- 6 weeks ago
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00:00I look back to that little girl who always dreamed of having a platform,
00:04you know, standing in front of the camera confidently,
00:06and I'm just, I should be grateful.
00:09I should be grateful that I have the, you know,
00:11the opportunity to be this tired, to work this hard,
00:14to have all these opportunities in front of me.
00:16And I remember my why, so that really helped me through.
00:19But there was a little mirror there,
00:21and I turned left and I saw myself in the mirror.
00:23And I was like, wow, is that me?
00:26Am I really Miss Universe Malaysia?
00:30So having that strong sense of self, knowing who you are,
00:33why you're here, it kind of just blocks out all that noise.
00:36Because you're on this journey for yourself, right?
00:38You're on your own journey.
00:39And everything that comes my way that is,
00:41that I'm going to decide that I want to do,
00:43I'm going to give 110% to it.
00:45This, to us, is a job to look like this.
00:48So we, on a day, on a street, when I'm not in this glam,
00:51you know, maybe I don't look so flawless on camera.
00:53And that's human, and that's normal, and that's real.
00:59This is another episode of Life Confessions.
01:08And our guest today is the reigning Miss Malaysia Universe,
01:12Chloe Lim.
01:13Thanks for joining us, Chloe.
01:14Thank you so much for having me.
01:16Now, I've met you before,
01:17and I'm really looking forward to having this deeper conversation
01:20with you today.
01:21And, you know, let's start with when you first embarked
01:24on this pageant journey, right?
01:26What was your inner motivation?
01:28Was it personal growth, platform building,
01:31or was it something else?
01:32Yeah, perhaps a little bit of all of the above.
01:34So my kind of pageant tagline
01:36when I was competing in Miss Universe Malaysia,
01:38and I still hold true to it today,
01:41is authenticity, courage, and purpose.
01:44So pursuing my pageant journey
01:46was me finally taking a courageous step
01:48towards the authentic self I wanted to be.
01:51So since I was a little girl,
01:53I had this childhood dream
01:54that I always wanted to, you know,
01:56shine confidently in front of a camera,
01:58have a platform, you know, to do something more.
02:01But, you know, because of family
02:04who are a little bit more corporate,
02:06not so understanding of the creative industry,
02:09those dreams are shelved for a very long time.
02:11Until finally, a few months ago,
02:13I saw that Miss Universe Malaysia advertisement.
02:16And three hours before the deadline,
02:17I was like, you know, you know what?
02:19I'm just going to go for it.
02:20I'm going to take a chance on myself,
02:21take a chance on my dreams.
02:23And then I went on this wonderful journey
02:25that led me here today
02:26because I took that brave step.
02:28And yes, absolutely.
02:29Now I would love to platform build
02:31and, you know, step more into this creative industry,
02:33you know, acting, modeling,
02:34all everything that comes with it.
02:36Three hours before the deadline.
02:38Right. I was like,
02:39there are a lot of questions, by the way.
02:41So I was just like furiously typing there.
02:44At that point, did you think to,
02:47when was the point where you told your parents
02:49that I'm a part of the Miss Malaysia universe,
02:54the world?
02:56The correct answer I should be telling kids out there
02:59is you should tell them before you apply.
03:02But the real answer is
03:04because I didn't even expect to pass this online screening.
03:07There were a lot of pageant veterans
03:09that competed this year
03:10because they raised the age limit,
03:12which is a wonderful thing for diversity.
03:14And it did really bring, you know,
03:15a lot of experience
03:17and a lot of maturity to the competition.
03:20But it also meant that, you know,
03:24I was this newbie in pageantry.
03:25It was like a David and Goliath kind of battle.
03:27I really didn't expect to go past the online submission.
03:31Then I was called to close door interviews.
03:34And I was like, you know, like, I'm just going to try,
03:36but I have no expectations.
03:38And I'll try my best, but no expectations.
03:41And so I didn't tell them yet.
03:42But when pageant week came around
03:44and it was two weeks,
03:45you had to basically be locked up before the finals.
03:48That was when I said,
03:50well, I can't disappear for two weeks
03:52without telling everyone where I am.
03:55So a few weeks before that,
03:56I finally decided I'm at this crossroads in my life right now
04:00where I really have to take a stand for something
04:02because I was juggling these two sides.
04:03I was also working a full-time corporate job
04:05and I had to ask my HR for two weeks off as well,
04:09which is a whole other story.
04:12So that was the point I'd finally decided,
04:14hey, you know,
04:15this moment is never going to come again for me.
04:17Am I finally going to take the brave step
04:19and believe in myself?
04:20And I don't want to live with any more regrets.
04:22So that's what I did.
04:24I sat at the dinner table with my mom
04:27and I said, hey, I have something to tell you.
04:31And she's like, oh my gosh, what's it going to be?
04:35And I told her I applied for Miss Universe Malaysia
04:37and I'm in the finals.
04:39Dead silence.
04:42But eventually they warmed up to it.
04:44My family warmed up to it.
04:46And well, I've got to go on this wonderful journey.
04:48They flew to Thailand to support me in Miss Universe.
04:51They now at home, we talk about, you know,
04:53what I do as Miss Universe Malaysia openly.
