Author: Lily Chong
Company: World Gourmet
Profession: International F&B Awards Presenter Platform
Position : Marketing Director

Every Fall Is Preparing Me to Rise Higher

Hello, I’m Lily Chong.

If I was to describe myself in one sentence, I would say that I am someone who believes in goals, perseverance, and the power of Malaysian cuisine to reach the world.

My journey began with learning how to take responsibility. When I was thirteen, my father passed away. As the eldest daughter in the family, I studied while working part-time to help my mother support the family, hoping that my younger siblings could have a better future.

Later, I entered the financial industry and worked in private banking. As life gradually became more stable, I began to realise that beyond taking care of my own family, I also wanted to contribute something meaningful to Malaysia.

In 2017, my sister and I ventured into a completely different field and co-founded the World Gourmet platform. Neither of us had a background in the food and beverage industry, and we faced doubts and criticism along the way. Yet, we firmly believed that as long as our intentions remained sincere, we would find a way to keep moving forward.

I have always believed that food is more than just a dish. It carries the culture, identity, and warmth of a country. Every chef who works tirelessly and every restaurant that operates with passion deserves to be recognised and respected.

Through our platform, we hope to give deserving food and beverage professionals the recognition they deserve, while promoting Malaysian cuisine internationally. We want more people around the world to discover Malaysia through its food, and ultimately, to fall in love with this beautiful country.

Whenever I see an award-winning restaurant proudly say, “This recognition is the result of our hard work,” I become even more certain that what we are doing is about far more than presenting awards. We are helping to build international recognition and value for Malaysian cuisine.

Many people may think that the greatest challenge in my life was entrepreneurship. In truth, it was the battle within myself.

For many years, I underwent treatment because I desperately wanted to have a child. During that period, my weight exceeded 100 kilograms. I lost my confidence, avoided socialising, and found myself at one of the lowest points in my life.

Then, in 2016, I decided that I could no longer remain trapped in that state. I made a conscious decision to change my life. I entered a beauty pageant, seeing it as an opportunity for a fresh start and a chance to fulfil a childhood dream of becoming a beauty queen.

With determination and unwavering willpower, I gradually reduced my weight from more than 100 kilograms to just over 50 kilograms. More importantly, I regained my health, confidence, and sense of direction in life.

Looking back, this experience has strengthened my belief that when a goal is clear and deeply rooted in our hearts, we can develop an almost unbreakable will to achieve it.

Today, whether I am promoting Malaysian cuisine or facing challenges in life, I continue to believe that every difficult season is a necessary part of growth. As long as we keep moving forward and refuse to give up, we will eventually find our way onto a brighter and more fulfilling path.

— Lily Chong

The world is vast, and life is full of uncertainties. But belief is one of the most powerful forces we possess.

Believe in yourself. Believe in your goals. Believe in the future.

When we truly believe, our dreams have a way of becoming reality.

We can achieve because we believe we can. When our faith remains unshaken, our mission will ultimately be fulfilled.