Nadia Min Dern Heng is no stranger when it comes to the hosting industry. This pageant queen turned TV host has emceed some of the biggest events in Malaysia, including Sephora launches and many award nights. But did you know that Nadia Heng was actually a PR Manager before going into hosting full-time? Furthermore, she actually joined Miss World Malaysia coincidentally and ended up winning the crown! Through her pageantry journey to becoming who she is today, Nadia Heng never fails to exude positivity wherever she goes. On this month’s Glitz Spotlight, we sat down with Nadia Heng as she shares with us what it was like growing up mixed in Malaysia, what The Articulate Community is all about, and more.
1. Can you introduce yourself to our readers?
Contents
- 1. Can you introduce yourself to our readers?
- 2. What is one thing that people don’t know about you?
- 3. How was it like growing up as a mixed parentage person in Malaysia?
- 4. What made you go into pageantry and what was the biggest lesson you learned through joining beauty pageants?
- 5. How about hosting? What made you start hosting events and what do you love most about the job?
- 6. Can you share more about The Articulate Community with us?
- 7. What do you do in your free time?
- 8. What is your favourite book?
- 9. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
- 10. What would your job be if you weren’t Miss World Malaysia 2010 or an Emcee?
Hi! I’m Nadia and I’m a creature of habit who loves a good routine. I have a passion for people, public speaking and our planet!
2. What is one thing that people don’t know about you?
I have a twin sister! I love roti pisang, sambal petai and I could also eat peanut butter sandwiches until the end of time.
3. How was it like growing up as a mixed parentage person in Malaysia?
To be honest, it didn’t really register with me until kids in school pointed out that I was different. I suppose my sister and I stuck out like sore thumbs in our Chinese Primary School.
I love and embrace my heritage. I’m so grateful for how my parents raised me and I think growing up with a mixed parentage gave me a rounded worldview and helped me really see and appreciate all the beautiful aspects of our culture and traditions that we often take for granted.
4. What made you go into pageantry and what was the biggest lesson you learned through joining beauty pageants?
I joined out of pure coincidence. A friend of mine mentioned that the auditions were happening and jokingly suggested I should sign up since it would be my last eligible year (age-wise) and the rest as they say is history! In many ways, I grew out of my shell and I think it helped push me out of my comfort zone and built my confidence.
5. How about hosting? What made you start hosting events and what do you love most about the job?
After the pageant, I decided to quit my full-time Public Relations job to pursue hosting full time. I told myself that if it didn’t work out in 6 months I would just go back into PR. The start was a little rocky but over time I managed to develop my own style of hosting and really found a passion for my work. I love being able to work on all kinds of events, every event is unique! It gives me the chance to work with people from all walks of life and it is incredibly rewarding when you are able to experience first-hand the positive impact you can have on people by fueling a happy atmosphere with your enthusiasm and energy.
Sure! The Articulate Community is a platform I built to help entrepreneurs and executives elevate their public speaking skillset. The reason I created this was that over the course of my career, I realised there is a demand for coaching in public speaking. A lot of business owners and executives would prefer to stay out of the limelight but quickly realise that in order to grow professionally, communicating and articulating effectively have become intertwined with their everyday operations.
Whether it’s being the spokesperson at a press launch, giving a speech at a conference or just conducting effective meetings and building internal support from your team – public speaking has become an essential part of both our personal and professional journeys. As a result of the pandemic, I decided to take things digital too and created “The Ultimate Course In Public Speaking for Beginners ” – a no-frills digital public speaking course that teaches my clients key techniques to becoming an articulate, authentic and awe-inspiring speaker. I also offer one-on-one online coaching and host webinars too! If public speaking is something you struggle with, I’d love to invite you over to www.thearticulatecommunity.com to learn more.
7. What do you do in your free time?
I love lazing on a beach, and soaking in the sea breeze with a good book!
8. What is your favourite book?
My favourite book would have to be Prisoners Of Geography by Tim Marshall, I’ve since purchased almost every new release by him because he is a great storyteller and distils the complexities of geopolitics in a digestible manner.
9. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and why?
If I could have one superpower it would be to protect our planet from any form of destruction and turn all mass weapons into a delicious cheesecake. How I wish that was possible! Could you imagine? When a leader like Putin tries to launch a missile, and it just rains beautiful creamy cheesecake?
10. What would your job be if you weren’t Miss World Malaysia 2010 or an Emcee?
I would love to own and run a library cafe by the seaside!
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