04:55And it's wonderful how much this journey
04:58not only transformed me,
04:59but the people around me.
05:01Wow.
05:01So many challenges that you face
05:03to get to where you are now.
05:05What were some of the biggest
05:06in terms of challenges or obstacles
05:07that you faced during the preparation phase?
05:10And how did you overcome them?
05:12So, well, definitely why I think
05:15what people don't see is a lot behind the scenes.
05:17It's pageantry preparation.
05:19It's a lot of physical, mental,
05:21and emotional kind of stamina.
05:22So it's all about stamina.
05:24And to me, coming in a little bit new
05:26and me, you know, having to build
05:28these new kind of technical skills
05:30like the catwalk,
05:32the, you know, the hair, the makeup,
05:34all these are things that I didn't really do
05:36every day in my previous job.
05:37So it's the stamina of being able
05:40to sleep four hours a night
05:42and then still be able to do
05:43perfect hair and makeup,
05:45give 100% energy in five-inch heels
05:47and still execute everything
05:49to the highest level
05:50because you are going to represent your country.
05:52So to me, it was stamina.
05:54But how I overcame it was,
05:55I just remember why I'm doing this.
05:57I look back to that little girl
05:58who always dreamed of having a platform,
06:01you know, standing in front of the camera
06:02confidently.
06:03And I'm just, I should be grateful.
06:06I should be grateful that I have the,
06:08you know, the opportunity to be this tired,
06:10to work this hard,
06:11to have all these opportunities in front of me.
06:13And I remember my why.
06:15So that really helped me through.
06:16Right.
06:17What was your why?
06:18My why was that I've always wanted to do this.
06:20That this is what you wanted.
06:21I've finally made the brave decision
06:23to go for my dreams,
06:24to have this platform
06:25and I'm going to make the most of it.
06:27Yeah.
06:27And you also mentioned that you had a day job
06:30before this wild adventure began.
06:32I did.
06:32What were you doing?
06:33I was a management consultant.
06:35That was what I was doing before this.
06:37Right.
06:37Very different life.
06:38Completely different.
06:40And in terms of education,
06:43what did you study?
06:44Because you were,
06:45before this began
06:46and you even knew back then
06:48that you wanted something more,
06:51but you also pursued
06:52a more traditional pathway initially.
06:54I did.
06:55You did your homework very well.
06:58So I did,
07:00I studied in London.
07:01So I did my undergraduate
07:03in accounting and finance.
07:04And then I did my first master's in law
07:07and my second master's
07:08was in international business management.
07:11And that kind of pushes you
07:12to a more corporate path,
07:13which is what I pursued.
07:15And I guess it was socially acceptable.
07:17And, you know,
07:17in Asian society,
07:18we tend to pursue more stable,
07:22quote unquote,
07:23respectable professions.
07:24But this was my dream
07:27and eventually I had to
07:28be true to myself.
07:30And look at how far you've come
07:31already, right?
07:33Can you believe it's real?
07:34Like...
07:35I still,
07:36it still feels surreal sometimes,
07:37you know,
07:37putting on the sash.
07:38And I think the moment,
07:41you know,
07:41right after crowning,
07:42we went to shoot
07:44the official portraits,
07:45do the media interviews.
07:46And there was this moment there
07:48when I was wearing my crown.
07:50I've not even touched my crown.
07:51I don't even know
07:52what it looks like
07:52on my head at that point
07:53because everything was so go, go, go.
07:55But there was a little mirror there
07:56and I turned left
07:57and I saw myself in the mirror.
07:59Yeah.
07:59And I was like,
08:00wow,
08:01is that me?
08:02Am I really
08:03Miss Universe Malaysia?
08:05And it was the first time
08:07where I looked in my reflection
08:08for so many years
08:09and I was like,
08:10I finally did something
08:12worthwhile for myself
08:13that I genuinely feel
08:15proud of myself for doing.
08:17Right.
08:17Like that personal achievement.
08:19But what's interesting
08:20about what you've done
08:20is that
08:21on top of it
08:22being a personal achievement,
08:23it's also a platform
08:25where you can do something
08:26for more than just yourself.
08:29Right.
08:29Many title holders
08:30talk about
08:30the moment they realized
08:32that this was
08:33bigger than themselves.
08:35Was there such a moment
08:35for you
08:36and what did that moment
08:38feel like?
08:39Yeah, absolutely.
08:40And it's a wonderful thing
08:42to have this platform
08:43and opportunity
08:43to have a voice
08:44to speak out
08:45on things that matter to you
08:46and have people listen.
08:48But to me,
08:49it's about
08:50it's how you
08:51impact the lives
08:52around you.
08:52And it can't be
08:53just one person.
08:54It doesn't have to be
08:55everyone or many,
08:56many people.
08:57But it starts small,
08:58but that will create
08:59a kind of an effect.
09:00And to me,
09:00it's I hope to,
09:02you know,
09:02inspire others
09:03to also have the courage
09:05to chase their dreams
09:06when they see my story.
09:07But for me,
09:08a moment when I realized
09:09that you really can
09:10touch someone
09:12through this platform
09:14was actually
09:15at Miss Universe.
09:16And it was backstage
09:17after preliminaries.
