Meet young Tiara Jacquelina. Throwback to Filem Mat Som circa 1990.
In a different lifetime - my "zaman gonjeng", when I was starting out as a struggling young actress fresh out of college, who was also trying to run a business and be taken seriously by people in the advertising industry.
Ini lah zaman naik bas kat Leboh Ampang, when I would walk for half an hour to catch a bus from another stop, just so I could save RM1.50. That's why I used to have a permanent tan (kulit gelap sikit tak pe, janji senyum ada manis sikit 😄) This was when I worked to pay for my college fees - cos my father died at 43 and I had too much pride to ask for help from my uncles and aunties. When I was lucky enough to be a successful TV Commercial talent, but I sacrificed my own career so that I could start to groom OTHER fresh new faces. I didn't want to be known as a pretty face, I wanted the advertising industry to see this 19 year old "berhingus" girl as a serious young entrepreneur who could sit at the same table as any of the big time giants of the Malaysian advertising industry.
So, I've BEEN there. Worked my BUTT off since I was 18. Pencapaian saya hari ini bukan dari short cut, reality TV atau "instafamous"😆 It was sweat and tears GRIT and pure hard work. Ask ANYBODY who has known me since I first started - my friends, journalists, the models and TV talent I discovered and groomed. I'm proud to hold my head up high and say this "gonjeng" girl made it on her own.
Fast forward to 2021, and she's STILL the same girl - always hungry, still working her butt off day and night, slowly winning the fight to be seen as more than a pretty face. But STILL THE SAME TIARA from 1990. Except for... hey, I'm sitting at the head of the table now😉
#TiaraJthrowback #TiaraJjourney #TheHungryYears
#WomensEmpowerment
#SitAtTheTable
#WhatGlassCeiling
