What makes Amber glow
Supermodel Amber Chia tells Amalina Kamal a digital presence helps her stay relevant
01 IN WHAT WAY HAS THE INTERNET OF THINGS IMPACTED YOU?
I started my career in 1999 and at the time, the Internet wasn’t that big of a deal and there was no social media. Even Google was an alien term.
When Facebook was introduced, it sparked a movement in our lifestyle — our personal and business goals were driven from offline to online.
I take it in a positive way because of its connectivity. Previously it was so hard to stay updated with friends but that is not the case today.
Socially, I like to be in the know and the platforms available today allow me to do so. I am also able to engage with my supporters on a more personal level since the gap has narrowed.
Apart from that, I get excited when I see how online marketing works especially in terms of growing a brand. A lot of celebrities gain extra income because of the opportunities social media brings and I myself am learning from it.
02 IS MANAGING AND MAINTAINING A DIGITAL PROFILE IMPORTANT TO YOU?
Definitely. It’s how I make sure I stay relevant. I’m glad that I have such enthusiasm for technology. If I don’t adopt digital strategies to sus tain my career, I will certainly be old news — a dinosaur in today’s reality.
03 WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE TERM “INFLUENCER”?
There are a lot of modern titles in the world today — Internet celebrities, social media influencer, bloggers, etc — and it’s a bit confusing for the public.
But they are media pioneers in their own way and they make our industry colourful. That said, as a public figure you need to carry yourself well, especially during events. Some influencers band together and stay in one corner without making an effort to interact. Sometimes, you can tell that they need guidance because some are just shy. Your popularity and personality online needs to be fairly translated offline.
04 WHAT OTHER ESSENTIALS DO YOU SEE ARE LACKING AMONG INTERNET PERSONALITIES?
Originality. A good influencer is a genuine one. Don’t be afraid to be unique. People are smart and they know if you try too hard. Rock your own style and stay motivated. So many girls today (some are my students) are chasing online fame, but to what extent? Positive modern-day role models should carry substance and a solid direction.
05 IS THERE ONLINE CONTENT THAT YOU DON’T AGREE WITH?
Girls freely exposing too much skin online. The Internet has its disadvantages and people tend to forget that whatever they post online will never be erased. Think of the long-term effects and apply the same rationale online as you would offline.
06 WHO DO YOU LOOK UP TO IN THE INDUSTRY?
Angelina Jolie because I love her drive and ambition. Xandria Ooi for her inspiring motivational talks online — I love watching her videos because they carry powerful topics that resonate well with the audience.
07 ARE YOU OPEN TO CONDUCTING YOUR OWN MOTIVATIONAL VIDEOS?
It would be great if I have my own channel and share knowledge on modelling, motherhood, beauty and lifestyle but it’s not easy to build a subscriber base overnight. I need the fundamentals first — tools, skills, ideas and workforce.
A good influencer is a genuine one. Amber Chia