09:19So I was backstage
09:20still kind of
09:21running on the adrenaline
09:22of everything.
09:23And the past reigning
09:26Miss Universe,
09:27Victoria,
09:27her little sister,
09:28I didn't know
09:29it was her little sister,
09:30but she came with
09:31the production crew
09:31backstage
09:32and she asked,
09:33she kind of asked me,
09:34she tapped me
09:34and she said,
09:34oh, can I take
09:36a picture with you?
09:37And I said,
09:38of course.
09:39So I took it with her
09:40and she told me,
09:42she was like,
09:43you were my favorite
09:44tonight.
09:45You know,
09:46I loved everything
09:46about hearing your story.
09:48I loved your performance.
09:49I loved how you
09:50presented yourself
09:51and everything.
09:52And that was
09:53very shocking to me
09:54because in pageantry,
09:56there's this thing
09:56called sash factor
09:57where certain countries
09:59like Thailand,
10:00Philippines,
10:01the bigger pageantry
10:02countries are generally
10:03more, you know,
10:04recognized.
10:05Then people generally
10:05look to them more.
10:07And I was so surprised
10:09that she recognized
10:11Malaysia out of all of that
10:12and that I managed
10:15to, you know,
10:15even touch one person
10:16or inspire one person.
10:18And then,
10:20yeah,
10:20and then the staff goes,
10:23you know who that is?
10:23And I said,
10:24oh, no.
10:24And they're like,
10:25that's Miss Universe's
10:26little sister.
10:27And I was like,
10:28wow, you know,
10:29you can really inspire
10:31the next generation,
10:33inspire people
10:34with this platform
10:35just, you know,
10:36yeah,
10:37just by being a part of it.
10:38Yeah, just by being a part.
10:39It was preliminary,
10:40as you said, right?
10:40Yeah.
10:41So yeah,
10:41like at every stage,
10:42just by being a part of it,
10:44it can already make a difference
10:46to the people around you
10:48who are exposed
10:48to the process
10:50that you went through
10:51and the platform
10:51that it gives you.
10:52Exactly,
10:52and just showing up
10:53as your authentic self
10:54and being a little bit
10:56unafraid
10:56to show your story.
10:58That was really wonderful.
11:00I really will cherish
11:01that forever.
11:03That sounds like
11:04a great moment
11:05as well.
11:06Now,
11:06you know,
11:07also in Malaysia,
11:08right,
11:08or even globally,
11:09what do you see
11:10as the most pressing barrier
11:13to equal access
11:14to education?
11:16As a person
11:17who is,
11:17who went through,
11:18who has two masters
11:19yourself,
11:20you know,
11:20you value,
11:21you understand
11:21the value of education,
11:22right?
11:22How do you intend
11:24to address that
11:25in your room?
11:26Is that something
11:26you want to look at
11:27access to education?
11:29Definitely education,
11:30you know,
11:30they say education
11:31is the most powerful tool
11:32you can use
11:33to change the world.
11:35And for me,
11:36what I believe
11:37is the biggest
11:38kind of challenge
11:39we're facing right now
11:39is the opportunity gap
11:41where it's
11:42where you're born,
11:43who you're born to
11:44is a bigger determinant
11:45of how far
11:46you're going to go
11:46rather than,
11:47you know,
11:48your own capabilities,
11:49your own drive
11:50because of,
11:51you know,
11:51unequal access
11:52to tools,
11:53to resources
11:54and even to
11:55kind of knowing
11:56what's out there.
11:57So I work with
11:58Lighthouse Children's Home,
12:00which is a kind of
12:02a home for
12:02underprivileged
12:03or abandoned children.
12:05And when I spend
12:07time with them
12:07and when I talk to them,
12:09a lot of them,
12:09they don't dare
12:10to dream past,
12:12you know,
12:13Form 5
12:13or they don't see
12:14a future past Form 5.
12:15And this is beyond
12:16other things like
12:17struggling with
12:17foundational skills
12:18like maths and English.
12:20So I do try to
12:21spend time with them,
12:22tutor them
12:23and try to build
12:24like a longer term
12:25tutoring program
12:26with them.
12:27And also when I
12:28spend time with them,
12:29I want to talk to them
12:30and tell them,
12:30oh, have you heard
12:31of this?
12:32Have you heard of that?
12:33So that when you
12:33broaden your mind,
12:34you dare to believe
12:35of what's out there
12:36and then you,
12:37you know,
12:37have the courage
12:38to go and chase
12:39something beyond
12:39your current circumstances.
12:41Because some kids,
12:42especially many kids
12:43who may feel
12:45or are underprivileged,
12:46will limit themselves
12:48because they don't think
12:50that there are
12:51opportunities there
12:52for them,
12:53that they are not
12:53on a level playing field.
12:55But to encourage them
12:56to understand
12:58that there are routes
12:59to getting the education
13:01that they deserve,
13:03right?
13:04And yeah,
13:04that tutoring
13:05will make a big difference.
13:06That's amazing.
13:08Do you have any other plans
13:09to leverage
13:10Miss Malaysia's,
13:11Miss Malaysia University
13:12platform to create
13:13sustainable impact
13:14on education
13:15aside from what
13:16you've just mentioned?
