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Jakarta Post

Datuk Seri Vida a symbol of self-determination

Dylan Amirio (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Mon, September 18, 2017

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Datuk Seri Vida a symbol of self-determination Always cheerful: Datuk Seri Vida says she remembers to smile no matter what gets in her way. (Bernama via thestar.com.my/File)

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rmed with brightly colored hijabs, a signature crystal tiara and a carefree attitude, Malaysian cosmetics mogul and internet sensation Datuk Seri Vida spreads awareness about the importance of self-love to as many people as possible.

“I am the fire to your desire!” Vida, who also goes by the name Datuk Seri Hasmiza Othman, exclaimed as she waxed poetic about her recent rise to internet stardom to a small gathering of people in Jakarta recently.

Vida’s music video called “I Am Me” has shot the 45-year-old businesswoman to viral stardom with her foray into singing, with over 7.6 million plays and counting since being uploaded a few months ago.

The woman dances cheerfully in the pink-themed video, singing simple lyrics that celebrate the idea and strength of being oneself.

“I am fun, I am pretty, I am beautiful!” she sings on her video, reflecting her image as one of the internet’s most eccentric personalities.

“I know I don’t have the looks or youthfulness anymore, that’s why I look to myself for inspiration, so that others can feel the same way, too,” she said during her visit to Jakarta. “I like to be a trendsetter and I do that by staying positive about what I create.”

Vida’s internet fame comes on top of her success as a businesswomen in Malaysia, dabbling mainly in a face-whitening product called Qu Puteh.

Her Qu Puteh empire, which she built from scratch, began from humble beginnings. As a child, Vida sold nasi bungkus (packed rice) and nuts to her school friends for pocket money.

Always cheerful: Datuk Seri Vida says she remembers to smile no matter what gets in her way.
Always cheerful: Datuk Seri Vida says she remembers to smile no matter what gets in her way. (Bernama via thestar.com.my/File)

Emboldened by her passion for business, she quit her previous job as a teacher to dive into the beauty industry and patiently learned the tricks of the trade until her Vida Beauty cosmetics line was born.

Her line of cosmetics gained widespread recognition in Malaysia after heavily sponsoring several television programs and even a Malaysian football stadium.

Vida’s move into the entertainment industry is also part of her ambition to inspire as an entertainer, leading to the “I Am Me” video.

The song will not be the end of her musical aspirations, with a second music video planned for release next January.

Her entertainment aspirations have not died down even at her age, as she still desires to open a film production house and host her own talk show sometime in the future.

With her carefree positivity radiating through the computer screens, Diva is also trying to spread inspiration and hope to both young and old through her new book, I Am Me: Rahsia Niaga DS Vida (DS Vida’s Secrets to Success), written mainly for those who wish to dive into the business world.

“My book is filled with stories and tips about how to be a successful businessperson and how to become a great person! I want to inspire change. After becoming somebody, the hard part is maintaining that success. And I have the guide for everyone to do that,” Vida said excitedly.

Vida was on hand to launch the book in Jakarta at the recent Indonesia International Book Fair (IIBF), where she also gave a small talk about positivity.

Her demeanor and perky, out-there attitude mirrors that of a familiar Indonesian dangdut singer, Syahrini, who has both enamored and polarized the Indonesian public through her diva-like antics and reputation for being flashy.

“I’d love to collaborate with Syahrini if there’s a chance for it, sure. We’ll make a great pair. She’s a princess while I’m a queen,” Vida said.

When asked about possible collaborations with other Indonesian artists, Vida gave an unexpected answer.

“If I were to collaborate with an Indonesian artist, it should be with Rizky Febrian. He is a very talented young man and because I’m not young, I need help from the energy and the freshness of a younger person!” she said, laughing.

Despite her colorful personality and flashy appearance, Malaysia’s most successful businesswoman remembers the importance of being humble, admitting that she could not have become what she its today without the help of a supportive circle of friends, her family and her faith.

The “I Am Me” star has built her empire out of optimism, stemming from tragedies in her past that built her rock-solid self-esteem into the force it is today.

She lost her father at the age of 9 and struggled with the adversity of beauty against her prettier stepsisters.

She also lost two of her children in a fire four years ago, a horrific event that could break even the strongest psyche.

Amazingly, she emerged out of the ashes of insecurity and tragedy an even more determined woman with an idealist vision that desires success, acceptance and optimism for all.

Even as she draws the ire of dismissive online haters following her video, Vida remembers to stay true to herself by being honest and straight-forward in everything she does, by also holding on to the faith of her friends and her beliefs.

These factors, she said, are what have kept her and her vision alive today.

“Everything I have now is not mine. I’m merely borrowing it all from God,” she said.

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