In celebration of Mother's Day this year, we asked some of our Unicorns to share their moms' best advice to them. These are ones we will take with us through life, and with each, we are reminded of the unconditional support and endless love we are all so very thankful to have. Thank you, Mom!

Huicy, Operations Mama Unicorn



"I've always been an independent girl. My mom used to tell the relatives that I've known how to handle my own homework since kindergarten, and they've never had to worry about my academic performance. This was until l I started dating in secondary school. My mom was strict about this and she wanted me to focus only on my academics. So, I started to tell lies whenever I wanted to go out. She then said to me, 不要挂羊头卖狗肉, which roughly means 'Don't lie'. I then felt the need to prove to her that even though I am dating, I can and will get good results. I got 8A's for my PMR and since then, she's never used that sentence on me again!" 

Pei, Digital Marketing Unicorn



"Never let anyone tell you what to do. Be yourself, be independent and you can achieve anything."
 

SoBu, Fashion Design Unicorn

"Never try to conform if it's wrong. It's OK to say No. That doesn't make us a bad person."

Jenni, Graphic Design Unicorn

"There's a uniqueness in you. Discover the inner & create the outer."

Jonas, Fulfilment & Operations Unicorn



"My mom used to wish for me to get taller and taller with each birthday. She would ask me to do more sports! Now that I have grown taller, I realise it is actually harder to achieve than I thought because friends around me tend to stop growing since primary school 😉 Thank you Mummy for the motivation!"

 
Vivien, Fashion Unicorn 



"Two advices that I can always remember my Mom giving is, 'Always save for a rainy day because you never know when you need the money!' as well as 'Please don't compare yourself with others. Just be yourself'.
 

Crystal, Digital Marketing & Editorial Unicorn



“When I was first studying abroad, I was really homesick, to the point of crying every night and wanting to give it all up. My mom said to me then that ‘This, too, shall pass’. And it did. I remind myself of this now each time I am faced with an obstacle. No matter how bad, nothing, is forever.”
 
Hoi Cheng, Fashion Design Unicorn

"The best advice my Mom gave me is to be happy always, no matter what life throws at you. Life is short. Don't waste it by being sad."

Wana, Customer Support & Social Media Unicorn 



"Don't bother about what they said!
Well, it all started when my parents got divorced when I was 15. I can say that I'm affected by this because I know it won't be the same as before. I got emotionally harassed by the neighbours, and even relatives. But, I know He plans the best for me. I want to show my Mom that nothing's ever gonna stop me from getting flying colours in exams, and prove them wrong, showing that even if you come from a divorced family, you can still succeed. Thanks Mom for make me stronger day by day."

Yen Yon, Fashion Unicorn



"Start where you are, use what you have. You can do it."
 

What are some of your most memorable advice from Mom?
Share with us below!
...
What We're Wearing 
(click link to shop)

Huicy: Cordy Open Back Top in Navy Blue
Pei: Two-Way Alfy Cold Shoulder Shift Dress in Dusty Green
Jenni: Medini Colour Block Long Sleeve Top in Grey Stripes and White
Jonas: Zena Men's Top in Black
Vivien: Syden Off Shoulder Dress in Light Blue
Crystal: Weylyn Cold Shoulder Shift Dress in Navy Blue
Hoi Cheng: Sendayan Long Sleeve Jumper with Floral Embroidery in Navy Blue
Wana: Heliza Peplum Dress with Placement Floral Print in Mint
Yen Yon: Syden Off Shoulder Dress in Navy Blue
 

I was told to kill myself.
I've never really talking deep about the source of my depression cz I'm worried that i couldn't handle it. But today is World Health Day, focusing on Depression. I want to share my story out to help more people. And if you make the same mistake for telling people to kill themselves, I'm asking you to stop doing it.

I was told to take my own life, that i wasn't worth living in this world, that i was a burden, an ugly whore, slut and the stupidest person in the world.

It's been years and i know the person who told me that never intend to really want me to kill myself. It was said out of anger and frustration. Most importantly, that person was depressed as well. I didn't know it that she was depressed and i didn't know i was depressed neither, until my current bf found out recent years when we start living together.
A depressed person, in contrary with what most people believe, we are not weirdos that looks sad all the time. Every cases is different. I'm the type that i do really well in public, and on my Instagram. But i would hibernate for weeks and week, couldn't leave my bed even for just a second. I would cut myself, because the inner pain couldn't be released and it needs to be bleed out of my body. I would hear lots of voices in my head, telling me to go die and kill myself.
When it happens, Barry would have to press me down from hurting myself. And he would distract me with work, or message from my DM that need my help for another person who is depressed. Not all the time i could get distracted, but it's getting better over time.
Remember last Feb when i was in Australia, I've got another panick attack & fall back down into severe depression again. I couldn't swim and i was nearly drowned. But i was saved and i got my life back alive. I had bad dreams and the darkness all came back all together. I hurt myself once again, but not a suicide attempt. It was just self harm.

