The sheer volume of advertisements listed under Craigslist Singapore's "Personals" section is insane; there are more than 2, ads just under one of the nine sub-sections for this month. Ads range from promises of sex or the girlfriend experience by enthusiastic sugar daddy seekers, to racy photos of diminutive women displaying their wealthy assets for a camera shot, to even notes so lonely and bitter I shudder from reading them.
Another site, Locanto, has close to 1, such ads from the last check. Such ads partly reflect the reinvention of traditional prostitutes in red light districts such as Geylang into an underground phenomenon that now sees them on the move β discreetly. But the ads also act as a platform for individuals with stable jobs to earn money on the side.
Escorts are usually well-dressed, eloquent, educated. They boast a package of beauty and brains, an especially tempting deal for one-night stands. For working singles now who increasingly lack time to date or commit to a long-term relationship, this fills in for the craving of companionship.
A spokesperson from upscale escort agency Lush Companions revealed that different agencies have different requirements. While Lush prefers their escorts to be at least a degree-holder, they do not exclude others as long as "they can hold a conversation". The firm generally accepts escorts between ages 21 to Most escorts belong to an agency that contracts escorts via outcalls usually the customer's residence or a hotel under the terms of providing social or conversational service.
But this invisible booming trade running underground belies the squeaky-clean and conservative society Singapore portrays to the world. While escort agencies are considered legal, "extra" arrangements are out of their purview β a disclaimer note that some agencies have tactfully included on their website to avert legal liability.
