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Most people know her online as Ms Neo or simply “The Nyonya“, the cheerful young woman who walks up to strangers and asks whether she could eat at their homes before turning it into heartwarming content.
But long before her TikTok series “Cabaran Makan Dekat Rumah 100 Ibu” became something Malaysians eagerly followed, she was just a young woman trying to rebuild her life after walking away from her dream job and carrying a RM130,000 debt on her shoulders.
I never imagined my life turning out like this. I was just trying to survive, honestly.”
Growing up as a Nyonya
Ms Neo grew up in a lively Baba Nyonya household where life revolved around conversations, gatherings and food.
“I didn’t learn how to cook,” she said with a small laugh. “But Nyonya food helped me understand who I am.”
Even as a child, she was expressive, loud and endlessly talkative.
I was always the one who teachers would call out for talking too much,” she joked. “But that personality stayed with me, and now I treat my viewers like real friends.”
Leaving her dream job
Before TikTok, Ms Neo was training to become a teacher—a career she had dreamed of since young.
Teaching was really my ambition, and I truly loved it,” she said.
But somewhere along the journey, she felt her passion slipping away. Ms Neo eventually decided to resign, a choice she saw as painful but necessary. It also came with a harsh consequence: an RM130,000 penalty for breaking her bond prematurely.
It was a real fear. My family were guarantors, and I didn’t want to disappoint them. Overnight, I went from having a secure path to facing an uncertain future with a massive debt.”
Surviving with debt
To repay the debt, Ms Neo worked multiple sales jobs until she stumbled into the world of TikTok Shop.
Talking was natural for me. Even when offline, I love telling people about the things I buy.”
Another added bonus was her teaching background, which helped her out way more than she expected.
In class, the biggest challenge is keeping students awake. Online, it’s the same. You must know how to engage,” she explained.
Ms Neo posted daily, went live constantly and shared product recommendations without fail. Slowly, her following grew and within nine months, she hit RM1 million in sales.
Learning how to cook
The idea that changed Ms Neo’s life didn’t come from strategy. Instead, it came from something personal she longed for.
I don’t know how to cook the dishes my mum used to make,” she said softly. “So I thought maybe I could learn through other mothers.”
That spark soon turned into “Cabaran Makan Dekat Rumah 100 Ibu”, a series that’s still unfolding today and currently has 18 episodes.
Throughout the series, Ms Neo would go to markets, supermarkets, pasar malams, and just about anywhere she might find an “ibu” willing to invite her home.
Sometimes they reject me. Sometimes they’re just in a blur. But the suspense is what people enjoy.
Every episode holds a story, memory, culture, and moments that remind me of my own mother. To me, food is a form of heritage and connection too.”
Unexpected virality
While Ms Neo had no expectations for the series, it exploded to 100,000 followers in five days as people found it easy to connect with the sincerity of a stranger stepping into different homes.
It made people think of their own mothers. That’s what made it special,” she added.
As time flew by, her platform grew so fast that she found herself hiring several assistants, and today she leads a small team to help with content and livestreaming.
I used to call myself a small potato. Now I somehow have a team!” she laughed.
Currently, Ms Neo has expanded the series’ filming beyond KL to Melaka and Negeri Sembilan, and she hopes to venture into East Malaysia in the future.
Behind the scenes, Ms Neo never forgot the debt she was carrying and the family members who acted as her guarantors.
What kept me going was knowing my family could be affected if I failed. That pushed me harder than anything.
My whole series is about courage. If you don’t ask, you’ll never know. So just try. Don’t be afraid. Every rejection became a lesson, and every “yes” became a reminder that kindness still exists.”
Ms Neo’s cheerful Nyonya identity became a unique part of her content — not because she tried, but because it’s who she is.
I’m not the best representative of Nyonya culture. I can’t even cook. But I grew up in it, and it’s now part of my personality.”
“And maybe, through other mothers, I’m learning the recipes my mum wished I learned,” she added.
Becoming a role model she never planned to be
With her rise in fame, it also brought in unexpected responsibility as well.
I feel responsible to all women to show that it’s okay to start over. Even though I left IPG, education is still important. Knowing your fundamentals gives you confidence to take risks later.”
Ms Neo’s voice has since become one of encouragement, especially for young women trying to find their own paths.
She was recently selected as a mentor for the TikTok Shop Creator Icon Programme, something she still finds surreal.
Ms Neo said she hopes to continue visiting mothers across Malaysia, and one day expand her challenge to East Malaysia too.
Just stay tuned,” she said with a smile. “There are so many ibus I haven’t met yet.”
When asked what she hopes Malaysians take away from her journey, Ms Neo answered without hesitation: “Authenticity wins.”
You don’t need to fake anything. Through food, stories and honesty, I want to show people that they can succeed without losing themselves.”
And maybe that’s why Malaysians love her, because behind the humour, the Nyonya charm and the bold challenges, she is just a young woman who refused to give up.
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