In 1978, she took up management studies at the then Hong Kong Polytechnic, followed by fine art courses at the Chinese University and Hong Kong University.

Throughout the years she has been known as a talented painter and photographer; the moving pictures she took in impoverished parts of the world like China were used to raise money for various charity projects there.

Looking back on her versatile career over the past two decades, the woman with Eurasian looks takes pride in the fact that she carved a niche for herself through relentless efforts. Having founded her own marketing and public relations company in late 1995, she has ventured into another challenging area, and most importantly, become her own boss.

'Winning the pageant was a good start for me, but it did not really mean anything. It is far more important what your goals are in life. A beauty queen title does not necessarily command the respect of others,' she claims.

Her efforts have clearly paid off. Many of her business clients today came to her on referral from others. Her company in Central also provides image consultancy and media-relations training for corporate executives.

Having invested her time and energies in the self-owned business empire, she has even chosen to live apart from her husband and two teenage children who emigrated with her years ago to New Zealand. Now she communicates with them daily through E-mail or fax. The family gets together several times a year.

The soft-spoken woman clearly shuns confining herself to traditional gender roles. 'I am happy to be in control of my life,' she says. 'It is important to provide a safe and loving environment for one's children when they are small, but now that my children are in their teens, I think it is time for me to pick up my career again.' She adds firmly: 'It's the quality rather than the quantity of time you spend with your family that should matter.' It is perhaps not surprising that she would like to stick to her career as, after all, she has come a long way since her days as an orphanage child.

Ms Cheung had been living on the street when she was picked up by a kind passer-by at the age of six. She was sent to the Po Leung Kuk orphanage, where she stayed until she reached 21. 'I do not know what my parents looked like, nor of what descent I am,' she said frankly.

Another reason for her keen desire to stay here is the fulfilling feeling she has, from the multiple roles she has taken on lately.

Besides being a columnist for four Chinese newspapers, she is author of several women-oriented books, on subjects like mannerisms and personal charm. Her latest role, that of host of a phone-in radio show aired at weekends, allows her to communicate with people from all walks of life.

She apparently relishes the opportunity of lending support to her varied audience. One distraught caller who has become pregnant with a married man was desperate for advice. A woman with a strong sense of social responsibility, she is happy to help audiences vent their emotions, although she maintains she is no counsellor to anyone.

'Hong Kong people are probably too busy; they cannot even talk over their problems with their family or parents.

'I am just a listener, someone who is prepared to share their joy and sadness,' she says. Still, many of her audience are likely to have been influenced by her positive outlook on life. 'I like to face, not escape from problems in life,' says the committed host.

It is flattering to her that among her listeners of different ages - more than half of them women - some look upon her as a confidante, an inspiring figure. Faxes pile in on personal issues from doubts over emigration to the mother-daughter relationship.

'We are like friends,' she says cheerfully. 'Some have joined our volunteers' club and help in charity events when they are needed.

'The callers tell me about their problems or worries. One was keen to know why I seemed to have so much time for different tasks.

'I like to do work that is meaningful to our society,' she continues.

On beauty pageants, Ms Cheung admits to reservations about today's versions, saying that they tend to take on the format of a variety show. 'Girls today seem to be unable to say no,' she notes. 'If I were competing today, I would not necessarily perform whatever was asked of me. I think whether the pageant is a disrespect to women or not depends on what the contestants are required to do on stage.'