The BURO Impact Awards celebrates the creativity, originality, passion, and accomplishments of Malaysia’s trailblazing talents. Ahead, find our conversation with our Content Creator of the Year, Nicole Chen.
A scroll through Nicole Chen’s feed—fondly known as The Nictionary—reveals perfectly timed edits, fluid transitions, and videos that feel like mini stories in their own right. Chen has successfully carved out her own space in the digital realm, seamlessly blending travel, beauty, food, and impeccable fashion into her content. Spend just a few minutes with her, and it becomes clear that the creator on screen is equally as magnetic in person.
With a background in graphic design, Chen has honed an eye for aesthetics that shines online and offline. She even undertook the renovation of her own home, personally overseeing structural changes and styling each corner with her signature balance of texture, colour, and modern sensibility, proving that her creativity is as versatile as it is precise.
It’s no surprise her journey on social media began in the most hands-on way possible: teaching herself to edit through trial, error, and endless experimentation. Along the way, she has cultivated a devoted following, now surpassing 130K on Instagram and approaching 300K on TikTok. True to her generous spirit, Chen shares her process openly—tutorials, step-by-step guides, and tips for aspiring creators are part of her ethos, turning her fanbase into a collaborative space rather than just a set of numbers. Despite her growing popularity, Chen maintains humility, cherishing the experiences that have influenced both her creative path and internet persona.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Maybe I would’ve said something different in the past, but now? Creating balance between my work, my family, my partner, my friends, my hobbies, my health, and my nutrition. I’ve found a sweet spot for all these pillars to exist simultaneously in my life, and it’s truly made it something to be grateful for, one day at a time.
What is your most treasured possession?
My memories. Without them, who am I?
Who are your heroes in real life?
My parents. It’s cliché to say perhaps, but it’s a rarity to have an amazing connection and somewhat of an adult friendship with both my mum and dad. They were intentional, loving, and very human when it came to raising their children (I’m the best of friends with both my brothers too), and I owe so much of who I am to how they’ve raised me.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
I don’t think there’s such a thing. I think I prefer the idea of gratitude, because in moments that I feel it, I feel the happiest.
What is your greatest extravagance?
Travel and food. There have been many times when I’ve sat on a beach at sunset, eating the best roasted corn of my life, with sand in my hair and sunburn across my cheeks, and thought to myself, “Damn, I’m truly living the dream.”
On what occasion do you lie?
On the rare occasion that lying is better than the truth, I lie. Or else, I never do.
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My partner. I adore, respect, admire, and love him endlessly. I’ve been able to be the highest version of myself because he’s laid the groundwork for me to thrive in his presence. I am who I am, because of who he is. He is, and will always be, the greatest love of my life.
When and where were you happiest?
Recently, I hit 100K followers. I walked into my boyfriend’s home office and showed it to him. He broke out into the biggest smile and put on some electronic music (which I don’t particularly like). He gave me so many hugs and kisses, and we had a little dance party, just the two of us. I almost cried. In these little moments, I feel so incredibly grateful and supported, and most importantly, celebrated by someone. If that isn’t happiness, I don’t know what is.
If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
A rich Chinese auntie’s mini handbag dog. Oh man, I’d have the best life.
Where would you most like to live?
On an island—I’d love to raise kids by the sea. I think the pressure of city life is overly manufactured. I feel the most like myself when I’m in nature.
What do you value most in your friends?
All my most respected, valued, and longest friendships have come from our ability to be truthful to one another. We’re bound to hurt each other sometimes, but as long as we are able to speak our truth with gentleness and receive truth with openness, we show up as the best of friends to each other.
What is your motto or the words you live by?
Duality—the state of having two parts, often opposite or contrasting, that exist at the same time. Like light and dark, pleasure and pain. You cannot be happy unless you’ve first understood what it means to be sad. Life is both good and bad simultaneously. So mash all the buttons, feel all the feelings, and be grateful for both the good and the bad, for one cannot exist without the other.
CREDITS
Editor-In-Chief / JASON LIM. Creative Direction and Styling / SARAH TAI. Text and Interview / STEPHANIE WONG. Styling Assisted by / BENEDICT UNANG. Art Direction Assisted by / EVE LYN LAU. Photography / HERRY CHIA EE | HERRY STUDIO ASSISTED BY DAVID ONG & SAMANTHA JANE. Videography / DENNIS KHO ASSISTED BY LEON WONG. Makeup / AYANG KAMELL. Hair / BIBIAN FREDERICKS FOR SCHWARZKOPF PROFESSIONAL.
Follow Nicole on Instagram here. Find the full list of BURO Impact Awards Winners here.
| SHARE THE STORY | |
| Explore More |
