As she began to pursue her new calling, Malati has met other Malaysians who have dedicated themselves to advocacy. Through Monsters Among Us (MAU), a non-profit organisation that seeks to end child sexual abuse in Malaysia, Malati was able to volunteer as a workshop facilitator, educating children and their caregivers on the very real problem of online child sexual abuse.

"At the moment, I’ve also collaborated with a local theatre production fivekosongtujo as their Mental Health Ambassador for their latest show ‘ASAL’. When they reached out to me I was so inspired by how they were choosing to start the conversation on mental health through performance art. While it’s so easy to throw a label like Gila, ASAL brings to life the hidden reality of someone going through mental health issues."

These conversations are not the easiest subjects to publicly speak about, particularly when most Asians have been taught to repress and suppress their emotions. However, Malati is hopeful for the future of mental health in Malaysia, especially after last year's announcement that personal tax relief would also cover therapy.

But we still have ways to go. "It is my hope that more emphasis is given to creating awareness for children’s mental lealth, something 424,000 children in Malaysia are struggling with. I was shocked to see the report by PDRM that more than half of the suicide cases recorded between January 2019 to May 2021 were of teenagers. The numbers and my own experience as a child living with anxiety and depression is what prompted me to focus on children’s mental health. Rather than being looked at as a last resort, therapy can be an important tool in a child’s well-being and I hope that more children (and their caregivers) are given access to that in the future."

Like many women, Malati struggled - and still does at times - about her body image. It's perhaps even more glaring because Malati is plus size, and as every plus size person out there knows, the world can be a little unkind when it comes to those with bigger body shapes.

Thankfully, there's a growing movement for body positivity and inclusivity, which has enabled many - Malati included - to be more emboldened about self-acceptance.

"If you told my teenage self that I would be in a photoshoot modelling clothes, I would never believe you," she says with a laugh. "I’ve been fat most of my life and it took me many years not to punish myself for it. Actually, just using the word feels so liberating because today it’s a word I use and it’s not being pushed onto me with judgement."

She goes on, "Going in front of the camera for this [Cerita Kami] shoot reminded me how far I’ve come in my journey to love and celebrate myself. This was a full circle moment for me, as after so many years of being focused on getting the world to accept me, I can finally focus inwards and be proud of me."