By Pan Haixia

　　Shanghai Star. 2004-01-01

　　FOR 19-year-old Chen Naliangzi, the festive season really started on November 22. On that big night, she was crowned "Miss Shanghai".

　　Her sudden stroke of luck meant Chen did not have much time to think about the future as her schedule was already packed with different parties and press conferences.

　　Yet she enjoyed her new life, although she sometimes found that wearing thin costumes on cold days was not so comfortable. However, Chen's first wish for the New Year was to participate in more charity and welfare activities.

　　"I hope I can do something for the community through my special title as 'Miss Shanghai'," she said.

　　Thanks to the beauty contest, one of the biggest changes that occurred was that she learned how to be a woman.

　　"In the past I usually wore 'fat' jeans, but now I know how to use cosmetics and I can walk well in high-heeled shoes," she said.

　　"I hope I can keep my slim figure in the new year - no fat."

　　One of the biggest challenges for Chen in 2004 is to represent Shanghai well when she competes for the "Miss China" title.

　　Like many other beautiful girls who want to be film stars, Chen also cherishes the dream that she will now have more chances to break into movies in the new year.

　　According to her agent, there are already some film companies showing an interest in Chen.

　　Having postponed her university studies for the whole of 2004, Chen seems to have taken firm charge of her life in her determination to carve out a new career following her success in the beauty contest.