take care of the kids.”

“It was such a pleasant moment — the whole thing, from the scouting to the support from Deon.”

The encounter also brought back memories of a missed opportunity from her 20s. At the peak of her career, Sheila was introduced to a top agency from New York but never followed up as she was in a relationship then and did not want to relocate.

“Sometimes I wonder how different life would’ve been if I’d gone to New York. But now, maybe the universe is giving me another opportunity,” she said.

Still, she’s not reading too much into it. “I’ve emailed [the Paris agency], but I have no expectations. I’m open, but I’m taking it lightly. Even if nothing happens, that moment already meant a lot.”

The surprise scouting came after a few challenging years. Sheila stepped away from the spotlight for three years to focus on motherhood and her comeback wasn’t smooth.

She was out of the fashion scene and acting jobs were slow. She admitted she felt “very insecure” and “demoralised”. Then came Emerald Hill.

The Mediacorp blockbuster marked her first proper return to acting.

“It was really pivotal for me,” she said. “It helped me change my perspective on how I can balance motherhood and work. My husband and kids handled it very well — we adjusted very well. That gave me confidence to want to pursue more, which is why I’m a bit ambitious now.”

These days, Sheila’s balancing her acting career with studying psychotherapy and counselling and she’s loving every bit of it.

“There are a lot of things I want to do, but I feel like my life at 40 has just restarted all over again,” she said.

“I can’t even tell you how excited I am with all the new goals and visions I want to achieve. Things keep progressing and it keeps getting better. I’m just so appreciative of it.”