Miss Universe Singapore 2025 Finalists Respond To Hot Parenting Issues In SG

Fertility nurse. National debater. Animal welfare advocate. The gamut of talent found in this year’s Miss Universe Singapore 2025 finalists runs wide, representing the diverse passions and capabilities of local women.

And on 5 October 2025, the 15 finalists will come together in a gala where the winner will be crowned, representing Singapore on the global stage. 

Given their combination of beauty, smarts and heart, we couldn’t pass up the chance to hear from some of them directly. In this exclusive interview with The Weekly, eight finalists open up about their personal experiences — from being bullied to how they drove their mothers up the wall — and share their ideas for tackling the most pressing parenting challenges today.

Alexis Kaur, 24, IVF specialist nurse

From your work, what do you think are the biggest challenges couples face on their fertility journey?

At the clinic, I have seen firsthand how many young couples in Singapore struggle financially, emotionally and socially when it comes to starting a family. Beyond money, we need to normalise conversations on fertility, provide stronger emotional support and reduce the stigma of seeking help. Also, flexible work arrangements and a culture that respects work-life balance are key, because couples should be free to raise kids without having to choose between career and family. 

If you could implement one policy to better support family planning, what would it be?

It would be to provide comprehensive, subsidised fertility and reproductive health screening for all young adults, starting from their 20s. 

Early awareness and access to care will empower couples to make informed and timely choices about family planning.

Alexis Kaur, 24, IVF specialist nurse

If there’s anything you’d change about the past, what would it be?

My parents divorced when I was young, so I often couldn’t really grasp what was happening around me. Through my confusion and mixed emotions, even when I was moody and stubborn as a tween, my mother remained a constant figure of strength and love. I regret taking her love for granted. I would talk back or dismiss her advice, not realising that she was doing her best to build our relationship while navigating the difficulties of being a divorcee. If I could go back, I would choose to listen more and react less. I would reassure her that I appreciated her efforts, even if I didn’t fully understand them at the time.

Annika Sager, 25, Master’s student, fitness instructor and model

You had access to a phone at six years old and your own Facebook account at 11. How did this shape you as a person?

My experience isn’t typical. I received my first phone when my family had just relocated to Tokyo. The basic phone was a safety precaution in case of earthquakes or emergencies. I convinced my parents to let me have social media to stay in touch with friends I had made in different parts of the world. They had access to my account and there were time limits to how often I could go online. Having early access to these things taught me responsibility. I learned to see the phone as a tool, rather than a toy. And I never felt consumed by social media because I had firm boundaries.

How do you think we can support new parents in Singapore?

I deeply admire how Singapore already supports parents with meaningful initiatives like more parental leave and affordable preschool fees. But I think the “human element” in parenthood needs attention.

Imagine creating parenthood mentorship circles: small, facilitated groups of new or expecting parents, matched based on location, career stage, or family circumstances.

Annika Sager, 25, Master’s student, fitness instructor and model

These circles could offer a safe space to share experiences, lend advice, and remind parents they are not alone. Parenthood does not come with a handbook; real, empathetic support can make the journey feel possible rather than overwhelming.

Couldn’t young parents get guidance from their own parents?

For sure, but not everyone has that support. Peer support can transform parenthood from a solitary journey into a community-supported path. It provides practical advice and emotional encouragement, especially in those early months when parents may feel isolated. It also helps couples feel that Singapore supports them beyond dollars and cents.

Dana Goy, 22, nursing student

Have you been bullied in school before?

I played netball in secondary school. Unfortunately, my teammates outcasted me from the start before I even had the chance to make a good first impression. They didn’t like my looks and would spread rumours to make sure no one befriended me. Eventually, people saw through the lies. But they were already enough to ruin my self-esteem. I always stepped into training with fear and resentment. I even injured myself on purpose to skip training. They also intentionally tried to injure me to keep me out of court. 

I didn’t want to bring it up to my friends or family due to embarrassment, because I was seen as the “strong one”. The teachers who noticed tried their best to improve the situation but nothing changed until I quit the CCA altogether. 

Do the memories still affect you today?

I still struggle with anxiety, low self-esteem and depression. But I’m happy to say that I’m on the road to recovery. Looking back, I don’t think I would have done anything differently. I am grateful to those who helped; everyone did their best.

What’s your advice to students who are victims of bullying?

You’re not alone. Get all the support you can get because it truly makes a difference in your mental health.

Speak up whenever you can and hang in there. If I can survive it, so can you.

Dana Goy, 22, nursing student

Don’t let the bullies hold you down. You can pick yourself up and move on.

Inez Chen, 19, student, debater and mentor for at-risk youth

When do you think kids should be allowed their own phone and social media accounts?

I think they should be minimally 16, or at the point where they are capable of independent critical thinking. It may sound odd coming from me, since I started using Instagram on my mother’s phone at nine years old, and I received my first phone after my PSLE. But the social media landscape is very different now, and is dangerous for children below 16.

What do you mean by dangerous?

For a start, there is much more hatred in the comments sections. Also there are privacy issues: strangers can easily see our precise location, since Singapore is so small, and build an understanding of our daily habits. Furthermore, there has been a proliferation of vape and K-pod sales online, and child safety concerns in games like Roblox. Even the basic functions of social media like watching or filming TikTok videos allow the platform to know what children look like, what they enjoy, where they live and activities they do. All of these make free access to the Internet harmful for children. 

As a young person, why do you think Singapore’s fertility rate is on the decline?

While cost of living is a deterrence, it is sometimes the perceived lack of equality in responsibility between the mum and dad that deters women from having children.

As a society, we need to alter our long-held, unspoken belief that the child is a woman’s responsibility.

