Baek Ji-young

Korean singer Baek Ji-young, whose career was temporarily derailed but not destroyed, by a sex video scandal in late 2000, was recently presented with the song of the month award at the Cyworld Digital Awards show in Seoul, much to the surprise of some, who thought her male competitor would easily walk away with the honors.

I've always admired her for the way she bounced back after the video of her having sex with her former manager hit cyberspace just a year after her debut, rather than go into hiding like other celebs would have chosen to do (such as 1989 Miss Korea Oh Hyun-kyung did after her infamous "Miss Oh" video made the Internet in 1999).

Yours truly saw Ji-young in concert less than a year after the scandal broke, and despite the many empty seats in the house, she gave a dynamic performance. Even though she was criticized by many Korean netizens for coming back "too soon" after the scandal, the posters for that concert were boldly worded; "Baek Ji-young Strikes Back."

With her latest album being her 7th, it's good to see that she's still going strong. (Take note, Hoang Thuy Linh.) Oh, and for those of you who are curious to learn more about her sex video scandal, her Wikipedia entry here covers it as well as the rest of her career, very accurately. Oh, and yes, I've seen the infamous video but no, I won't post it.

Linda Tek

Half-Chinese, half-Cambodian bartender/ model/go-go dancer Linda Tek has been modeling for about two years now. Among her modeling credits, the 25 year-old Washington, DC native has appeared at many Hot Import Nights events and is the reigning Ms. Poker Chick Virginia. She currently resides in Alexandria, which is where she can be seen tending bar and dancing at area hot spots such as Club Aqua and the Muse Lounge.

Among Linda's hobbies, she enjoys cooking and, at the risk of encouraging some bad puns from commenters, she especially loves to bake, which is her favorite hobby. "Cookies, cupcakes, you name it!" she says. During our correspondence, she also told that me she's the type of girl that likes to just chill with the guys at the bar and that she'd "rather drink beer and watch the game than go shopping with the girls."

All I Want for Christmas is You

Here's the music video to Vince Vance and the Valiants' holiday hit "All I Want for Christmas is You." (Please DO NOT confuse this song with the Mariah Carey song of the same title.) Originally recorded by the band in 1989, the song was re-released in 1993 and has since become the most played Christmas song among country radio stations in the US. The brilliant vocalist behind this number is Lisa Layne (aka Vickie Valiantette), who is NOT the lady who appears in the above video. The lady you see here is former Miss Ft. Worth Lori Nunn, who does a very fine job of lip-syncing. Merry Christmas!

Song Yoon-ah's Techno Dance

Earlier this month, 35 year-old Korean actress Song Yoon-ah surprised many in the crowd at the 7th Korean Film Awards (including Lost star Yunjin Kim, whom you see seated in the audience in this video) with this techno dance number she did during the show, which she also hosted.

Madison Linh

Madison Linh tells me she's currently a pre-med student in her senior year at UC Davis and a part-time model. I didn't exactly have a lengthy, in-depth interview with her, and when I asked about her modeling experience, she just said that she's worked with "many wondrously talented photographers and artists," but didn't name any names.

When asked about her hobbies and interests, she simply told me that she enjoys "working her mind and body with chess and tennis." Madison's also the second girl I've seen turn her Xanga blog into an advice column, where she posts replies to various questions her readers have sent her.

Coincidentally, this feature is being published on the now 22 year-old Madison's birthday.

I-Ling

Taiwanese amateur model I-Ling got into being photographed just this year. The 24 year-old former cheerleader holds a degree in electrical engineering and frequently emcees at banquets, fashion shows, and charity events in the Washington Metropolitan Area.

I-Ling (whose English name is Alice) tells me she's "awesome with public speaking and shy when it comes to singing, dancing, and performing on stage." However, she was convinced to enter the 2006 Miss DC Taiwanese American Pageant where she was among the finalists.

She's currently a designer for a friend's San Francisco-based t-shirt line and is looking to settle down in the near future ...."if a guy can actually keep me interested enough for me to marry him," she jokingly said.

Frost Ng

23 year-old freelance model and student Frost Ng was born and raised in Hong Kong and moved to the US when she was 16. Now based in New York City, she does mostly artistic and fashion shoots, but she's also worked as a fitting model and has done some erotically interesting body paint shoots with light bondage themes. She also does some glamour but not nude. (Sorry guys.)

Frost is currently going to college, majoring in vocal performance. She's tells me she's a coloratura and studies Western classical music and opera. She actually gave me a lot of information on herself before she let me know she had a Model Mayhem profile where I could have gone to and gotten it from, but she was one of the most courteous and nicest girls I've ever contacted about a featured here, so corresponding with her was a pleasure.