I had been working as a freelance stylist for years, and I had a good reputation for being reliable and professional.
I was always punctual, I had a good eye for fashion, and I was confident that I could work with any client to find the perfect look for them.
Got labelled as a chi ko pek
That’s why I was so surprised when I got called a chi ko pek by one of my clients.
It all started when I met with the client at her house for a styling session. She was a young woman in her early twenties who was looking for a new wardrobe for the upcoming season.
She had some ideas about what she wanted, but I could tell that she needed some help to make the right choices.
As we went through her closet, I started to suggest different pieces that she could pair with each other to create the perfect look.
At one point, I complimented her on a skirt she had worn and told her that it was a great choice as it shows off her nice legs
That’s when things took a turn. The client suddenly became very angry and accused me of being a chi ko pek.
She said that I was only complimenting her on her clothing so that I could ogle her body. I was completely taken aback by the accusation and tried to explain that I was only being professional, but she refused to listen.
Threatened to report the matter to the authorities
She then threatened me that she could report me to the authorities for whatever I said and demanded an apology for what I said.
I apologised as I did not want to make things big and ended up leaving her home not getting paid and with the fear that she would anyhow spread rumours of me and ruin my reputation in the market.