Securing that job promotion. Showing up for your child’s preschool graduation ceremony. Nurturing relationships. Looking ‘effortlessly’ put-together. Being a patient, filial daughter. It’s a lot for any woman to shoulder, isn’t it?
Despite the weight of these expectations, many of us still try, even when these challenges feel overwhelming. Yet, we often overlook the most important role of all — the one that begins from within. To be kind to ourselves. To be the author of our own stories. To define our self-worth.
The ‘Walk Your Worth’ runway event by L’Oreal Paris at Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week 2024.
To inspire you to reach for your dreams while staying grounded in your values — TheBeauLife gained backstage access to theWalk Your Worth runway event by L’Oreal Paris at Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week 2024 and spoke to three remarkable Malaysian women who are, as the kids say, “killing” it at the moment in their efforts to uplift and inspire women. The event honours women who are making waves and driving change in their respective fields.
Read on as football player Steffi Sarge Kaur, tech-preneur Purnima Wijendra, and artist Erica Eng share how they are embracing their strengths, redefining self-worth, and empowering women everywhere to champion their own success stories.
Passionate football athlete Steffi Sarge Kaur: “Believe in yourself.”
Steffi Sarge Kaur.
As the captain of Malaysia’s women’s national football team, Steffi Sarge Kaur advocates for stronger female representation in the male-dominated world of sports. She may have 18 years of experience under her belt, but to this day, her love for the game burns brighter than ever. “Football has had a huge impact on my life and has been my passion from day one. I’ve never grown bored of it, and I want to continue my career for as long as possible,” she shared.
My interaction with Steffi backstage was brief, but her presence was unmistakable as she radiated confidence and a fierce, feminine energy. Her bold red lipstick, (courtesy of L’Oréal Paris, of course), paired stylishly with a sleek black dress featuring a daring thigh-high split and edgy pleather accents, amplified her commanding aura.
Steffi’s influence extends beyond the pitch as she inspires women in Malaysia’s sports scene. “I always encourage my girls to stay positive and believe in themselves. Manifesting good things helps build self-worth and fulfilment,” she added.
Advancing female representation in sports
A football icon with her football icon, David Beckham.
The recent Paris Olympics 2024, which concluded just last week, made history as the first with full gender parity in the field of play. To this, Steffi tells us that she’s optimistic about the future, but stresses that there is still much work to be done in advancing female representation. “I’m excited about this change because women now receive equal treatment and opportunities [on the Olympic stage]. Hopefully, it doesn’t stop here and will continue to grow,” she shared.
Turning her attention closer to home, Steffi is hopeful about the growing support for Malaysian women’s football. “We have many tournaments for different age groups,” she noted. To truly uplift female players, Steffi emphasised the importance of a comprehensive support system from parents, the government, and all relevant stakeholders to foster and stabilise the women’s football community.
Impacting change in the women’s football scene.
More than just the ‘Queen of Free Kicks’, Steffi’s true beauty and worth lie in her role as a trailblazer for women’s sports — both on and off the field. Her journey inspires us to follow our passions, embrace our power, and relentlessly fight for women to claim their space in every arena.
Nurturing tech-preneur Purnima Wijendra: “Persistence pays off.”
Purnima Wijendra.
Women make up less than a third of the global tech workforce, according to The World Bank. With the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital tools shaping our lives, shouldn’t women be empowered to lead in this space? Tech-preneur Purnima Wijendra’s tireless efforts in advancing tech education for women point towards the answer, “yes”.
Just moments before she strutted down the runway, I caught up with Purnima backstage to discuss her mission. Though petite and soft-spoken, Purnima’s bold ambitions shone through. As Head of Artificial Intelligence at Mandrill Tech Sdn Bhd, she has over a decade of experience in AI architecture and analytics. "Working in tech is demanding especially for women in this male-dominated industry,” she shared, before emphasising that confidence, persistence, and standing one’s ground are essential to succeed in this competitive sector.
Purnima speaks up about the importance of educators being hands-on to enhance students’ learning of coding. She’s also a lecturer teaching fintech, data analytics, and Python at USCI University in Malaysia.
