Valerie closes in on Hollywood stardom

Valerie Chow (right) is ready for her close-up and the cameras can't seem to get enough.

After making more than a dozen films in Hong Kong, Valerie is poised for Hollywood stardom, following her appearance in Phantoms with Ben Affleck and Peter O'Toole.

She has also just finished filming Future Sport, with Wesley Snipes, Vanessa Williams and Dean Cain, which is to be released in September. Not bad for someone who went to the United States 1.5 years ago 'just for a vacation and some scouting for work'.

This home-grown talent has also signed a lucrative deal to be the newest spokeswoman for cosmetics giant Revlon - a first for an Asian model. Considered a contract that models aspire to, Valerie will appear in Revlon's print and TV advertisements alongside Cindy Crawford, Halle Berry, Melanie Griffiths and Salma Hayek.

'It was very flattering as this was my first modelling attempt. I look at it as an experience and hope to make the most of it,' said Valerie who was back in Hong Kong this week for a short break.

'I remember the first photo-shoot when I turned up at the studio and there was Halle and Melanie and they were so experienced. I felt nervous at first but I overcame it quickly.' Known by the stage name of Rachel Shane in the US - 'it was a new beginning for me, so I thought why not a new name' - Valerie said that she does not wish for anything nor does she map out her career with strategic moves.