Hey Gorgeous crowns hunky new winner: Singapore Poly’s Gan Zhi Jian

Speaking to Toggle right after his victory, Zhi Jian admitted that he had not expected to hear his name being called. “I thought (Hor) Ying Ying would win because she has a lot of supporters, but I’m very happy it’s me,” he said, referring to another finalist who had been named as the top three along with him. “I was very nervous as it was my first time performing in front of so many people, but I went ahead and gave my best.”

The third-year finance major, whose parents, brother and girlfriend (yes, he’s taken – sorry ladies!) came to support him, revealed that while he has dreams of pursuing a career in entertainment, he wants to complete his studies and National Service before doing so.

“I’ve thought about going into acting but I’m not sure if I have what it takes, as I’ve never tried it,” he said, naming Zoe Tay and Li Nanxing as the childhood idols he would love to share screen time with.

But if showbiz doesn’t beckon, he has banking to fall back on. In the meantime, his triumph calls for a celebration. “I want to book a chalet and invite the rest of the Top 20 over for a party!”

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Clinching the runner-up and second runner-up spots (in no particular order) were 20-year-old Hor Ying Ying from the National University of Singapore and Lim Jing Yu, 18, from Nanyang Polytechnic.

Both presented sets of a vastly different style from Zhi Jian’s: Ying Ying, who learned dance as a young girl, did a ballet-like number to a soothing violin piece; while Jing Yu exuded a cutesy, Korean boy bander feel in an oversized sweater as he bopped to local rapper ShiGGa Shay’s ‘ShiGGa in the Morning’.

Ying Ying, who also won sponsor London Choco Roll’s Most Charming Smile Award (also decided via public voting), was just as pleased with her achievement. “I wasn’t expecting to win anything so I’m very thankful to have been given this title,” she gushed.

Her involvement in Hey Gorgeous has awoken dormant visions of becoming an actress. “Prior to this, I hadn’t given it any serious thought, but after this I’ve started to consider it,” said the second-year student. “If I’m given the opportunity (to join showbiz) I will grab it with both hands because it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance, and if I don’t take the risk I will regret it.”

Although Ying Ying and Jing Yu may not have emerged as the main victor, it isn’t necessarily the end of the road for them – look what happened with Carrie!

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Speaking of Carrie, the leggy lass made a special appearance on the programme with fellow talent competition alumnus Elvin Ng, who was discovered on 2004’s School Belle and the Beau. The modelesque pair sang the theme song of Channel 8’s Sealed with a Kiss, which they both star in, and occasionally shared their thoughts about the Hey Gorgeous contestants throughout the show.

“It’s very intriguing because when I see the finalists, it’s as if I’m looking at myself from two years ago,” Carrie shared, expressing her gratitude for the platform the show had given her to pursue her dream of acting.

One participant who caught her attention was 18-year-old Crystal Lee from Temasek Polytechnic, who shimmied both sweetly and sensually to Taylor Swift’s ‘Shake It off’. “She said that she learned dancing especially for her performance, which is what I also did two years ago! (laughs)”

Click through for more pictures from last night’s Hey Gorgeous grand finals:

The 18-year-old Temasek Polytechnic student's dance to Taylor Swift's 'Shake It Off' was both cutesy and coquettish.

The runner-up bopped to a ShiGGa Shay track.

Having her 80-year-old grandpa in the audience didn't stop the 20-year-old NUS student from unleashing a sassy dance in a sexy military uniform to Jessie J's 'Bang Bang'.

The 17-year-old Singapore Poly student paid homage to the actor he was named after (Sean Connery) by incorporating slick James Bond themes (complete with fake fighting scenes) into his routine.

The runner-up and London Choco Roll's Most Charming Smile Award winner slowed things down with an elegant ballet-like performance.

The 16-year-old Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts student unleashed her inner Beyonce when she performed sultry moves with a chair to the diva's 'Partition'.

The 20-year-old Nanyang Polytechnic student brought us all back in time with a retro Aaron Kwok number.