Bubble Gum X, Malaysia’s leading beauty empire, is best known for its affordable waxing services, lash extensions, and nail care. Founded in 2011 by Jesslyn Ho, the general public is familiar with the story of this successful entrepreneur. However, the equally compelling tale of her sister, Norhanani Abdullah, remains lesser-known. As she has served as General Manager and Deputy CEO of Bubble Gum X and its subsidiaries since 2015 and plays a crucial role in the business, Glitz decided to remedy that fact. We sat down with the remarkably engaging entrepreneur, who prefers to be called Nany, to discuss her personal life, her journey with Bubble Gum X, her exciting new business ventures, and so much more.
Our Interview with Nany from Bubble Gum X
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Let’s Take It From The Top
Nany’s personal life is so captivating that it became the main focus of our conversation. We even encouraged her to turn it into an autobiography, which she joked would need to be an entire series. One of the things we learned about the thirty-five-year-old is that, like many remarkable women, Nany balances her thriving career with the full-time job of being a devoted single mother to two children. They were born from two previous marriages, each with its own unique challenges.
Nany is also a Muslim revert, having been the only person in her family to convert to Islam at a young age. This initially caused many years of conflict in her household which has thankfully been resolved. If you’re intrigued and eager for more details about Nany’s personal life, keep an eye out for her autobiography — just don’t hold your breath for its release. Let’s not forget that she’s a busy woman, currently running an entire beauty empire.
Even though her sister Jesslyn founded Bubble Gum X in 2011, Nany joined the venture in 2015, working her way up from the bottom to the top where she now resides. Under their joint leadership, the once-small company has since expanded to 34 outlets across Malaysia, garnered eight prestigious awards, serves an ever-expanding customer base of over 150,000 clients, and is a brand that is recognisable by name alone. Given her massive success, one might expect Nany to develop a huge ego, but she remains as refreshingly humble as ever. She solemnly informed us that she places no stock in riches, and given what we learned next, we’re inclined to believe her.
Not Always Peaches and Cream
Although business is booming, it’s unfair to assume that Bubble Gum X and its owners never experienced their fair share of challenges. The pandemic came to mind as Nany described to us how difficult it was to maintain a business with services that depended on meeting its clients in person. At one point, she even confided that they had trouble paying their employees, an issue resolved by giving pay cuts to upper management, Nany herself included. Since COVID-19 and its subsequent drawn-out lockdowns made Bubble Gum X’s operations impossible, Nany had the bright idea to start another business venture to keep them afloat: natural skincare geared towards Asian skin concerns.
This suggestion was initially met with resistance from her sister and business partner Jesslyn but Nany’s vision, paired with how close the siblings are, eventually won her over. Lo and behold, Dua was born. The name, which means “two” in Malay and “prayer” in Arabic, reflects their partnership and unwavering faith in each other and what they can achieve together. Given their many successes, the effective and no-frills skincare line is perfectly named and poised to be yet another significant accomplishment for the duo.
Facing Forward
Since Dua is a newcomer compared to the established Bubble Gum X, the expansion of her skincare line is currently Nany’s main focus. As a savvy businesswoman, Nany is keenly aware of the changing beauty landscape and prioritises marketing her brand on Dua’s official TikTok account. The brand’s office is also being renovated right next to Bubble Gum X’s headquarters, and once complete, Nany plans to host a grand launch party to celebrate Dua. Alongside some other exciting developments in her personal life, it’s clear that Nany’s future is as bright as they come. We look forward to following her journey!
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