13:17Well,
13:17if there are any
13:18opportunities to work
13:19with ministries
13:20or,
13:21you know,
13:22shed a light on it,
13:23I would absolutely
13:24love to.
13:25Right.
13:26And that's something
13:26that you are
13:27passionate about as well.
13:29It is something
13:30I am passionate about.
13:31I am very blessed
13:32that I received
13:33the education
13:33that I did
13:34and it's a cause
13:35that's quite personal
13:36to me because
13:37my father himself
13:39came from
13:40intergenerational poverty
13:41but he,
13:42with his own
13:43resilience
13:43and also the kindness
13:45of his teachers
13:47who encouraged him
13:48to dream of a life
13:49that he could build
13:49for himself
13:50beyond what he knew now.
13:52He went on
13:53and, you know,
13:54managed to do that
13:55and built a wonderful life
13:56for me and my family.
13:58So,
13:58it's a cause that is
13:59close to my heart.
14:01Wow.
14:01And people can look
14:02at you actually
14:03and already understand
14:04by you sharing your story
14:05it makes it clear
14:07that the importance
14:08of education
14:09no matter what field
14:10and what you endeavour
14:11to do, right?
14:12And every time
14:14you mention your father
14:15he seems to be
14:16like a source
14:17of pride
14:19that you are so proud
14:20of him
14:20but also he's proud
14:21of you
14:22at the same time, right?
14:24Is he a driving force
14:25in what you do
14:26and how you live?
14:27He definitely is.
14:29He's definitely
14:30one of the people
14:30I look up to,
14:32I respect
14:32and he's always taught me
14:34to always remember
14:36well, firstly,
14:37it's a lot of
14:38he always reminds me
14:39that hard work
14:39is one of the most
14:40important things.
14:41If you really want something
14:42you have to put in
14:43the work for it
14:44because nothing comes easy.
14:45You have to earn it yourself
14:47but also he reminds me
14:48the importance
14:49of being humble
14:50and humility.
14:51No matter how far you go
14:52you must treat
14:53everyone the same,
14:54treat everyone
14:54with the same respect.
14:56Yeah.
14:56So I do learn
14:58a lot from him
14:58and even as a kid
14:59we were very close
15:00every night
15:01he would read to me
15:02storybooks
15:03or books of virtues
15:04or science books
15:06you know,
15:06whatever it is
15:06he would always try
15:07and get me to learn more
15:08and teach me more
15:09about the world.
15:09Right.
15:10I'm sure that
15:10when he looks at you now
15:11he also gives you strength
15:13to actually
15:14do what you do
15:16because it can be
15:16very tiring
15:17to be in the position
15:19that you're at.
15:20Your itinerary,
15:21your daily schedule
15:22can get quite hectic.
15:23How do you guard
15:25against advocacy fatigue
15:27or even like charity optics?
15:29In other words,
15:29you know,
15:29how do you ensure
15:30your work is meaningful
15:31and not superficial
15:32while you're doing
15:34all of the things
15:34that are required of you
15:36but you don't want
15:36just to be seen
15:37doing something
15:38you want to be seen
15:39making an impact.
15:40Absolutely.
15:41And to me,
15:42everything,
15:43even before joining pageantry
15:44and stepping to the spotlight,
15:46everything I do
15:47has to be done
15:48with the right intention
15:49and I always check myself
15:50before I make a decision
15:51to do something.
15:52If it doesn't really
15:53feel right with me
15:54no matter how great
15:55it might sound,
15:56I will decide
15:57that it's not authentic
15:58and maybe I should
16:00not pursue it
16:00because eventually
16:02you're not going to be able
16:03to have the stamina
16:04to push through it
16:05if it's not true
16:05to who you are.
16:07But this is,
16:09you know,
16:09where I want it to be
16:10so that really helps me
16:11that I really am doing
16:12what I want it to do.
16:14Right.
16:14Have you had conversations
16:16with yourself
16:17about what lies ahead now?
16:18Because
16:18to reach this point,
16:22it was all
16:22stages, right?
16:25Like,
16:25at first you weren't sure
16:26whether you were going
16:27to make it into the competition
16:28and then you did.
16:29And then
16:30you weren't sure
16:31if you were going
16:31to actually win the title
16:32and then you did.
16:34And then at each time,
16:35at each stage
16:36that you cross
16:37or reach,
16:38you kind of have to have
16:39a new conversation
16:40with yourself of
16:41now that I'm at this point,
16:43how do I plan
16:43for what happens next?
16:45And it's a world
16:46that you yourself
16:47are relatively new to.
16:48Exactly.
16:49Right?
16:49So what do you tell yourself now
16:51in preparation of the future?
16:53What I tell myself now
16:54is I'm going to
16:55embrace it fully.
16:57It's both feet
16:58into this journey
16:58and everything
16:59that comes my way
17:00that I'm going to
17:02decide that I want to do,
17:03I'm going to give
17:03110% to it.
17:05So to me,
17:06now I love to explore
17:08this creative feel,
17:09you know,
17:09this acting,
17:10modelling,
17:11this creative pursuits
17:12that I've always wanted to do.