Depression takes a long long time to heal. It's a long and it could be really lonely. But I'm here today, stepping out of my comfort zone, telling you how i feel and what I've been through. I know some of you could've gone through way worst than this. I just want you to know that you're not alone. We are not weirdos. Most successful people has depression it's just that it is not always so publicly talk about. But I'm here. With you.

World Health Day - Depression #ruok #urnotalone

Love,
Sher
@sherlyn_fitness

...
Note: Unedited, from Sherlyn's personal Instagram @sherlyn_fitness. 

You might have seen Alicia Tan from her acting roles in local Youtube videos. Today, she's the beauty and the brains behind a following of more than 76.8k on Instagram and 11.8k on Youtube. With her signature sweet smile and humble personality, we recently had the opportunity to sit down and get to know more about this Ipoh-born fashion, travel and lifestyle influencer. Here, we give our top 5 reasons why we absolutely love her! (Trust us, there are many more to that 😉)

 

On Alicia: The Drascia Organza Cold Shoulder Top with Graphic Prints in Light Pink

(Click to Shop) & Fleur Wrap Front Skort in Light Denim (Launching Soon)

 

 1. She's One To Follow Her Dreams

On Alicia: The Eloise Organza Panel Sleeveless Top in White & Charlize Contrast Panel Tapered Pants in Black with White Stripe (Click to Shop)

I was brought up in a small, but amazing town - Ipoh, and was never exposed to the media industry when I was in high school. I would say that I was quite a nerd in school, and I did pretty well academically. Hence, I pursued my studies with intentions of becoming a banker or a chartered accountant.  However, when I came to KL to further my studies, I started getting modelling and commercial gigs, and also started collaborating with local YouTubers and acting in their videos. Through YouTube and modelling, I became more exposed to the social media and media industry, where I found my passion. But that didn’t stop me from finishing my studies, so I finished my Accounting, Finance, & Management degree in the UK, and came back to follow my dreams in the media industry. I started my career in Dubai as a model for Abercrombie and Fitch, and now I’m back in Malaysia to build my own career as a content creator.

 

2. She Works Hard

My typical day is pretty unpredictable. Some days, I will be doing photoshoots for brands and clients I work with, or going to fashion and beauty events. Other days, I will be home filming my own videos and editing them. As a social media influencer, I will curate my Instagram posts, and that’s where I can share my work and life with my followers.


In the future, I hope I can continue to make videos and make more content! I’m also going to start my own streetwear clothing label this year! That’s really exciting for me, as I have so much passion for fashion!

3. She's Not Afraid To Be Herself

On Alicia: The Jacquelina Off Shoulder Long Sleeves Top with Floral Embroidery in Pinstripes & Judith Frayed Hem High Waist Shorts in Denim (Click to Shop)

There are days where I do not feel confident about myself, and I just think that I’m not good enough. Being in the media industry is competitive enough, and sometimes we are regarded as people who should be sociable and outgoing. Not many people know this but, I’m an introvert. I get nervous meeting new people and being in a public event, and I would always prefer to spend time at home and with just my closest friends. But I always tell myself to just be myself, and be me! To be reminded of what I love to do, and pursue it. 

On Alicia: The Alexandrite Contrast Panel Cold Shoulder Shift Dress in Navy Blue
(Click to Shop)

 

4. She Loves Her Fans, Truly

One of my favourite things about doing what I do is having my followers and subscribers, whom I call my family. I love that I have the ability to express my own creativity, my own words, my own voice and my own story through my social media and YouTube. I love that I can engage with my followers and the world, that I can be their online friend, and I can use my voice and my life to make a difference in their lives to a certain extent. I hope to share my story to empower and support them, just as they have shown me love and support. It’s the most rewarding feeling when my readers tell me that I have inspired them one way or another, and I hope to continue to bring this joy and love to them!
 

