Being a parent of three is already a full-time job, but as a fashion designer, Shaleen Cheah is back to work even when the going gets tough
"Running in six-inch stilettos is my superpower,” says Shaleen Cheah as she slips into said high heels, and, with barely a wobble in her step, glides across the room in her shimmery blue design. Having witnessed her sprinting on the street in albeit lower, less-likely-to-break-your-ankle shoes, we could most certainly attest that it was her superpower.
And while her stint as a national athlete at the age of 15 may have contributed to that skill, her determination was a clear motivator that has carried her (as well as her feet) throughout her extensive career journey; from runner, actress, model, pageant contestant, commercial banker, mother of three and now fashion designer of her eponymous label, Cheah is a force to be reckoned with.
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“I do well under pressure. It doesn’t faze me because I’m a pretty meticulous planner and an optimist so if I want to achieve something, I always pursue it with all my heart because I believe that if I tried my hardest, even if I failed, I would have still have learned from it and those lessons enable me to move on to my next goal,” Cheah shares. “I’ve always been fiercely ambitious regardless of what I do.”
The 42-year-old regards challenges to be a learning curve, and happily welcomes moments where she experienced her fair share of blood, sweat and tears. During her first ever fashion show in Dubai, Cheah recalls having felt immense pressure to succeed; she worked tirelessly on the collection for eight months—all the while attending to the needs of her three children.
“I honestly can’t pinpoint a singular moment where I found it difficult really,” Cheah muses thoughtfully. “For me, it’s just been an exciting journey for the past five years growing my brand! And even if there were times where I’d hit the occasional obstacle, I find that they’ve made me even stronger and all the more confident in my strengths.”