17:14And there is
17:15uncertainty with it
17:16because it's not like
17:17a steady job
17:18you go to every day.
17:19It's as and when
17:19there are roles,
17:20you audition
17:21and hopefully you get it.
17:23But regardless,
17:24I'm going to
17:24keep practising
17:25these skills
17:26that you have to
17:27now pick up
17:28to really shine
17:29in these roles
17:29and making sure
17:30that when I am
17:31fortunate enough
17:31to get a role,
17:32I will dedicate
17:33110% to it.
17:34Because that's what
17:35you've been doing
17:35your whole life
17:36with everything
17:37that you do.
17:37You're always
17:38dedicating yourself
17:39to it
17:40and not afraid
17:41of taking on
17:41the challenges.
17:42When it comes
17:43to the pageant
17:44and modelling
17:44industry,
17:46often this industry
17:48faces like critiques
17:50and, you know,
17:51with objectification
17:54and unrealistic
17:55beauty standards
17:56when it comes
17:56to women
17:57and body policing.
17:59How do you respond
18:01to such criticism
18:02and what changes
18:04do you hope to see
18:05now that you're
18:06actually a part
18:07of that world?
18:08I believe the industry
18:10has been
18:10beautifully evolving
18:11so they've become
18:13definitely more
18:14inclusive
18:15of, you know,
18:17ages,
18:17body types,
18:18things that were
18:19not accepted
18:20in the past
18:21which I think
18:21is a wonderful thing
18:22and for me,
18:24I just,
18:27to be honest,
18:27it's always me
18:28trying to be better
18:29for myself.
18:30I don't always
18:31read the comments,
18:32I don't Google myself
18:33or anything like that.
18:34I just focus on,
18:36you know,
18:36the task at hand,
18:37my own purpose
18:38but I do,
18:39you know,
18:39because you brought this up,
18:40I do want to send
18:41this message out there
18:42to, you know,
18:43other young girls
18:44who might be watching this
18:45because when I was,
18:47you know,
18:47a teenager watching
18:48the Victoria's Secret
18:49fashion show,
18:50I was like,
18:50wow,
18:51how do you look like that?
18:52Like six packs,
18:53like so perfect,
18:54shining on that stage
18:55but I will tell them
18:56that this is a job
18:57because, you know,
18:59you've dedicated yourself
19:00to this job
19:00where, you know,
19:01probably six times a week
19:02you're at the gym
19:03working out,
19:04you're watching
19:05your nutrition,
19:06also the hair
19:07and the makeup,
19:08you know,
19:08you don't wake up like this,
19:10I didn't wake up like this,
19:11I took, you know,
19:12one and a half hours
19:13this morning
19:14doing my hair and makeup
19:14so it does set that,
19:17what you said,
19:18like unrealistic beauty standard
19:19because, you know,
19:19that's the Photoshop
19:20and everything
19:21but just remember
19:22that you are beautiful
19:24in your authentic self
19:25and that this,
19:26to us,
19:27is a job
19:28to look like this
19:28so we,
19:30on the day,
19:30on the street
19:30when I'm not in this glam,
19:32you know,
19:32maybe I don't look
19:33so flawless on camera
19:34and that's human
19:35and that's normal
19:36and that's real.
19:37And you can show
19:38both sides of it.
19:39Yeah,
19:39and I'm perfectly fine
19:40as well
19:41standing on the street
19:41without makeup
19:42and if anyone
19:43says,
19:44can I take a selfie?
19:45Absolutely fine
19:46because I embrace
19:48both sides of myself
19:48and I hope they do too.
19:50And your confidence
19:51is that either way,
19:53it doesn't matter
19:54whether you're
19:55glammed up
19:56or not,
19:57you can always be proud of it.
19:59Absolutely,
20:00because it comes
20:00from within,
20:01right?
20:01It's who you carry yourself as
20:03regardless of the glam.
20:04The glam is the job
20:05sometimes.
20:07You're also a part
20:07of the pageant
20:09this year
20:09that has been...
20:13You knew this was coming.
20:14This is coming.
20:16I'm going to bring it up.
20:17Okay.
20:18Of the rise of social media,
20:19it means that contestants
20:20are now under
20:22constant public scrutiny.
20:24Anything they do
20:25they can be judged for
20:26immediately
20:27with any post
20:28that goes up,
20:28appearance,
20:28behaviour,
20:29past.
20:30How do you manage
20:31the pressure,
20:32you know,
20:33mental health
20:34and authenticity
20:35in that context
20:36when sometimes
20:37people can reach you
20:39at home
20:40wherever you're at
20:41because your phone
20:42is with you everywhere?
20:43Definitely.
20:44I mean,
20:44as soon as I step into this
20:45we'll have had
20:46a spotlight.
20:47There were definitely
20:48comments out there
20:49about me and everything.
20:51But to me,
20:52firstly,
20:53I know who I am.
20:54I know,
20:54you know,
20:54sometimes when they say
20:55these not so pleasant things,
20:57they're not real.
20:58And I don't have
20:59any reaction to them
21:00because I know
21:01it's not real.
21:01I know that's not
21:02who I am.
21:02So having that strong
21:04sense of self,
21:04knowing who you are,
21:06why you're here,
21:07it kind of just
21:07blocks out all that noise
21:08because you're on this
21:09journey for yourself,
21:10right?
