DOUBLE TROUBLE

THEY may be just 17 and may have been around for only a year.

LIVING THEIR DREAMS: Identical twins Miko and Yumi Bai say they're passionate about singing and dancing. TNP DESIGN: PRADIP KUMAR SIKDAR TNP PICTURES: KUA CHEE SIONG

But local Mandarin dance-pop group BY2, who were back in town to promote their second Mandarin album titled Twins, has seen it all when it comes to crazy fans.

Other than the usual fans who trail them to their hostel in Taipei, the girls - identical twins Miko and Yumi Bai - also had to deal with leering older male fans who pester them.

Like this middle-aged man who insists on sending them snail mail with shirtless pictures of himself, in different poses.

Said Miko, the older sister: 'He would also also put in the envelope a few cute items meant for little girls, such as hair clips, necklaces and other accessories.'

More disturbingly, he would also write them notes that are sexually graphic, 'definitely not appropriate reading material for people our age', added Yumi.

Controversy is something that the twins are used to, since they emerged onto the Mandopop scene early last year.

Critics even claim that they actively court it.

First, rumours erupted that they had been signed by Hong Kong's Emperor Group to replace its star duo Twins (made up of Charlene Choi and scandal-ridden Gillian Chung), which turned out to be false.

Then, their childhood pictures were leaked online and they were mistaken as Heavenly King Andy Lau's daughters.

Blasted

Finally, they were blasted by some of their detractors for choosing a music career over studies.

It's not hard to see why critics accuse them of playing up to the fans.

With the girls' painstakingly trimmed eyebrows, perfectly styled hair and matching outfits, it's obvious the girls rely on their attractiveness to help sell their music.

During this interview which took place at the office of their record label, Ocean Butterflies, we observed how Yumi had habit of twirling her hair with her index finger, while Miko had a mysterious distant gaze.

And they have the PR skills to match too.

'We appreciate the support from every one of our fans, so we don't despise them even if they might be a little weird,' said Yumi.

But PR or not, the twins draw the line, of course, if there is danger.

They recounted a scary incident in May, when they were performing at an autograph session in Taipei.

Then, a man in the audience suddenly started pelting small stones excitedly on stage.

'We were too engrossed in our singing then, so we couldn't see clearly what was happening,' said Yumi.

There was some commotion and shouting from the fans, she added.

Upon checking with their backstage crew after the show, the girls then realised that the man had attempted to fling a can of lighter fluid towards the stage area.

Lighter fluid is highly flammable.

'Initially, we thought the can must have been a fake, but it turned out to be real,' said Yumi.

'Also, the police took the man away. Till now, we don't know why he did that.'

Following the unexpected incident, BY2's managers have upped security measures at their live showcases.

Despite the potential dangers of being pop stars, the girls have no regrets.

Quit school

Both quit school when they were 15, skipping the O levels altogether.

It's a decision they stand by, without a tinge of regret, said Miko.

'Singing and dancing have always been our passion and before our dad died (of cancer two years ago), we promised him we will follow through with our dreams,' she said.

'Now, we are living our dreams and we are absolutely sure that this is what we want to do as a long-term career.'

Yumi nodded, saying that many peers their age are unsure of what they really want in life and lack ambition.

Though they have stopped studies, Miko said that they haven't ruled out going back to school again.

Based in Taiwan, the girls are currently home-schooled and continue to take lessons to improve their Mandarin.

'Also, the best lessons come from society,' said Miko.

'Experiencing life out there in the real world is a lesson in itself.'