A blooming Rose

　　

　　

　　— Pic courtesy of BustamamMarion Rose Caunter doesn't have a typical week.

　　Jet-setting and interviewing celebri­ties for E! News Asia while still attending local engagements and productions - the word 'typical', does not exist when it comes to describing her schedule.

　　"Whatever it is, every Thursday is our recording in Singapore. I'll fly in Wednesday night, or Thursday morn­ing, and usually I'll fly back or just stay a night.

　　"And then, as and when, they will have assignments where we'll fly wher­ever we have to."

　　Having just wrapped the first sea­son of MyEG Xtra Time with Nur Fazura Sharifuddin, Marion still doesn't seem to have much free time.

　　With E! News Asia taking up most of her time, there are also other plans that need her attention.

　　"We've shot seven episodes so far, so it's still a very new experience.

　　"The whole ride has been a highlight, from the trip to the auditions, to get­ting it, to going on air for the first time, to going for the Asian Film Awards in Hong Kong and to meeting Donatella Versace in person."

　　The 4th Asian Film Awards was the eye-opener, being not just the first assignment but its status as a huge Asian star-studded event.

　　"We were prepped, and we even Googled names to find out backgrounds of everyone. Or at least everything on those recognisable stars.

　　"Names like Andy Lau and Shah Rukh Khan obviously are known by everyone, but it was rattling, to be very prepared on the red carpet."

　　Her personal high was her one-on-one interview with Sarah Jessica Parker for the promo of Sex And The City 2.

　　Apart from meeting 'Carrie Bradshaw', she also had time out with Cynthia Nix­on who plays Miranda Hobbes.

　　"I was starstruck. I am easily start­struck by people I admire.

　　"Most times they tell me the names I'm going to interview, and it's like it's no biggie, and you're like whatever, be­cause you don't care.

　　"When you're a fan however, you're like 'Oh My God, if I ask a lot of questions will she hate me, or worse of all - what if she's a snob?' The worse thing about being a fan is leaving the interview up­set and I was like 'please be nice', and she (Parker) was."

　　Marion had questions she wanted to ask, but there wasn't enough time.

　　"I so wanted to ask her about her work as the president and chief creative officer of her own fashion line for Hal­ston Heritage.

　　"We ran out of time as I only had 10 minutes with her."

　　Parker's secondary collection for Hal­ston is featured in the Sex And The City sequel as part of its fashion montage.

　　Fashionable inclinations are definite­ly one of the main attributes of what makes the job with E! so wonderful. And we're not talking about the limited edition Christian Louboutin she managed to pick up after meeting SJP.

　　Meeting fashion icon and vice-pres­ident of the Versace Group and chief designer of the fashion line Donatella Versace was a surreal experience.

　　"Goes to show the power of E! on the red carpet. There was a long line of media from Hong Kong and all over the world but Donatella just ignored everyone and came straight to us when she saw the E! microphone and went, 'E! You're in Asia now!' in a strong accent," recalled Marion laughing before adding how nice Donatella was.

　　

　　MEETING HER IDOL: Marion with Sarah Jessica ParkerWith power comes responsibility.

　　"Since I've been on E! News Asia, peo­ple are definitely watching more, and with that comes a lot of negative com­ments, and I've heard so many compari­sons to the American version and how there were better candidates.

　　"I've had good comments too, but there'll always be horrible ones. I've had people professing how much they hate me. Hate... that's such a strong word..."

　　Still, she must be doing something right.

　　E News Asia goes through stringent vetting, where tapes get sent to the States for approval before they come back here for airing.

　　"In the first month, they were so in­volved and my co-host Dominic Lau was facing things like being told to cut his hair, or getting it the right colour. When they get to that point, you know they do care that much and are that in­volved in the show."

　　Working with heartthrob Dom is nothing new.

　　With Poparazzi they had their encounters but with E!, it has been intense.

　　"He's like a child, and he won't be happy with me saying this but he is.

　　"He brings so much laughter and energy to the set. A link that could take 10 minutes, stretches to 45 minutes because he's cracking the crew up and I have to scold him."

　　Both of them have grown up since their stint on Channel [V] and E! seems to be a barrel of laughs de­spite the hectic lifestyle.

　　And if the jet-setting and starry sights aren't enough, there's always the backing of American hosts of E! News, Giuliana Rancic and Ryan Seacrest, which is more than enough to spur them on to do the best job possible.