On Alicia: The Demelza Cold Shoulder Shift Dress with Floral Embroidery in Pinstripes (Launching Soon)

 

 5. She's Got The Best Advice 

On Alicia: The Arcene Lace-up Detail Shift Dress in Navy Blue (Launching Soon)

Do not undermine yourself. You are one of a kind, and we are all gifted in our own ways! Success does not come overnight, so work hard, work smart, and keep trying! Do not fear failure, because without failure, there is no success. It is better to try and fail, than not to try at all! So go, get it girls! We can do this :D



Yes, we can! Wherever we are, may we all empower ourselves and each other to fight for our dreams, no matter the odds.

We have come a long way as women. With access to education, the freedom to build our careers, enjoy a bustling social life and create the life we dream, some would say we have it good.

Yet, it is important to know that it wasn’t always this way.

Without the women who have fought for our rights, we would not be where we are.  

As we celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8 each year, we look to the women who have and who continue to drive change in helping women reach their full potential. Today, we highlight 6 (of many) Malaysian women who we would like to thank for their contributions to women’s rights:

1. Ivy Josiah

As one of the pioneer volunteers and former president and executive director of the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO), Josiah has been actively involved in the fight for women’s rights.

Established in 1982, WAO was one of the first organisations in Malaysia dedicated to helping women and children faced with violence. Josiah grew the organisation from a team of five to 20 employees, and played a key role in promoting WAO’s protection services, advocating for law and policy reforms and in educating the public on violence against women. She was also a member of the National Taskforce investigating sexual abuse allegations of indigenous women in Sarawak.

She believes in fighting for the rights of others, having shared that she gets “very angry when there is injustice”, which drives her to take a stand and act.

Today, she is no longer employed by WAO but continues to volunteer for the organisation, while balancing being in the committee of HAKAM (National Human Rights Society), PROHAM (The Society for the Promotion of Human Rights), and Bersih.

2. YBhg. Dato’ Ramani Gurusamy



As deputy president of the National Council of Women’s Organisation (NCWO), Ramani is a veteran fighter for women’s rights and development in Malaysia.

With focus on professional, social and community work to promote women empowerment, Ramani fought for giving women equal pay, medical, housing and other benefits in the 1960s.

She has been in the NCWO for more than 20 years now and has contributed in forming its many programmes, including the National Policy on Women and Action Plan.

She stresses the importance of young women to be involved in driving further progress in women’s rights. She told The Star:

“We need young, fresh blood in the women’s movement. We need your excitement, your passion and your commitment. So, prepare yourself to get into the movement. Get the leadership skills you need, and you probably already have them. Get into an organisation. Now, with the Internet, you can see what an organisation is all about. See what are the issues that interest you and get involved. We need you.”

3. Toh Puan Umasundari Sambanthan

You may know her as the wife of the late Tun V.T. Sambanthan, but Toh Puan herself is well known as an activist and social worker, raising the status of women, especially in rural areas.

A woman who values the power of education, she graduated with First Class Honors from the University of Madras, where she majored in Chemistry. She then continued her Master’s Degree at the Presidency College, Chennai.

In the 1950s, she was actively involved in fighting for women’s rights, and was involved in spreading awareness of the benefits of Malayan citizenship to rural women. She was also one of the founders and formal president of the NCWO and today, she continues to hold the position as general-secretary of the Sri Ramakrishna Sarada Society, which she co-founded in 1960.

4. Shamsiah Fakeh



Not many have heard of Shamsiah Fakeh. An independence fighter and feminist of the 1950’s, she was the leader of Malaysia's first nationalist women organization, the infamous Angkatan Wanita Sedar (AWAS) and also a prominent Malay leader of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM).

Having fought persistently right into the jungles of Malaya, she has survived poverty, war and imprisonment. In her autobiography Memoir Shamsiah Fakeh: Dari AWAS Ke Rejimen Ke-10, Shamsiah writes: “I was merely a woman fighting the British for my country’s independence and the emancipation of women.”

5. Low Ngai Yuen

A mother of four young children, a successful entrepreneur and an advocate for women empowerment, one might think, “Where does she find the time?”
As with the other women on this list, she knows the difference women can make in this world, if only given the opportunity. From 3R TV to film direction and production, and to being the Marketing and Communications Director of the Malaysia and Singapore arm of Carrefour S.A, Low has done much to show that women can and should have the courage to achieve their goals and define their happiness.

Today, she is the president of Kakiseni, a not-for-profit performing arts platform, as well as the president and founder of WOMEN:girls, an organisation with a vision to help women realise their potential as role models and inspire girls to achieve their dreams.

