A Twofold Tale

Commanding the spotlight, these women are resonating emotionally and physically with thousands of females.

- SYAMEEN SALEHALDIN

The supermodel phenomenon exploded in the late ’80s and early ’90s when visionary women led the modelling industry with prescience, power, and poise. Accelerating their rise to fame by gracing magazine covers and strutting catwalks, these women have been paving the way for our future generations. Bursting at the seams with their displays of grit and gumption, Malaysian models Tengku Azura Tengku Awang and Nia Atasha Rosli are among the names that are having a real, tangible impact in the industry. While so much is unknown, there is one thing we know for sure; we are living in a new world, and these are the women who are defining what it looks like.

Laying the foundations for a more equal future, Azura and Nia have been making it their mission to make women’s lives not just fairer, but feasible in the industry. “If you want to succeed in this industry, face its challenges, build your reputation, and thrive—you need to have emotional resilience, intelligence, and a positive outlook on things,” says Azura. Recalibrating the way they work and socialise, these women are making sure young girls and women never settle for less. “It’s always tougher out there when you’re fresh and new, but never stop trying despite it all,” she adds. With their resilience and togetherness, these are the women that are putting an end to the idea of a model being just a “clothes hanger”.