WHETHER you love binge-watching rom-coms, poking fun at each other while playing online games or dancing together to Saweetie’s smash hit ‘Best Friend’ with your friends, you learn that keeping a connection with special people in your life through shared activity(s), regardless of how ridiculous it may be, lowers stress and keeps you sharp.
For musician and actress Yazmin Aziz, sharing the human spirit through friendship is living by example – “…meaning we be the friend that we want others to be”.
“Staying grounded is important because my friends would joke with me to not forget them when I become famous,” she said.
Yazmin’s name was amplified on TikTok with more than 554,000 followers to date. She is best known for her compilations of the ‘bestpren’ series, which follows the character of a goofy best friend.
Speaking to The Vibes Culture & Lifestyle in celebration of International Day of Friendship, the 19-year-old rising star and communications student noted that having the pandemic in the way is not an obstacle to forgetting the bonds created.
“My friends share similar interests, and we talk about everything from A to Z.
“Honestly, social media is the best because that is how we mainly stay connected especially during lockdown – basically just keeping each other sane and hopeful.
“For instance, with my best friend, I update about the process of my content creation, like the ‘bestpren’ videos – specifically on how it’s going, what I feel about it, how people are reacting to it.
“I also ask for opinions, and she would tell me honestly that all the creativity or how I am on TikTok is me living my true self,” said Yazmin. She noted that it’s great to receive such support from equally happy friends.
“This is because the contents I find interesting are mostly funny ones because I, myself, love to joke. And I think this is the reason why the humorous content I make, like the ‘bestpren’ videos resonate so well”.
@yazminaziz Bespren kena kantoi ? #fyp #tiktokmy
♬ original sound - Yazmin Aziz
While everyone may embark on a different journey in life as we grow older, the influencer highlighted it is no reason to not stay in communication.
“It’s because you don't know when you will need someone to cry to or laugh with,” noted Yazmin.
“I don’t think I can take the idea of sharing good memories with a person in the past and – one day – suddenly not be OK with each other as we grow older while chasing different pursuits.
“Honesty, respect, openness, and loyalty – these are just some qualities I value most in a friendship,” she added.
Creativity encouraged
Sharing in detail about the experience of navigating social media and utilising the available platforms in building her portfolio.
“Apart from music, I am known to be the drama queen back in high school and have participated in musical theatre – so there is that acting bit,” Yazmin admitted.
“What I love about TikTok is that you can showcase different forms of talent, and then have a wide target audience where you can reach out to people both locally and globally.
@yazminaziz Lagu baru Bespren dah keluar! Jom guna sound ni. Jangan lupa tag saya ?? #bosan #fyp #tiktokmy #pkp
♬ Bosan - Yazmin Aziz
*Yazmin recently released her original song with a pandemic parody video for her followers titled ‘Bosan’, in hopes to bring light during the lockdown.
“Although I introduce myself as a singer-songwriter, my passion for acting, dancing and so on is encouraged and the application allows me to showcase my potential without any limitations,” she shared.
“It’s endless opportunities – from skincare routine to educational content,” she added, highlighting that people on the platform love learning new things.
On the latter, this is the very reason why Yazmin produced videos teaching her followers Tagalog since she is half Filipino and speaks the language and celebrates the culture at home.
“I was so shocked that a lot of Malaysians want to learn the language at first. So, it has been entertaining to see the engagements.
Yazmin continued to share the different roles and significance of each social networking platform she is on.
“TikTok is great where it’s focused on short videos that can be funny, sweet and simple content. Facebook allows me to stay updated with Filipino supporters, as that seems to be where most of them are. Twitter is where I express my thoughts, and Instagram is what I use to share updates about my life.
“Different social media platforms have their own demographic interests, which of course include different reactions.
“For example, if your video is funny to TikTok-ers, that same video is not necessarily going to be funny on Instagram because the target audience is different,” she said.
“The challenge as a content creator is not being relatable enough.
“To get people's attention is pretty tricky because there is this term that young people would use today called ‘cringy’ to describe something they don’t quite approve of.
“So, you have to think hard about what you post and stuff because you don't want it to come off as too corny or too cheesy,” explained Yazmin.
“If I am exploring an idea and someone would be like, ‘No, I don't think it's going to work’, I would still pick it up.
“I would usually test the waters first and learn from the reactions to see whether an idea can be continued or stopped,” she added, noting that the process does expand creativity.
Becoming the source of positivity
We know that social media can be a nasty space where internet trolls dwell.
“Thankfully, no one has been significantly mean to me on any of the platforms. But you know, even if there is one eventually, I have prepared myself to just handle it positively because you can't please everyone”.
Sharing how we can keep ourselves happy during trying times, “For me, it’s doing what you love or enjoy because you could also be the source of someone else’s positive vibes.
“I always share with my followers that instead of dwelling about the situation we are in and how depressing it is not being able to resume our social life like normal, why don't we make the best out of it and look at how we can make things interesting despite the circumstances we are in,” said Yazmin.
What she meant by this is that the lockdown is also about strengthening relationships, which goes beyond being active online.
“If you are staying with family or have people living with you, how about taking the time to take full advantage of the time to get to know each other even more instead of staying in your room alone.
“You would be surprised at things that maybe you don't know about a person prior, but this lockdown has allowed you to become closer,” said the teen.
“Even my dad found a new hobby, and is really into plants now where he has his little green colony which is very fun to see”.
*Yazmin’s cover of ‘Driver’s License’ by Olivia Rodrigo
Keeping bright-eyed
Aside from looking up to Lady Gaga as a creative idol and performer, following closely how the entertainer’s art evolved with increasing versatility where people “…think I am just like a normal fan girl but I’m more than that,” Yazmin also credited her mother for being a strong figure that has given her the needed inspiration and drive today.
“When I wanted to start singing back when I was a kid still, I remember my mother was just really game for it.
“She was like, ‘let's do it, do it seriously’, and I remembered being so stunned but excited because she was enthusiastic about the idea,” she said.
“She even started managing me. It is mostly the reason why I get a lot of entertainment gigs over time.
“Little did I know that I would eventually perform opening acts for famous people in the Philippines who flew here to perform,” added the content creator. She even had the opportunity to be the opening act for Postmodern Jukebox.
Detailing the close relationship she has with the queen of her heart, Yazmin explained how it reflected a special kind of bond that could even be seen as a kinship that reflects a best friend/ confidant.
@yazminaziz I dah boleh rasa mak punya muka masa tengah record ni ?? @zzayny #fyp #tiktokmy #prank
♬ original sound - Yazmin Aziz
“My mum is my biggest influence because when she got divorced from my biological father when I was four years old, she never let it visibly affect her”.
“Although she was pretty much alone, she continued and got into college to pursue her studies as a single mum wanting to raise me well, before eventually remarrying.
“At the time after the divorce, I remember she was always super positive all the time. Even if there were moments that she felt like she wanted to give up, she never did. Having witnessed it growing up, I find her amazing,” she said.
“I even joked by asking ‘where is my brain?’ to her, being the daughter of such an intelligent supermom who had to juggle multiple things at a time. I adore my mum for that, and she worked to get to where she is now.
“I want to be like that one day. I want to be as close to my kids as my mum is – even my friends go to her first on private matters before coming to me,” added Yazmin.
“If there is one person that I would want to be stuck on an island with, it is her. My mum has the brains and I have the humour – that’s a perfect combo that will keep each other safe and sane.” – The Vibes, July 30, 2021
