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Published on December 6, 2007

 "I want to do something else," she said, though she stressed that she still loves modelling.

Cindy swears she was in love with Leluu long before she was signed up as brand ambassador.

A yoga practitioner for three years, she knew there wasn't much variety among the activity-wear sold in Thailand. At the gym she felt like a clone. So she shopped around overseas, found plenty of great gear for exercising, and toyed with the idea of producing her own line of workout clothing.

When it comes to workout clothes, Cindy knows what she's talking about. Although colours and designs are important, Cindy is more concerned about the comfort, and what's available in Thailand hasn't reached her high standard yet.

She contacted the producer of a popular Australian sportswear brand who happened to be launching the new Leluu line.

One pair of exercise slacks from Leluu, she points out, has an adjustable fold on the outside that's helpful in hiding her tummy. Yes, Cindy is model-slim, but there are days, she laughs, when she has "tyre belly". "I love wearing these on the plane," she adds.

A lot of tank tops are short and show your tummy when you stretch, she notes, but the ones from Leluu stretch further to cover the midsection.

The collection includes hooded sweatshirts, studio pants and cute tank tops, all of which can be mixed for a fashionable look.

"Leluu has a mix-and-match line that can be worn while you exercise as well as when you're out having lunch with the girls," Cindy says, adding that her model friends Sonya Cooling and Yosawadee "Yo" Hasdeevijit have already grabbed a few items.

Cindy is most enthusiastic about the Leluu collection called Mantra, inspired by her own creative idea of having a separate line for yoga. With her love for Eastern designs and the colour purple, she's adding her input on the look.

Asked if a brand ambassador's job is difficult, Cindy says right off the bat she endured a year's wait for negotiations to be concluded.

"I'm an impatient person, so it's the waiting that's the most torturous."

And the journey's just begun. Cindy is keeping lots of secrets about the brand, so we can expect plenty of fresh looks in the future.

 Lisnaree Vichitsorasatra

 The Nation