21:10You're on your own journey.
21:12And there will always
21:13be that noise there.
21:14But to be honest,
21:16I feel just more focused
21:19on who I am
21:20and my own journey.
21:21And I'm also very lucky
21:22now that I have
21:23a wonderful support system
21:24and people around you
21:26who truly believe in you
21:27and uplift you
21:28and support you,
21:29those are kind of
21:30the voices that should
21:31echo in your head
21:32as you're stepping
21:33into this kind of limelight
21:34rather than all the
21:35negative criticism,
21:36which, you know,
21:37of course,
21:37if it's constructive,
21:39I will, you know,
21:40of course,
21:40I always strive to be better.
21:41But if it's, you know,
21:42something mean
21:43and just offhanded,
21:44then, you know,
21:45that we should kind of
21:46create a world
21:47with more empathy
21:48and kindness.
21:49There should not be a place
21:50with things like that
21:50going around.
21:51And you can be the
21:52example of that
21:53because of the way
21:54you carry yourself.
21:55Well, I hope to be.
21:57I mean, I hope to be.
21:58I hope that people
21:59will treat each other
22:00with more kindness, yes.
22:01Did it catch you off guard?
22:02Or did you take it in stride
22:04when you found yourself
22:07in this position?
22:08And the type of feedback
22:09that you got,
22:11were you ready for it
22:12or did it still
22:13catch you off guard?
22:14I would say
22:15it was a little bit surprising
22:18because, you know,
22:19when you're firstly competing,
22:20everyone's like,
22:20oh, this newcomer,
22:21then everyone's like,
22:22oh, all the hype
22:23and it's generally
22:24positive, positive.
22:25Well, of course,
22:26things are never
22:27positive forever.
22:28There's obviously
22:28going to be some,
22:29you know,
22:30haters here and there,
22:31some naysayers.
22:32But eventually,
22:33I was just like,
22:34oh, okay,
22:34but I'm still here
22:36and I'm still going
22:36to do my best
22:37so you can say
22:38what you want
22:39but I'm still
22:40going to be here.
22:42Right.
22:42What they say
22:43doesn't change
22:43your reality
22:44of where you're at.
22:46No, no, no,
22:47it doesn't.
22:48And some people
22:48in the industry
22:49say that pageants
22:50have become
22:50more about branding,
22:52marketing,
22:53and social media metrics
22:54than substance.
22:57Do you see that trend
22:58and how do you think
22:59pageants can
23:00reclaim
23:01deeper meaning?
23:03Okay,
23:03so I'll take that question
23:04in two parts.
23:05Okay.
23:05The first is that
23:06the whole social media
23:08marketing branding
23:08aspect and how it
23:10maybe dilutes
23:11the essence of pageantry.
23:12I think social media
23:13definitely has become
23:14a very big part
23:15of pageantry
23:16and not just pageantry,
23:17our world,
23:18our day-to-day life.
23:19But I think it can be
23:20used hand in hand
23:21because with social media,
23:22you have this
23:23additional platform
23:24to reach even more
23:25people around the world
23:26that you would have
23:27never reached initially
23:28without the internet,
23:29right?
23:29So I think it's a tool
23:31and it's just how
23:32you use the tool,
23:32right?
23:33Like with great power
23:33comes great responsibility.
23:35So if you use it
23:36to kind of amplify
23:37causes that you're
23:38passionate about
23:39to create positivity,
23:41to create impact,
23:42then it's a wonderful thing
23:43that social media
23:44is integrated
23:45into pageantry right now.
23:46And the second part
23:48of pageantry
23:48staying true
23:50to its purpose,
23:51is that the question?
23:52Yeah.
23:53Well,
23:53I can speak about
23:54Miss Universe
23:54because that's the pageant
23:55I created,
23:56I competed in.
23:58And so Miss Universe
23:59is supposed to be
24:00a woman empowerment
24:01and sisterhood
24:02and being beautifully
24:03confident, right?
24:04And I believe that
24:06it's true
24:07the contestants,
24:08the girls
24:08that we see
24:09on the stage
24:10in front of the camera,
24:11they truly embody that.
24:13So I feel if we focus
24:14more on that
24:15and not so much
24:16on the politics
24:17and all,
24:17because the girls,
24:19all of us come,
24:19we come out of respect,
24:21we come to represent
24:22the best of ourselves,
24:23the best of our countries.
24:24And there are such
24:25remarkable women.
24:26They are,
24:27besides physically beautiful,
24:29they're intelligent,
24:30they're strong,
24:31you know,
24:32they're businesswomen,
24:33they're so many things,
24:36they're chefs,
24:36they're many wonderful things
24:38and I believe that
24:39if we look at the women
24:40rather than the politics,
24:42that's where we see
24:43the essence of a pageant.
24:44Right,
24:45because sometimes
24:45it gets diluted.
24:47The politics
24:49of pageantry
24:51can sometimes rise
24:53to the surface
24:54and bubble above
24:55what the meaning
24:56and the purpose
24:57of it can be,
24:58which is what
24:59happened this year.
