(L-R) Ling Tan, Professor Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Datuk Yasmin Yusuff, Zainah Anwar, Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir

For the five ladies who have been immortalised in this month’s pages, getting to where they are today was no easy feat. In conversation with them, I could not help but notice that the inflection in their voices is one that speaks of confidence, intellect and most importantly, years of experience. Their widely  accredited success is also known on the international platform.  And in recognition of their reputable achievements, we decided to  get-up-close and personal with these inspiring ladies as we talk about what it takes to truly reach the pinnacles of success.

Tall and slender, Southeast Asia’s first supermodel Ling Tan is a charismatic beauty. She is no stranger to the runway and has worked with numerous fashion designers such as the likes of Balenciaga, Alexander McQueen and Christian Dior. Ling has also graced the covers and editorial pages of many high fashion magazines. Her success in putting Malaysia on the world map was honoured by Louis Vuitton in its exhibition titled “Malaysia’s League of Extraordinary Women”.

A notable face in the realm of advocacy, ex-journalist Zainah Anwar plays a pivotal role when it comes to changing how Muslim women are regarded in the community. Founder of NGO Sisters in Islam (SIS) and leader of Musawah, she was recently listed as one of the most influential Muslim women by the San Francisco-based International Museum of Women. As for this third individual, you know her as not only the daughter of Malaysia’s fourth prime minister, but also as a courageous blogger, columnist and author who influences the country with her strong opinions and ideas.

Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir is a current member of the National Unity Consultative Council (NUCC). Apart from that, she is also a board member of SIS. And just like Zainah who chooses to fight for the unjust, Marina knows not the meaning of impossible. She was also honoured in Louis Vuitton’s exhibition.

Fun and bubbly, Datuk Yasmin Yusuff is a familiar face that often graces our TV screens. But having said that, it is her contributions to radio broadcasting that has made her an icon in the Malaysian media. Among her many achievements, Yasmin was the first to coordinate and successfully pull off a live call-in show on Malaysian radio.

As for Professor Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, dean of the faculty of medicine at the University of Malaya and chairman of the AIDS Foundation, her efforts in the field of infectious diseases is one that is respected on an international scale. She is also possibly the only Malaysian to have been profiled in The Lancet, a world leading medical journal.

Hailing from different fields and possessing different skill sets, the ladies deliver insightful information about everything from defining moments and experiences to challenges and what the future will hold for each of them.

 

To read the full story of the five awe-inspiring ladies, get a copy of Malaysia Tatler April 2014 issue, available on newsstands now  or click here to purchase the digital version.

Photography: Soon Lau and Tian Xing; Art Direction: Allan Casal; Fashion styling: Azza Arif; Makeup: Joyce Lee and Rianne from Estee Lauder; Hair: Louis Leong from Dick Chin Hair Gallery