I saw a banner at an NUS bazaar: "Come witness the crowning of Miss Mercilon. The epitome of grace & beauty, radiates confidence from her clear skin and trim body"

My first thought was that at least they were being honest about the point of beauty contests: to evaluate a female purely on her physical merits (or lack thereof). My second, on seeing the website address (http://www.mercilon.com.my/) was of suspicion, given that it was a Malaysian product (or rather, being marketed by a Malaysian company, as I've since found out). And indeed my suspicions were confirmed, though the truth was beyond my wildest dreams (or worst nightmares, rather).

Visiting the website to check up on it, the words "Your contraceptive choice for a trimmer body and clearer skin" jumped out at me. This pill, marketed (in NUS at least) as a beauty product, was actually a contraceptive. Jaded as I am by a year in NUS, this false advertising still shocks me.

I wonder if the girls taking part in the "Miss Mercilon" contest will have to be on the pill, and if anyone in the NUS administration will discover how they got under the radar. Heads will roll for this endorsement of licentiousness!


"The average body weight decreases from baseline with 1.4 kilograms after 1 year of usage.

Highly effective in reducing acne and seborrhea/oily skin."

Wow. Sure sounds attractive. I wonder what will happen to me if I take Mercilon!

YC suggested paying NUS undergraduates $11 per pill to find out. Heh heh.

"my guess would be that the female hormones cause imbalances that temporarily give them some female characteristics
mood swings, irrationability etc"

"what happens to women who take viagra"