Will Quah IS Martell's Rising Personality for 2009!

After a two-month-long voting period and unbridled media blitz, the winner of the Martell Rising Personalities Awards 2009 was announced at a glitzy sit-down dinner in Lara, Bangsar (a swank new dining space) last Friday.

Who won the trip Cognac, ten bottles of VSOP, and RM20,000 cash prize? Well, since it was partly a popularity contest - the public was solicited for their choice on the Rising Personalities website - it didn't surprise us that that television personality Will Quah emerged victorious.

Will is certainly well-credentialed, and very visible: 6 years on television, Channel V VJ, some stints in radio, co-host of ntv7's groundbreaking The Breakfast Show.

Then again, so were the rest of the ten finalists: singer and actress Chelsia Ng; comedian and actor Douglas Lim; designers Teresa Thian (apparel), Tan Sze Yoong (jewellery), and Chow Hon Lam (T-shirts); visual artist Chin Yew; latin dancer Cecilia Yong; DJs Nick Chia (DJ Guruguru) and Nychole Leong (DJ Nikki).

Anyway, congratulations, Will! Yammmm Seng!

By the way, the Rising Media Personality Award is an adjunct of Martell's main giveaway, new to 2009; its inaugural iteration went to journalist/actor/beloved-of-the-Internet Niki Cheong. So congrats to Niki, too!

Apparently, Martell will be embarking on a nationwide roadshow with the Rising Personalities finalists. Watch Rise Above for more information.