“I MOTIVATE AND SUPPORT THEM, AND TRANSLATES THAT ALSO TO ILLUMIA’S CONCEPT OF EMPOWERING WOMEN. “

Kim Lim sometimes makes it all the harder for some to realise that she’s more than meets the eye. “Some think I sit around all day doing nothing. It’s quite the opposite,” quips Kim, an alumni of Singapore Chinese Girl School (primary), Anglo Chinese School (Independent), and Hwa Chong International School. She also attended all-girl boarding school Queenswood in Hertfordshire when she was 12.

As the world grapples with the spread of Covid-19, the pandemic put a halt to her newlyopened businesses, at least temporarily. “It affected me in many ways. I was concerned about my staff, how they were coping during the Circuit Breaker… their well-being, we called to check on one another frequently,” she recalls. “I had sleepless nights thinking about the businesses. We didn’t have much cash reserves, as we are a new company. We did not lay off any staff and continued to pay their basic pay.”

During the twomonth closure, Papilla Haircare’s e-store was launched on www. papillahaircare.com. Illumia also offers a 30-minute online consultation with its experts at $35, via Zoom, Skype and Facetime on www. illumiatherapeutics. com.

But what was hurting Illumia’s business was the short shelf life of the costly Botox and fillers, plus overheads like rentals and instalments for the machines.

Kim, the elder of two siblings, adds: “People think that I can simply ask my dad for money, but our relationship isn’t like that. I don’t get lifelines from him because that’s how he taught me as a kid. I have to do this on my own.”

Keeping it Real

Although she’s every bit the celebrityheiress, one with more than a quarter million followers on Instagram (@kimlimhl), Kim waltzes into the studio for the photoshoot without an army of minders. She chats animatedly with Her World’s creative director Windy Aulia, showing him the two machines – Venus Legacy for skin tightening and ONDA Coolwaves for fat busting.

Their conversation draws out another side of her – the dogooder. “I was sad when I read the news about how Covid-19 affected people, and how our healthcare and frontline workers are toiling so hard,” she tells Windy.

For more than 15 years, Kim has been volunteering with different organisations to distribute food hampers and other essentials every few months. A supporter of the Animal Lovers League charity, she also participates in Operation Red Shirts charity, which donates food and essentials to needy seniors.

In February, she secured some 1,000 hand sanitisers from Illumia’s suppliers and gathered her staff and friends to pack the hand sanitisers with wet wipes, Dettol soap bottles, and a pamphlet with information on the coronavirus and hygiene tips. They distributed the care packages to the elderly living in Telok Blangah, Redhill and Jalan Besar.

In April, they delivered lunch and bubble tea to the medical staff at Singapore General Hospital, and desserts to Ng Teng Fong hospital. The next month, they sent home-baked goodies to the National Dental Centre, and ice cream to the medical personnel stationed at the dormitories.

Kim also was part of the We Will Rise Again campaign. She was commissioned by the Singapore Tourism Board to be part of the video series, where Singaporeans tell their stories of how they've helped others during the pandemic.

“I was really touched by how a simple gesture to show that we care can affect people positively,” she says. “Some asked me why I put myself at risk being at the hospitals. Well, if healthcare workers put themselves out there every day, I don’t see why I can’t step out (wearing a mask and practising safe distancing) to show my appreciation.”

Girl Power

These days, Kim is in a good place. “I've grown up in some ways, I’m really happier now,” she says. “A lot of petty things don’t matter to me. I’d rather put that energy into my work and get things done.”

While she speaks candidly about her life choices, she remains private about her family. Kim looks up to one woman: her godmother, who is also her father’s “right hand woman”.

“I admire her tenacity and willingness to help others,” Kim says, with a sense of respect. “She’s been taking care of me since I was a kid, so I guess I’ve picked up good habits from her.” Kim’s sense of empathy extends to her attitude towards other women.

“I like to uplift women,” she says. “We’re allowed to make choices for ourselves, as women.” The mefirst mentality, she adds, isn’t a selfish concept. Through her conversations she has had with women, she feels that many don’t spend enough time to take care of their wellbeing.

“A lot of my clients tell me they’re thinking of having more kids because their husbands want them to, but they’re worried about the postpartum weight gain and health issues,” she shares. “I tell them to start thinking for themselves and their welfare. Because you should always care for yourself first. Otherwise, you won’t be happy.”