Siti Nurhaliza makes Forbes Asia list

Followers of Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza’s Instagram Stories will definitely not want to miss out on the delicious dishes from local businesses that the singer never ceases to promote during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 41-year-old songstress’ effort to urge her nearly eight million Instagram followers to order from a variety of local food vendors has caught the eye of Forbes Asia, earning her a spot on its inaugural 100 Digital Stars list.

“Earlier this year, the singer posted food reviews of restaurants affected by Covid-19, hoping to boost their business among her eight million Instagram followers,” writes Forbes Asia.

Speaking to Berita Harian she said that all her promotional efforts for the local businesses are done free of charge. “I’m very grateful that after uploading my reviews, these food vendors experienced a surge in orders. We have to help each other in these difficult times,” she said. Neelofa, 31, a local TV host and entrepreneur is another Malaysian who made it to the list.

Forbes Asia‘s 100 Digital Stars list comprises 100 singers, bands, and film and TV stars from across the Asia-Pacific region who have taken the digital world by storm.

“We’ve given special focus to celebrities who, despite cancelled physical events and activities, managed to remain active and relevant, largely by using social media to interact with their fans, raise awareness and inspire optimism,” the magazine describes its selection criteria.

“Many also used their influence to help worthy causes, especially those with a Covid-19 focus.”

Born on January 11 1979, Dato’ Sri Siti Nurhaliza binti Tarudin is a Malaysian singer, songwriter, actress and businesswoman with more than 300 local and international awards.

She made her debut after she won a local singing competition show Bintang HMI in 1995 when she was 16. Her debut single, “Jerat Percintaan”, won the 11th Anugerah Juara Lagu and another two awards for Best Performance and Best Ballad.

The album, as of 2005, has sold more than 800,000 units in Malaysia. She has recorded and sung in multiple languages, including Malay, Javanese, English, Mandarin, Arabic, Urdu, and Japanese.