28TH NOVEMBER 2022, KUALA LUMPUR – At only 18, Abinayashree Meyappan from the international youth organization, Ascendance, was the youngest participant to win the Top 10 Young Talent Award at last weekend’s MonStar Awards 2022. With the theme, ‘A Year of Transformation’, MonStar Awards is a global award that aims to discover and recognize young talents whose work, story, or talent(s) influence, innovate and inspire the people and their community.
The young student was chosen among 100 finalists by five distinguished juries for showcasing problem-solving skills through creativity and critical thinking, communicating effectively and creating impactful content while having a strong desire and actions taken to achieve her goal in life. Juries include Malaysian socio-political activist and writer, Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir; humanitarian, sustainability and planetary health advocate, Tan Sri Jamilah Mahmood; Malaysian celebrity chef and entrepreneur, Chef Wan; Chief Human Resource Officer at Maxis, Natalia Navin and Head of Creator Partnership of Meta Malaysia & Pakistan, Hassan Salahuddin.
“Abinayashree is the youngest participant of the MonStar Awards this year. She and her team collaborated with a Fortune 500 company to provide 3,600 Malaysian students access to their online platforms. Also, she and her team recently organized the world’s largest student-led conference, with over 22,000 participants and ten speakers. She’s very proud of her journey to figure out her passion and hopefully make a difference in the world,” said Datin Paduka Marina binti Mahathir, who presented the award during the Grand Finale.
Datin Paduka Marina binti Mahathir announcing Abinayashree Meyappan
as one of the Top 10 Young Talent Awards.
Growing up in a B40 community did not stop Abinayashree from changing the world around her. She is today the Head of Publicity of Ascendance and has traveled to schools across 11 states in Malaysia to share her journey and experiences for other Gen Z’s to have equal opportunities and resources like her.
“I started out as a blur and clueless kid. I didn’t know what to do with my life. But over the past three years, Ascendance had provided me with the opportunity to discover myself and guided me to build my career even when I was just a student,” said the 18-year-old.
“My family, too, played a big role in this. I loved how they never stopped supporting me, even when things got complicated. Thanks to my dad for always looking out for me and providing me the space to explore and find my path,” Abinayashree added.
Other top 10 winners of the MonStar Awards 2022 also include Murshidul Alam Bhuiyan (Bangladesh), Israt Sharmin Keya (Bangladesh), Mohammad Shahril Hashim (Malaysia), Christine Choo (Malaysia), Shameera Nasreen Ahamed Noordeen (Malaysia), Kirankumar Ronad (India), Alicia Anne Patrick (Malaysia), Talha Zubair (Bangladesh) and Muhammad Baihaqi Mohd Ismail (Malaysia).
The Top 10 Young Talents, juries and organizers of the MonStar Awards 2022.
