8 M’sians were recognised by Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia in 2022, here’s why they deserve it

Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia is finally out for 2022. Over 4K nominees applied to be on this year’s list, and we’re proud to see that eight Malaysian have joined the ranks of this year’s class.

Congratulations to these Malaysians who have been recognised in five different categories, namely: The Arts; Entertainment & Sports; Media, Marketing & Advertising; Social Impact; and Retail & Ecommerce. Here are their achievements that put them on the list.

Nur Batrisya Mohammad Nazri, SYA

SYA is the first Southeast Asian female rapper to sign with Def Jam Recordings, an American multinational record label behind iconic artists such as Jay-Z and Rihanna. She rose to popularity after her freestyle video, Kika, went viral.

The 25-year-old bilingual rapper said in an interview with South China Morning Post that she has faced online abuse from those who believe her behaviour is inappropriate for a Muslim woman. However, she believes art and religion should be kept separate.

In the same interview, SYA expressed that she hopes her music inspires other women to be more confident in themselves.

Her 2020 debut single, PrettyGirlBop, featuring Singaporean-Tamil rapper Yung Raja, has garnered over 190K views on YouTube. Her latest music video, MADAME, was released in December 2021.

SYA is on Forbes’ 30 under 30 Asia 2022: Entertainment & Sports.

Chong Kern Wei, Arts in Motion

At 25 years old, Chong Kern Wei already has a plethora of high-profile names in his clientele. As the director of Arts In Motion, a broadcasting and media company, he has worked with BMW, Netflix, Asahi, and Chanel.

He’s also known for his contribution as the director and editor of TIME’s ‘Climate is Everything’ cover, which featured 50,000 green-tipped matchsticks.

Chong is a graduate of IACT College and has a degree in graphic design and advertising.

Chong Kern Wei is on Forbes’ 30 under 30 Asia 2022: Media, Marketing & Advertising.

Cheyenne Tan, Meralta Films

Cheyenne Tan is a 27-year-old filmmaker who produces documentaries. Her works have garnered international attention and recognition.

In 2019, she co-produced a short documentary called St. Louis Superman, which was nominated for Best Documentary Short Subject at the 2020 Academy Awards and won the Critics Choice Award for Best Short Documentary.

The award-winning film features politician Bruce Franks Jr and his personal trauma and political obstacles in his mission to pass a bill.  

Later, Tan also co-produced Shelter, which won the Audience Award for Best Short at the AFI Docs Film Festival. This film follows three unhoused children and their parents in Los Angeles as they navigate housing insecurity.

Cheyenne is currently a creative executive at Meralta Films. The company is based in Los Angeles and Mumbai, but Cheyenne herself resides in Kuching, Borneo.

Cheyenne Tan is on Forbes’ 30 under 30 Asia 2022: Media, Marketing & Advertising.

Henry Ting, TTRacing

TTRacing is a Malaysian brand of ergonomic gaming chairs, and the person behind it is 28-year-old Henry Ting. Henry founded the company in 2017, offering chairs with more affordable price tags compared to other options in the market at the time.

Henry told Vulcan Post that the brand’s expertise is in ergonomics, which benefits anyone that is seated for long hours. Thus, despite being gaming chairs, the brand not only targets gamers but a larger group of individuals who simply want to improve their working efficiency and performance.

The graduate with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Nanyang Technology University Singapore was previously recognised by EY Entrepreneur of the Year Malaysia in 2021.

Henry Ting is on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia 2022: Retail & Ecommerce.

Jay Perry Ang and Kinder Eng, motoguo

27-year-old Jay Perry Ang and 29-year-old Kinder Eng have joined the list as the co-founders of motoguo, a unique Malaysian fashion label. The label is named after another co-founder, Moto Guo, who is over 30.

According to its website, motoguo is designed to “challenge peculiarity in the most romantic, cynical, and ingenious manner”. The brand features genderless designs that have graced the catwalks of Milan, Tokyo, and Shanghai Fashion Weeks.

In 2016, motoguo became the first Southeast Asian label to be shortlisted for the LVMH award for young fashion designers. The brand’s clothing can also be spotted in the popular HBO TV show, Euphoria.

Jay Perry Ang and Kinder Eng are on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia 2022: The Arts.

Sharina Shahrin, Everyday Studios

This Kuala Lumpur-based visual artist explores women’s rights issues, identity, and society. As a mixed media artist, she uses digital designs, paintings, photos, and textile installations in order to deliver her vision.

Sharina Shahrin said in an article with Scopes that she believes in freedom of expression and accessibility to art. She believes her works encompass the idea that art can be used as a vehicle for change.

She has also co-founded a platform known as Safe Space whereby women are free to express, connect, and learn through events and retreats. Additionally, she is the special projects coordinator of Rumah Kita, a Kuala Lumpur shelter for pregnant women in times of crisis.

Sharina Shahrin is on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia 2022: The Arts.

Raudhah Nazran, Accelerate Global

This 26-year-old social entrepreneur is the founder and CEO of Accelerate Global, a social enterprise founded in 2019 that tackles youth unemployment by offering upskilling programmes. Examples of such programmes include a two-week Entrepreneurship Boot Camp and a five-day Career Boot Camp.

Just last month in April, Accelerate Global closed a round of investment funding, bringing its valuation up to RM6.6 million. According to a LinkedIn post from the company, this makes Accelerate Global the third Malaysian social enterprise that has had a successful equity crowdfunding campaign since 2017.

This isn’t Raudhah’s first accolade, as she was recognised by Talter Asia as Gen. T Leader of Tomorrow Honeree 2020. In 2021, she was also shortlisted for the Women of the Future Southeast Asia Awards.

Raudhah Nazran is on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia 2022: Social Impact.

Zenna Law, Elaine Sim, and Sophia Aliza Jamal, Pinkcollar Employment Agency

Last but not least, the trio behind Pinkcollar Employment Agency joins the list.

Pinkcollar Employment Agency was founded in 2017 with the mission to improve recruitment and hiring practices for domestic workers in Malaysia. The agency serves as a two-way solution for employers looking for a better way to hire domestic workers as well as for workers seeking safe and dignified jobs.

On top of that, the agency also trains the workers on legal rights, migration preparedness, and grievance mechanisms.

According to Forbes, Pinkcollar received a US$200K grant from the Global Fund to End Modern Slavery in order to extend its services to Indonesian migrant workers and Malaysia’s manufacturing sector.

This ethical employment agency is the creation of three young entrepreneurs: Zenna, Elaine, and Sophia, who are 27, 28, and 28 respectively.

Zenna Law, Elaine Sim, and Sophia Aliza Jamal are on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Asia 2022: Social Impact.

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It’s great to see more young Malaysian talents constantly putting the nation on the global map in all kinds of industries and verticals.

Once again, congratulations to these hardworking individuals and we wish them all the best in their future ventures, and here’s to hoping we see even more Malaysians on next year’s list!

• Curious about the Malaysians in last year’s Forbes 30 Under 30 Asia? Read our article on them here.

Featured Image Credit: Cheyenne Tan, Chong Kern Wei, and SYA