Inez Chen, 19, student, debater and mentor for at-risk youth

What might help is allowing for equal amounts of paid maternity and paternity leave. It seems intuitive to give women a longer leave period because we need to recover from the physical strain of childbirth. But the discrepancy in leave duration breeds issues that dissuade women from having children. For instance, there is the fear of being less employable [than men] if women express their desire to have children. It also insinuates that women have a greater responsibility in caring for a newborn.

Janessa Khoo, 18, student

How did you deal with bullying as a teenager?

I was 13 when I experienced being ostracised. People would actively exclude me from activities or conversations. I was confused and troubled. Being the avoidant type, I endured the treatment in silence for a long time before finally confronting my peers. Situations like that cannot always be helped but you must learn to keep a positive mindset and move on from the people who do not treat you well. Bullying is never acceptable whatever the form or reason.

What are you like at home?

I’m the cheekier and naughtier child between me and my older brother. I often caused trouble for my mother when I was younger. One time, when she woke me up at dawn for school, I kicked her out of sleep-deprived crankiness. I regretted it immediately and felt angry at myself the whole time I was in school. Now that I’m older, I can better control my emotions. Despite all of my antics, my mother is my best friend and is very involved in my life. 

Why do you think young couples are not having children?

I believe many couples are afraid having kids would affect their career growth.

Singapore needs to implement policies to protect employees who take parental leave, and ensure that everyone is fairly considered for career opportunities.

Janessa Khoo, 18, student

With more supportive workplaces, the stress to achieve work-life balance will lessen, and new parents would not feel the need to leave the workforce to care for their children.

Kelly Lim, 24, preschool teacher

How did social media affect your growing up years?

Having access to social media when I was 12 or 13 has been both positive and challenging. On one hand, I could connect with friends, explore creative content like dance videos and eventually build my TikTok community. On the flip side, it led me to compare myself to others and I felt insecure as a person. Social media is powerful — it can either uplift or bring down your mental health, depending on how you use it. With hindsight, I believe children should have their first social media account at 15 or 16. At this age, they are usually more emotionally mature and can better handle online pressures and the tendency to compare. 

As a preschool teacher, what advice would you give bullying victims?

I experienced bullying in primary school, around the age of nine. I felt isolated and questioned my self-worth. I found comfort in my family and activities that gave me confidence, like dance. Children need to know that if they face bullying, the problem is never with them but with the bully’s own struggles. It is important to reach out to trusted adults, friends or teachers, and not suffer in silence. 

How can Singapore better support young couples in starting a family?

Singapore’s fertility rate dipping to 0.97 shows that financial incentives alone are not enough to encourage young couples to have children. Many hesitate because of work-life balance challenges and the fear of sacrificing career opportunities or personal time.

Beyond monetary incentives, I believe what truly matters is creating an environment where starting a family does not feel like a compromise.

Kelly Lim, 24, preschool teacher

For example, mandatory family-friendly workplace practices such as shorter work weeks, work-from-home options and equal paternity leave would allow both men and women to share the responsibilities of parenthood more fairly.

Rayann Lau, 25, business owner

Your nursing wear business connects you with mums every day. Do you have a novel idea for motivating people to make more babies?

I would advocate for a Family-friendly Workplace Act that supports parents and incentivises companies to hire and retain mothers. Right now, many companies hesitate to hire mums or pregnant women because maternity leave and flexible arrangements are seen as a cost. This policy would offer tax breaks, grants or other benefits to companies that actively hire and support mothers, while also ensuring flexible work options and structured return-to-work programmes.

This matters because the fear of losing income or career momentum is a real reason why many young couples hesitate to start a family. 

By rewarding companies for supporting mothers, we remove a major barrier, showing that parenthood and business success can go hand in hand.

Rayann Lau, 25, business owner

When women feel secure in both their jobs and their ability to start a family, more couples will feel confident about having children.

What was your biggest oops moment as a teenager?

One night while my mother was sleeping, I snuck out of the house with her Bally bag to go partying, thinking I was so clever. When I got home though, the bag was stained and ruined. In a panic, I tried to fix it by soaking it in water, which only made everything worse. When my mum found out, she was really upset, not just because it was an expensive bag, but also because it was a gift from my dad. I definitely should have been upfront with her about going out and used a cheap bag instead. Now that’s exactly what I practise when going out — cheap bags only! 

Did you have a good relationship with your mum while growing up?

I was pretty rebellious as a tween so we clashed a lot. But we always made it a point to hug and apologise afterwards, no matter how big the argument.

Tiffany Tay, 28, social media strategist

What was your childhood like before social media entered your life?

I signed up for a Facebook account around the time I entered secondary school. Before that, my childhood was spent playing with toys, meeting friends at the playground and chatting over the house phone. I could be fully present without the distraction of social media. 

But even while I was on Facebook back then, it was less about competition or curation and more about experimenting, expressing myself and having fun with friends online. Right now, teens are more conscious of how they present themselves online and feel greater pressure to conform to trends.  

Do you think 13 is the right age to start using social media?

In general, yes. Younger kids are still figuring out who they are and may not be ready to handle pressures brought about by social media like the tendency to compare or cyberbullying. Of course, readiness is subjective. Some are responsible enough to handle social media at 13, while others may need more guidance.

What matters most is that when kids finally have their own account, parents are part of that journey to help them navigate it in a healthy way instead of leaving them to figure things out alone.

Tiffany Tay, 28, social media strategist

Speaking of parents, what was your relationship with your mother like when you were growing up?

I was quite independent, which is a nicer way of saying I could be rebellious. But she was always my silent supporter and was there to catch me when I fell. After graduating secondary school, I accidentally dyed my hair a bright neon orange. I had wanted a nice reddish-brown colour, and my mother had warned me that it might turn out too bright. Well she was right, and got a laugh from my predicament. But she kindly took me to a better salon to fix it that very weekend.