A Rose By Any Other Name

Being in the spotlight for as long as she can remember, beauty mogul Kim Lim has had enough of preconceived notions. Here, she reintroduces herself on her terms

- MELISSA MAE

What would you say is the most fulfilling part of this journey with beauty for you?

The most fulfilling part is to see my vision and all of my hard work come to life. There are a lot of things that go on behind the scenes to ensure that we deliver what we promise as a brand. These include trying out different beauty treatments around the world in search of the next big thing (with me as the experimental subject), endless back-to-back meetings, and non-stop ideation and content creation. I dedicate all of my time and effort to this business, so it’s really rewarding to look back and see how we’ve grown.

What have you learned about yourself over the course of the year since we last spoke?

I’ve realised that I am a lot more patient and forgiving than I think I am. Recently, I’ve been reflecting on the things that have happened in the past year and it struck me that my capacity to tolerate things has increased exponentially. The younger me would never have been able to put up with any of this, but the current me has learned to take a step back, break down and analyse situations before I come to a conclusion and take action.

Also, I know this sounds like a cliché but what doesn’t kill you really makes you stronger. Life is filled with adversities, and it’s about coming out of each situation wiser and with more resilience. Sometimes, when I look back and reflect, I realise that things weren’t all that bad and I’m proud of myself for surviving those downs. Now that I am here in the present, I’ve learned to cherish the people and things that truly matter to me even more, and I’m all set to take on new challenges.

What are three qualities that you appreciate most about yourself? And is there anything you’d like to change about yourself?