She made her name as a TV host and now, a fashion icon. Marion Caunter opens up about life in the public eye.
There is a festive mood that pervades Pursuit’s cover shoot. A Christmas tree has been set up in the studio, with presents laid around it.
Although our cover subject Marion Caunter is feeling under the weather, she is all ready to take her position before the camera. That’s before she spies her co-star for the shoot: a unicorn soft toy. “I am posing with that?” she asks good-naturedly, before revealing that she is not a fan of soft toys. Yet she sportingly strikes poses with the unicorn, even hoisting it in the air at one point like the scene from The Lion King. That’s Marion Caunter for you, ever the consummate professional.
Ever since she burst into public consciousness in 2004 as the face of The Quickie (a 15-minute show slotted in between 8TV programmes), her star has only risen, and she remains one of the most sought-after celebrities in Malaysia. Marion is also recognised in the region for E News! Asia and The Biggest Loser Asia. In 2010, she married S.M. Nasarudin S.M. Nasimuddin (who is joint group executive chairman and CEO of the Naza Group of Companies) and today, they are doting parents to Leia Rose, Lana Rose and Liam Naza Nasarudin.
In our Q&A, the Penang-born beauty – who turned 38 in early November – talks about her business (she has a hair salon called Hairplay) as well as motherhood, social media and her idea of a perfect Yuletide.
So, Marion, tell us, why do you dislike soft toys?
(Laughs) I didn’t say I dislike them, it’s just that I have never been a huge soft toy person. Back in school, boys tried to go after me with soft toys and I never got it. So, I ended up with all these teddy bears in my bedroom and I didn’t know what to do with them! I understand if kids love it; my eldest Leia is into unicorn toys so she wants everything unicorn-related for her upcoming birthday. But I find it strange when adults are so attached to their soft toy. A friend once had his shipped back to him after he left it behind in the hotel!
Congrats on the success of your salon Hairplay, which is entering its sixth year. What was your vision when it came to the business?
To make money! But to be honest, the vision I had for Hairplay is what we have now: a beautiful salon that feels like home away from home. I wanted customers to know every single one of my team. Women spend a lot of their time in hair salons, and they need to walk out with not just good hair but to feel good. And many of our customers have become good friends.
Have you considered opening more salons?
There was one point we thought of expanding, but then I decided against it. But we did take over the lot next door, so now it’s two lots combined into one.
What was the biggest challenge you faced?
Finding the right people, maintaining the current team and keeping them happy. Even though I don’t run the place, I am the owner and I am very, very hands on. I hire every single person. I always check in with them, to see how everyone is doing and I want the team to feel like a family.
Did this business bring out your entrepreneur side?
I don’t think I am a natural born entrepreneur. I have learnt so much from my hubby Nasa, he’s constantly thinking about how he can grow his business. He never stops; even when we’re on holiday, he’ll always find work to do or slot in a meeting. Opening Hairplay has made me realise how hard it is to manage a business. The younger generation wants to be their own boss, they think it’s so easy … but you lose sleep sometimes. When you lose an employee for some reason, for me, it’s very sad.
So, are you already thinking about dabbling in other businesses?
No, not at the moment. Hairplay already takes up a lot of my time, and my top priority right now is my three babies. Especially now as they are so young, they need guidance. This year I have travelled so much for work-related events, and it’s taken a toll on my health. I am thankful I can schedule my travel around important dates of my kids: their concerts or major school events. Either Nasa or myself has to be around, and that’s so important to me. They are my everything.
As a style icon, I am sure you’ve been asked to develop your own fashion line. What are your thoughts on that?
Because I love fashion so much, I’d be my own worst critic. I’d probably go back to the studio and ask them to remake pieces over and over again till I am satisfied. For now, it’s a no. Because if I were to come up with a line, I’d have to make sure it’s the best freakin’ line that I’d be proud of. And that takes time. I am not at that stage yet … maybe when the kids are older.
How do you juggle between motherhood and work?
I am not going to lie, there are days when I feel so tired. Not forgetting I also have a husband that I need to give attention to. Nasa is running a very big company, and he has a lot on his plate. Sometimes at the end of the day when he comes home, he just wants to be loved by me and I must never neglect that.
What’s your secret to looking good?
People ask, how do you look so good after three kids? Well, I work my butt off. I haven’t worked out as I have been sick for three weeks. But when I am healthy, I work out almost every day. There are days when the last thing I want to do is go on that treadmill and run, but I force myself. I am vain and I want to look good, and looking good makes me feel good. I do give myself this pressure, this unspoken pressure, of being Marion Caunter. I could easily not care but I do and I will always care. I will probably be 60 and care about the way I look, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
How important is social media to you?
In terms of work, it’s done my salon wonders. I have chosen to share a lot of my life on social media but I am also very private. People don’t really know what I am going through. I don’t share my negative moments or when I am down. If I don’t share (that moment), it means I am handling the issue – it could be that my kids are sick, so the last thing I want to do is share a picture. I have bad days, we all go through that.
When it comes to your Instagram account (@marioncaunter), you don’t disable comments, even if they’re negative. Why?
From day one, I’ve said that I am never going to delete comments. But if you start attacking my good friends or family, I will delete your comments and block you, and I will report you. You can say or call me anything, I do not care because I go to sleep at night knowing I am none of those things. It’s people who are insecure that feel like they’d need to block comments. But if you know deep in your heart, you’re doing the right thing, why should you bother? Sometimes my fans beg me to delete certain negative comments but I refuse to. Sometimes, it does bother me but as a public figure, you just have to brush it off.
Obviously, you have the best of both worlds, as you celebrate Christmas as well as Raya. What’s the best part of Yuletide to you?
Family. I have to be with my family, that’s the most important thing. It’s so hard to plan a holiday as my younger sister is a surgeon so we can never go too far. We always rearrange our schedules so that we are all together, no matter what.
What’s your resolution for 2019?
I am not a big believer in resolutions, but I want to become a vegetarian. It might not happen but I have been thinking a lot about it. Now I don’t take a lot of red meat and fish is something I’d have but one day, I hope I can eliminate that as well.
In terms of your career, what are you most proud of?
Every single job has added growth to my career. E! News Asia was special as I was chosen to be one of the Asian hosts. I was very proud of that, and it made me stay back in Malaysia instead of going to the United States to study fashion. That was significant as I ended up getting married, instead of going to Los Angeles to get my degree in fashion. It was meant to happen, in a strange way. Every job along the way left a different meaning in my life, and I can never pick one.
What do fans most recognise you for?
Until today, people still come up to me and talk about The Quickie, although I’ve done so much since then! But I am so thankful for The Quickie, as it was the platform that launched my career. Some even said they cut their hair short because I sported short hair then. I am shocked and flattered when someone comes up to me for a picture. And I always say yes, so I don’t understand how some public figures can be mean to their fans.
In terms of your personal life, what is your proudest accomplishment?
Motherhood, definitely. I’ve always wanted to be a mum, believe it or not. I knew that no career high would give the same high as having children of my own. Being a mum is the best thing that’s happened to me; I just love it, I feel so blessed.
