Ms Ng Ping Ping, 37, says that among other things, men are most intimidated by her height.

At 1.71m tall, the Asia-Pacific sales manager for a haircare range is usually in five-inch heels.

"Heels make me feel more well-dressed. It's a bit of a power thing for me," she says, adding that she feels she has a palpable presence when she walks into a meeting or makes a presentation in heels.

"I'm quite an alpha female: I'm confident, assertive," she says. "Very seldom does anyone come up to talk to me when my friends and I go out for drinks."

Her guy friends have told her they would be afraid to approach her.

"A male friend told me, 'I feel sorry for people like you. You're good- looking, with a good career. Our egos are too big to approach someone like you, we don't want to be rejected,'" she says.

Although she has been single for about three years, being "old school", she does not actively look for dates and prefers to be introduced to friends of friends who can verify if anyone has a bad track record in relationships.

She finds it hard to meet men through work as most of her career has been in retail, especially in women-dominated fashion retail.

Although she does not "need a guy to pay for me because I can pay for myself", she would like him to share similar interests.

"He should be able to enjoy the kind of lifestyle I lead and make me laugh," she says.

"I eat well, drink well and travel well."

She appreciates fine tipples such as 18-year-old Glenfiddich whisky, and enjoys staying at "good resorts" where she is particular about how comfortable the bed and sheets are.

Because she "doesn't want to be running after kids at 50", she is glad to play with her four-year-old nephew for half an hour each time, before returning him to her elder sister, 40, who works in the conventions and exhibitions industry.

Her last relationship of seven years with an Australian oil and gas executive, who was based in Kuala Lumpur like she was in recent years, ended because "our characters were too strong".

She is looking for mutual strength and support in a relationship, where she and her partner can "take turns to be alpha".