　　"Giuliana was very much aware of E! News Asia, and she was congratu­lating me on getting the job and she is simply amazing.

　　"Ryan however was unaware there was an Asian version - he's never even been to Asia! He's known throughout the world and he's never even been to this part of the world.

　　"I've been a fan of him since eight or nine years ago and his success on TV, radio and as an entrepreneur is indeed an inspiration."

　　E! News Asia is such a high that Marion says she's ready to end her career with E!.

　　

　　FASHIONISTAS: Marion with fashion designer Vera Wang"If not for E! News Asia, I would have left to study at the prestigious Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) in Los Angeles.

　　"Everyone, fans and friends asked me to try for it, so I did and I passed the au­ditions. School's al­ways going to be there."

　　She might however consider not furthering her studies if there's marriage in the cards. Of course rumours are aplenty that Marion will be getting hitched pretty soon, though the pretty and petite 30-year-old prefers to remain mum and casually touches on the issue before leaving it be.

　　"I may just dive right into it and start my fashion line. You can do it, and get people to do the technical bits. I know how to sketch, and learnt about fabrics.

　　"I don't know pattern making and construction nor am I that good at sew­ing, but I have lots of friends who will help out."

　　It's a dream that she has had for a long time, and Marion insists the dream will come true one day. She said it has been stalled because of enticing job offers.

　　Changing the topic a little, and touch­ing on Sarimah Ibrahim helming The Biggest Loser Asia (now moving into its second season), Marion agrees that Malaysian talents are beginning to get noticed.

　　"In fact when they did auditions for E! News Asia, they said Malaysians were impressive, and it's not impossible that our melting pot of cultures and ethnici­ties hold something special apart from the talents here."

　　With word that Fashion TV will be heading to our shores, Marion is ex­cited.

　　"Why not? Would I do it? Never say never. I've said never before and it hap­pens anyway," she laughed.

　　

　　WORKING HARD: Marion on the set of E! News Asia in SingaporeHer road to success

　　The 30-year-old is a graduate of the Marquette University in Mil­waukee, Wisconsin with a degree in broadcasting and electronic communications.

　　Having begun her career as a reporter for Milwaukee's WB 18 Channel, she moved on to work in the advertising de­partment of KIIS-FM.

　　Her return to Malaysia, made her a household name for being the host of the 8TV Quickie, a dai­ly slot while also func­tioning as the station's urban content execu­tive in charge of pre- and post-production of the station's in-house shows, Latte at 8 and Flava.

　　Alongside Awal Ashaari, she also hosted three seasons of One In A Million, apart from a brief stint with Hitz FM and Channel [V] where she hosted Poparazzi

　　E! news update - Marion to tie the knot

　　Would the guy who weds Marion Caunter need to do a Mr Big and pro­vide a walk-in closet for her just like Carrie needed?

　　"No," she laughs.

　　"He does, however, need to know and prepare that I have a lot of clothes and shoes.

　　"And he knows."

　　What is she prepared to share about her marriage to a prominent businessman?

　　

　　— Pic courtesy of Bustamam"Well, yes, I am very serious and yes, it's going to happen soon and we will reveal it when we are ready.

　　"It makes me more nervous when people ask. I will tell, but I'm just not ready to talk about it anymore right now."

　　Marion's biggest fear with marriage is how overwhelming preparations can be.

　　"I don't want to be a bridezilla!"

　　She doesn't want a circus, and hopes her marriage will be about what's im­portant - the union between her and the man she will spend the rest of her life with.

　　"The important thing is, he's got to be the right one.

　　"He is the one," she said referring to her beau of choice. "He made me a bet­ter person. He knows how to deal with my negative drama and it's not com­plete when I'm not around him"

　　How about him?

　　"Well I ask him all the time, but he just says I make him happy.

　　"Things are just right, and five years later, the most important thing I can say about our relationship is, we never go to bed angry. End the day with ev­erything resolved, always."

　　How will she maintain her image after walking down the aisle? Will she still be a smokin' sexbomb?

　　"My idea of sexy has always been about the women's silhouette and not baring skin.

　　"So I am pretty comfortable with how I dress, and so I won't change."

　　The most important thing is, does marriage spell the end of her career?

　　"Marriage is the beginning of ev­erything, not the end," she says confi­dently.

　　And kids?

　　"I would have babies if I could right now. I am so ready, but of course, I have to be married first."