25:01It is,
25:02it is,
25:02yeah,
25:02and it is sad
25:04that that had to happen
25:05in that way,
25:05but I think it's about
25:07what the focus is.
25:08Right.
25:09Yeah.
25:09You know,
25:12you've got a whole year
25:13ahead of you,
25:14right,
25:14and some of it
25:16you know what's going to happen,
25:17some of it
25:17you're not sure yet
25:18because it will depend
25:19on what comes your way.
25:21By the end of your reign,
25:23what legacy
25:24in the industry
25:26for young Malaysian women
25:27and in education
25:28do you hope
25:30to leave behind,
25:31whether it's
25:32education,
25:33whether it's for women,
25:34in your opinion,
25:35what do you hope
25:36to leave behind?
25:38I hope my legacy
25:39won't be constrained
25:40to just one kind of niche,
25:42whether it's women,
25:43whether it's education,
25:44kids.
25:44I hope that it could be
25:46to all Malaysians out there
25:47that they look at my story,
25:49they look at how I
25:51journeyed into
25:52kind of Miss Malaysia
25:53and then the impact
25:54I got to make
25:54at Miss Malaysia
25:55and that could inspire them
25:57to also go and chase
25:58their own boldest dreams
25:59courageously.
26:00I hope it's the story
26:01they take away
26:02and not just
26:02each aspect of it.
26:04Right.
26:04And for yourself,
26:06at the end of this one year,
26:08do you,
26:09how,
26:09what do you imagine
26:10that next step
26:11is going to be?
26:12Because
26:13with your education,
26:14you could easily go back
26:16to the amazing
26:17job that you had before
26:18actually,
26:19right?
26:19Is there a way
26:20to marry both
26:21this new life
26:21that you have,
26:22this new career
26:22that you have?
26:24What do you see
26:25or hope
26:25to happen for yourself?
26:27Yeah, absolutely.
26:27Thank you for asking
26:28me that question.
26:29I do absolutely hope
26:31that I can harmonize
26:32these two sides of me
26:33that I was juggling
26:34all my life
26:35because
26:36I do want to step
26:38into the creative industry
26:39which is the acting,
26:40the modeling.
26:41But there's also
26:42the business
26:43of the creative industry,
26:44right?
26:44Like building your own brand
26:45for example,
26:46which is something
26:47I'm very interested in
26:48and perhaps
26:49after this one year,
26:50it could be something
26:51I have a platform to do
26:52so I can harmonize
26:53the business aspect
26:54with this creative side.
26:56And, you know,
26:57maybe even down the line,
26:58an MBA is something
26:59that I could,
27:00I have always been
27:01keen on pursuing.
27:03Which would be
27:03your third master's, Chloe.
27:05The MBA.
27:05This is exactly why
27:10you are where you're at
27:11because you have
27:13no fear
27:15and you're not afraid
27:17to work hard
27:17and even looking forward,
27:19you've already planned
27:20like how you're
27:21going to make sure.
27:23Absolutely.
27:23We look forward to seeing
27:24what else lies ahead of you
27:26when it happens.
27:27You definitely have to
27:28tell us more as well
27:29when it happens.
27:30I would love to.
27:31Now, we've come to
27:32the rapid fire questions
27:33part of this.
27:34Okay, I'm ready.
27:34So whatever comes to mind
27:35at this point.
27:37Let's go with
27:38one word that describes
27:39your Miss Universe
27:40Malaysia journey.
27:41Transformative.
27:42Oh, nice.
27:44The first thing you did
27:45after winning the crown?
27:47Looked at my parents' reaction.
27:49Looked for my parents
27:50in the crowd.
27:51And what was their reaction?
27:52They were genuinely smiling.
27:54They were smiling with pride.
27:56Wow.
27:57What's one misconception
27:58people have
27:59about beauty queens?
28:01That it's only physical beauty
28:03because as we've seen
28:04through the contestants
28:05at Miss Universe
28:06and in all the beauty queens
28:07beyond this Miss Universe,
28:09they are really holistic
28:10and strong
28:11and empowered women
28:12that go beyond
28:13the physical.
28:14Right.
28:16Who is your role model
28:17in or outside
28:19the pageant world?
28:20Ooh, I have a few.
28:22Anthony Tan.
28:23He is a Malaysian entrepreneur
28:25who co-founded Grab.
28:26Yes.
28:27And I always respect
28:29the entrepreneurs
28:29because I've always
28:30really wanted to be one.
28:32And he's one of my role models.
28:34You know,
28:34how he built Grab
28:35from an idea
28:36at Harvard Business School
28:37and touched
28:38and basically transformed
28:40the landscape
28:40of Southeast Asia
28:41with his kind of innovation
28:43and his courage
28:44to chase his innovation
28:45and bring it to life.
28:46I think that's
28:47really remarkable.
28:48And I also met him
28:49on a flight.
28:50Oh.
28:50And he was so humble
28:52the way,
28:53you know,
28:53he has so much success
28:54but he carries himself
28:55so humbly.
28:56He even offered me
28:57encouragement.
28:58But this was before
28:59I even joined Miss Malaysia.
29:00This was when I was
29:01still in university.
29:02And that conversation
29:04stayed with me.