She co-founded TechSprint Academy, an all-women coding school, and established non-profits like the Kuala Lumpur School of Artificial Intelligence and Pertubuhan Harapan Wanita (HAWA). Building a strong, support community for women in tech is one of her key passions.
“[Women] should support each other by creating a strong network of mentorship and support. It’s important for us to share our knowledge, experiences and resources to help build one another’s confidence and skillsets. We should also have open dialogues about our challenges and success to foster a sense of community and empowerment among women,” she shared.
Empowering women to utilise AI for good
From a broader perspective, Purnima views the rapid adoption of AI as an opportunity for women to learn coding and make their mark in the AI industry. By doing so, they can actively engage in discussions about safeguarding women’s safety, especially in the face of threats like deepfakes, AKA AI-generated media manipulated to harm women.
While she understands that some aspects are beyond control, she believes lawmakers must step in to protect women and legislate against AI misuse. “We need more girls and women in tech and leadership because diverse perspectives lead to innovation and better decision-making,” she stressed.
Purnima may be the local tech industry’s software darling, but her true beauty and worth lie in her ‘hardy’, unwavering dedication to nurturing the next generation of female leaders in tech. “Never compromise on your ambitions. A woman’s worth is defined by her character, contributions, and impact — not by societal expectations or stereotypes,” she concluded.
Award-winning comic artist Erica Eng: “There’s beauty in the mundane.”
Erica Eng.
For an artist whose works were deemed “too feminine” for her time, 19th-century American impressionist Mary Cassatt left an indelible mark on art history. While her male contemporaries, including Claude Monet and Gustave Caillebotte, drew inspiration from cityscapes and landscapes, Cassatt became renowned for staying true to her vision — creating intimate, realistic portraits of women in everyday lives, which includes depicting mothers at home with their children.
Malaysian comic artist Erica Eng shares a similar ethos. Rather than crafting ostentatiously vibrant scenes, she focuses her art on highlighting the beauty in the ‘ordinary’. “We don’t often see everyday people at the forefront of stories, in the news, or the media. I hope my work reminds viewers that there is beauty in the mundane,” Erica explained.
I was fortunate to catch a few moments with Erica after the whirlwind of the runway event. Amidst the backstage buzz, Erica maintained her composure and displayed a sweet, pleasant demeanour. With her thoughtful and reflective responses, she offered me a glimpse into her mind as an artist who’s committed to her craft.
'Fried Rice' by Erica Eng.
This dedication led to the creation of her webcomic, Fried Rice, which earned her the distinction of becoming the youngest Malaysian to win an Eisner Award in 2020 — an accolade often regarded as the “Oscars” of the comic book industry.
Fried Rice captures endearing scenes from everyday life. “A lot of the scenes are taken from my memories and inspired by the people I grew up with. I always try to evoke a sense of nostalgia,” she shared. The semi-autobiographic webcomic follows Erica’s high school dream of migrating to the United States to become an animator, and it’s now available in print.
Inspiring female creatives to embrace their authentic femininity
Like any artist, Erica faces creative blocks. However, she’s learnt to navigate them with patience and authenticity. “It’s a matter of being patient, and not trying to squeeze it out of yourself. If you force it, the audience will know. Let it come from an authentic place,” she revealed.
When asked about her hopes for women in art, Erica shared, “Art is a medium of expression. We need more female creatives, especially from this part of the world; Southeast Asia, so that we get to see more feminine perspectives. When women create art, they’re manifesting their perspectives in a visible, physical form, and I think that’s really powerful,” Erica shared.
While Erica’s accolades are impressive, her true beauty and worth lie in her sincerity and her magical ability to tell ‘ordinary’ stories in extraordinary ways. “I don’t think a woman’s worth can be measured. A woman’s worth is priceless — she’s invaluable,” she shared.
What does your self-worth mean to you? We hope these stories inspire you to take charge of your life, own your story and let your passions, ambitions and authenticity shine.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
For more interviews featuring empowered women, see here.
Comments, questions or feedback? Email us at [email protected].
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