When asked whether women can have it all, Low shares that one should always define ‘all’ in her own way and not in the expectation of others.

And her motto? Do what is right, not what is easy.

6. Maria Chin Abdullah



Familiar to many, Maria is a leading figure in the Bersih movements.

As a feminist and a human rights activist, Maria is a lawyer by profession and a prominent voice for women’s rights in Malaysia. She has been a key fighter for Malaysian women's rights for three decades, helping set up AWAM in 1985 and co-founding Empower, a non-governmental organisation that encourages women and young people to participate in politics and to campaign for civil liberties. 

We have come a long way as women, but we are not there yet.

Whether it is calling out on unfair treatment, volunteering your time at an NGO, donating to help a young girl go to school, it is now up to us.

 

SHARE this with the women in your lives and make equality a reality.

Xin Nian Lai Le!

The Chinese New Year celebrations are a beautiful time of reunion with the family and of course, when you see “reunion” and “family” in the same sentence, you can expect food to be involved. As the CNY snacks and dinners pop up around us, it can be easy to decide to forgo our healthy diet.

Photo Credit: shopandbox.com

BUT, wait a minute.

You’ve worked so hard these few weeks! You've made the effort to prepare nourishing meals and you've pushed yourself further and smashed your workouts. 

(Take this moment to look back on how far you've come and give yourself a pat on the back ☺️)

To help you keep that progress going, without missing out on the CNY celebrations, we’ve round up some top tips on how you can survive the calorie-loaded snacks and dinners that are coming your way.

 

1. Eat Mindfully

As we are surrounded by packs of bakwa and boxes of pineapple tarts, we understand it is near impossible to resist them. We’re not here to say run away from them, but a little mindless snacking over a conversation with your cousins can pump in hundreds of calories without you even knowing!

To give you an idea of how many calories you could be putting into your body and how long it’ll take to burn them off:

With all these snacks around, how do you stop yourself from going overboard?!

Choose a few of your favourites, place them on a small plate and slowly savour each bite. This way, you won't end up finishing the whole box, and you can truly enjoy their taste!

 

2. Eat Slowly

Slow down. You are not in a rush to finish all the food before your family! It can take up to 20 minutes before your body realises you are full so eat slower. Take small bites, enjoy the conversations and you'll be closer to avoid overeating!

3. Choose Healthier Alternatives

 For the most part, CNY snacks are calorie-packed with little nutritional value.

Instead of avoiding them completely and putting yourself through the torture of watching your family take bite after bite of deliciousness, here are some healthier alternatives to try!

Pineapple Tarts v Organic Dried Pineapple

Or spend some time in the kitchen with your family and make some healthi-fied pineapple tarts here .

Store-Bought v Homemade Bakkwa

Ready for some yummy bakkwa without the calories? Find the recipe here.

YeeSang v Salmon Salad

You can also choose to enjoy the traditional Yee Sang, but fill up on the vegetables and raw fish with minimal plum sauce, deep-fried crackers and oil.

Fried v Steamed Nian Gao

This is a useful tip to remember. When possible, always opt for steamed or boiled, instead of fried cooking methods.

Sweet Drinks v Mandarin Orange

Craving for something sweet or looking to quench your thirst? Forget the packaged sugary drinks and go all-natural with mandarin oranges. Eat one on its own or add some slices to a salad for its sweet goodness and vitamins A and C!

 

4. Fill Up Before Going Out

You can’t control the menu when you visit relatives or eat out. But, you can always make healthier decisions at home. Eat a healthy breakfast or snack before going out to meet with your friends or family. This way, you will feel fuller and be less likely to overindulge on snacks.

Like these #angang smoothie bowls by @frederikkewaerens

 

5. MOVE With The Family

Remember to keep MOVE-ing this Chinese New Year! It is the perfect time to gather your friends and family for some active outdoor fun! Go hiking as a family or just for a walk and picnic around the park!

6. Hydrate

As the CNY heat kicks in, remember to drink lots of water to stay hydrated! You can also enjoy a cup or two of that special tea your Auntie brought back from China. Tea and water are great choices with very little to zero calories.

These BPA-Free Infuser Bottles will do the trick!
With a timeline to remind you to keep sipping! 

In this annual occasion where cousins, aunties and uncles from all over reunite under the same roof, it is a tradition for us to be reconnecting and catching up over our favourite foods. So while we work towards our health and fitness goals, let’s not forget what's truly important: Family.

Have a Happy Chinese New Year, ladies!