29:05So even despite
29:06all that success,
29:06he was so humble
29:07and so I really do
29:09look up to him.
29:10Right.
29:10And I mean,
29:11you're right,
29:11he started a business
29:12that's integrated itself
29:13into so many
29:15of our lives, right?
29:16Wow.
29:17What's one thing
29:18you change about
29:19the modeling
29:19or pageant industry?
29:22Probably the
29:23financial security
29:24for girls.
29:27Is that a
29:28bigger issue
29:29than we realize?
29:30I believe people
29:31probably know
29:32a little bit about it
29:33because,
29:33I mean,
29:33first of all,
29:34the creative industry,
29:35there's no certainty.
29:36You don't get a salary
29:37every month.
29:38It's as and when
29:38you get jobs.
29:40But,
29:41you know,
29:41for maybe women
29:42starting out
29:43or women who may not
29:44feel like they have
29:44enough of a voice,
29:46sometimes they feel,
29:48you know,
29:48a little bit,
29:49not just,
29:50I wouldn't want to go
29:50as far as they
29:51exploited,
29:52but,
29:52Right,
29:53forced?
29:54Yeah,
29:54maybe into certain
29:55jobs or,
29:56and,
29:57yeah,
29:58the financial
29:59kind of limitations
30:01of thinking.
30:02It makes sense
30:02to make it a safer
30:03space to work.
30:04A safer space
30:05also because
30:06financial security
30:07is a big thing
30:08as well
30:08to empower someone.
30:11So,
30:11I believe that
30:12that is one aspect
30:12I would like
30:13better for the women
30:14in it
30:15and the people in it.
30:16I hope for that too.
30:17That makes sense.
30:19What's a phrase
30:20or quote
30:20that you live by?
30:22I know I can.
30:23Oh,
30:24was it something
30:25that you,
30:26that you came up
30:27with yourself
30:27or was it,
30:28is it from somewhere?
30:29It's from my childhood
30:30actually.
30:31So,
30:31I mentioned to you
30:32that my dad
30:32used to read me
30:33books every night
30:34and when I was a kid
30:36one of the stories
30:37was about Thomas
30:38the red train engine,
30:39you know,
30:40and as he was going
30:41up the hill
30:41because he's like
30:42this small engine
30:43trying to push up
30:44a big hill,
30:45he struggles initially
30:46but he keeps telling himself,
30:48I know I can,
30:49I know I can
30:50until eventually
30:50he gets to the top
30:51and he's like,
30:52wow,
30:52I did it,
30:52I know I can.
30:53So,
30:54when I'm going
30:55through anything
30:55I just remind myself
30:56of that,
30:56I know I can.
30:58It's amazing
30:58and even when
30:58you have done it,
30:59you can still do
31:00something else
31:01and keep going.
31:01Because you never
31:02stop growing,
31:03right?
31:03That's this wonderful
31:04thing where you
31:05can always evolve,
31:06you can always
31:06get better
31:07and that's the
31:08beauty of life.
31:11Closing question
31:12for you.
31:12This is the last
31:13question we ask
31:13all of our guests.
31:15If you had the
31:15opportunity to make
31:16one change
31:17as Prime Minister
31:18of Malaysia
31:18for a day,
31:19what would it be
31:21and why?
31:22I don't say
31:23it would be a change
31:24but it would
31:25probably be something
31:26that I would
31:27probably invest
31:28more in
31:29and that would
31:29be to develop
31:30our innovation
31:31and start-up
31:32space in Malaysia
31:33because as I've
31:34mentioned,
31:35I really respect
31:35entrepreneurs,
31:36how they have
31:37the courage
31:37to pursue
31:38their dreams
31:38that touch
31:39and impact
31:40lives and
31:40change the
31:41landscape of
31:41the world
31:42around them.
31:43I hope to
31:44see more of
31:44that for
31:44young Malaysian
31:45entrepreneurs
31:46that really
31:47can have
31:48the platform,
31:49the tools,
31:49the funding
31:50to go and
31:51chase and
31:52build something
31:53remarkable for
31:53our nation
31:54and then progress
31:55our nation.
31:56So if I was
31:56Prime Minister for a
31:57day,
31:57there is the
31:58Kazana Fund
31:59which does that,
32:00I would probably
32:00pour more
32:01money influence
32:02and shed more
32:03light on that.
32:04Grants that
32:05can be made
32:05available to
32:06people.
32:06Grants,
32:06mentorships,
32:08possibilities,
32:09connecting people.
32:10Yeah.
32:10All right.
32:12I would vote for
32:12you.
32:13Oh,
32:13thank you.
32:15And thank you
32:16so much for
32:17joining us.
32:17We appreciate
32:18you sharing
32:18with us and
32:19we look forward
32:20to this great
32:22one year that
32:22you have ahead
32:23of you.
32:23Thank you
32:24for joining
32:24us,
32:24Chloe.
32:24Thank you
32:25very much.
32:25This is
32:26Life Confessions
32:27and our guest
32:27today with us
32:28has been
32:28Chloe Lim.
32:29She's the
32:30reigning Miss
32:31Malaysia
32:31Universe and
32:33we'll see you
32:33in the next
32:34episode of
32:35Life Confessions.
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