What’s scarier than sexism? That was the question posed to the guests at AWARE’s 11th annual fundraising Ball on 28 October 2023.

This year’s theme, ‘Hysteria!’ was a way take on outdated beliefs; did you know the term ‘hysteria’ was derived from the Greek word for uterus, cementing the association between women and emotional excess?

The evening kicked off with an opening address by Ong Soh Chin, president of AWARE’s Board, who encouraged guests to take the opportunity to reclaim female monster tropes and imagine a new, feminist world of thrillers with some theatrical razzle-dazzle!

Not only did AWARE smash century-old stereotypes, but at more than $771,000, the Ball also managed to raise the highest amount ever. Thanks to the lucky dip tickets sold, table sales, donations, wine sales and auctions—both silent and live—, along with Tote Board’s matching of $100,000, the funds raised will help AWARE continue their services to women in need of help, to provide sex education to vulnerable youths, and support programmes to promote positive masculinity.

Hosts for the evening were Pam Oei, dressed as a uterus, and Siti K, who came as a goth-dess, together with AWARE Executive Director, Corinna Lim

Guests also enjoyed Chestnuts, who have been doing the AWARE Alamaks Awards since 2011. They’re Singapore’s very first and longest-running parody show since 1996, and their spoofs always come with a witty set of absurdism.

Chestnuts during their parody performance

For this year’s Alamak Awards—the annual search for the most annoying, you-have-got-to-be-kidding-me instances of sexism in Singapore—Chestnuts got the room in stitches with their commentary on the three “winners”: presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian (need we say more?), K. Kawshigan, a CEO who sued for $3m in damages for “sustained trauma” after he was romantically rejected, and Don Weng, a Navy regular who was convicted for non-consensually posting explicit content of women on a Telegram group.

Nominees for best dressed

Of course, no AWARE Ball is complete without a Best Dressed competition. This year’s theme saw guests dressed in historical and mythological costumes. The top three costumes included women claiming their seats at the table, the Goddess Kali, and a broken-through glass ceiling.

A special mention also went out to an abominable plastic snowman (above), a costume that took five weeks to make by hand from recyclable materials.

Another Ball tradition, the auctions, were once more presided over by Shaun McEwan, who enthused the attendees (and got them bidding!) for incredible goods and experiences, ranging from a LIMPEH print by local artist SKL0 to a vintage Glendronach from 1972. The night also saw 836 lucky dip tickets sold, with the three luckiest winners going home with a Pangdemonium season ticket, a bottle of Limited Edition Kyoto Dry Gin from KI NO BI, and a 3D2N stay to Seminyak, Bali at Montigo Resorts!

And no Ball is complete without a little dance party, as guests danced the night away with DJ Aldrin behind the table.

View the rest of the photos here, and it’s not too late to make a donation!

The Ball would not have been possible without the generous support of AWARE’s corporate sponsors Montigo Resorts, Kah Motor, and Honda, and official partners Ppurpose, Senses AVL, Cornerstone Wines, and World Scientific.

Photography by Wesley Loh/Memphis West Pictures and Kathleen Cheong