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      <p><span>Gajen Chandra embodies a perfect blend of sharpness and wit. Discovering his authentic self in the realm of TikTok, the 25-year-old digital content creator shares insights about the journey of self-authenticity, uncovering personal values and the art of crafting intentionally cringe-worthy videos.</span></p>
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      <p><span>TikTok isn&rsquo;t just another social media platform &mdash; it&rsquo;s a dynamic realm for self-discovery and uninhibited creativity. In a world where expressing your true self can be a challenge, TikTok stands out as a virtual haven, urging users to embrace and showcase their authentic selves. With diverse content and engaging formats, the platform empowers individuals to explore different facets of their personality, experiment with creativity and connect with like-minded communities. It&rsquo;s not just a trendsetter; TikTok reflects the diverse and genuine expressions of its users.</span></p>
      <p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">The platform has transformed into a mirror capturing not only the current trends but also serving as a canvas for authentic self- expression. It&rsquo;s a space where individuals can confidently unveil their true selves, breaking free from societal norms and fostering empowerment through self-discovery. &ldquo;I mean, TikTok just lets me showcase my personality to the max. I&rsquo;m kind of an introvert, but oddly, I feel more in my element in front of the camera. It&rsquo;s just my vibe, you know?&rdquo; shares Gajen, the Public Relations graduate and content creator whose skits are making waves among Malaysian TikTok users.</span></p>
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Interview: Gejen Chandra is just vibing

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      <p><span>About five years back, Gajen stumbled upon this digital space that became the canvas for showcasing his true self &mdash; sharp and humorous. Becoming a content creator wasn&rsquo;t on his radar initially; he saw social media as a platform to share his thoughts, much like everyone else. Little did he anticipate that his daily life and witty skits would resonate with internet users, offering relatable content for today&rsquo;s audience. &ldquo;I was just having a blast, filming my day-to-day life with some humour thrown in. The turning point came when I posted a video recreating Blackpink&rsquo;s Jennie&rsquo;s hairstyle. I took my dog for a stroll around the neighbourhood, and when I got back, my TikTok was flooded with notifications from people reacting to that particular video &mdash; it was surreal.&rdquo;</span></p>
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            <p><span>As the numbers on his TikTok account skyrocketed, Gajen realised it was time to approach things more earnestly. &ldquo;Becoming a content creator was never my plan,&rdquo; he confesses. &ldquo;Initially, I envisioned graduating, finding a 9-to-5 job, and providing for my family. However, things took a turn when I saw the potential of being a digital content creator. So, I began </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">putting out a variety of videos, honing in on the metrics. Before long, I received calls and DMs from brands interested in signing me up for campaigns and other opportunities. That&rsquo;s when I started making money out of it,&rdquo; he adds.</span></p>
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      <p><span>It&rsquo;s as if he holds the secret formula for crafting videos that captivate the online audience. &ldquo;You can&rsquo;t overthink it when creating comedy content on TikTok. Just be authentic in front of the camera, let your personality shine, and ensure your videos are harmless,&rdquo; he advises. Gajen acknowledges the significance of sound in crafting a skit. &ldquo;I recommend checking out your feed, identifying trending sounds, and getting creative with them. Think of fresh ways to play around with the sound,&rdquo; Gajen suggests. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s crucial to gauge the atmosphere and be mindful of the content you share online. The last thing you&rsquo;d want is to unintentionally offend your audience. Taking a moment to review your video before posting is a good practice. Personally, I&rsquo;m fortunate to have friends who consistently provide feedback, guiding me away from content that might come across as offensive or cringe-worthy.&rdquo;</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;">"I love the way I look and I won't alter it for others."</p>

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      <p><span>The more you engage in conversation with Gajen, the more layers of his personality unfold through eloquent words and expressive gestures. My attention then shifts to his tattoos, which seem to encapsulate his 25 years of life journey, each inked image telling a story. &ldquo;My tattoos encapsulate various chapters of my life; some signify important events, and some are just for the aesthetic. Take this one,&rdquo; he says, pointing to his left arm, &ldquo;it&rsquo;s an image of a dove I got after finishing high school. High school wasn&rsquo;t the most enjoyable experience due to the pressure from teachers. They pushed us for straight As in SPM, which, while not a bad goal, the methods weren&rsquo;t exactly encouraging. This dove represents my freedom from that cage, allowing me to pursue what I truly wanted for my future self.&rdquo;</span></p>
      <p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">Another intriguing tattoo that captures my attention is the head of a man on his chest, symbolising the concept of &ldquo;mind over heart.&rdquo; Gajen explains, &ldquo;It&rsquo;s advice from my mother, a reminder to be mindful of every decision I make. I&rsquo;m an emotional person, and my heart often guides my decisions. This tattoo serves as a constant reminder to prioritise my mind in every situation,&rdquo; he shares.</span></p>
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      <p><span>Like many enthusiasts of body art, Gajen acknowledges that he is not immune to the prevailing negative perceptions associated with tattooed individuals. These misconceptions include assumptions about negative personality traits, lower levels of inhibition, competence, and sociability, as well as higher levels of promiscuity. &ldquo;At times, I do get comments from people who admit feeling intimidated to approach me based on my visual appearance. However, I can&rsquo;t change that. I love the way I look, and I won&rsquo;t alter it for others,&rdquo; he asserts. Beyond the realm of tattoos, Gajen faced criticism on TikTok for being perceived as &lsquo;too skinny.&rsquo; &ldquo;Whenever I posted a video showing my full body, comments were mocking my slender physique. It did affect me initially, but eventually, I chose to overlook those comments. I decided to join the conversation, making light of my own body. Only then did the comments cease,&rdquo; he reveals.</span></p>
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      <p><span>&ldquo;In situations like this, having a strong support system is invaluable, and I&rsquo;m grateful for my mum and two close friends </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; letter-spacing: 0px;">who always have my back,&rdquo;Gajens hares openly. He intentionally keeps his circle small, preferring to be surrounded by those who truly understand him. This tight-knit group, according to Gajen, plays a crucial role in keeping him grounded, especially during overwhelming moments juggling professional and personal responsibilities. &ldquo;They&rsquo;ve been there for me when things got intense, offering assistance and enlightening me with every bit of help they could think of. For that, I&rsquo;m forever grateful to have them in my life,&rdquo; he confesses.</span></p>
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            <p><span>While life has become more comfortable, and everything appears to be falling into place, Gajen remains vigilant and focused on his plan B. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s not that I lack faith in my current career path, but I believe being a content creator is not a sustainable profession. It&rsquo;s a fast-paced world where one day you&rsquo;re relevant, and the next day you&rsquo;re not. One day you&rsquo;re famous, the next day you&rsquo;re cancelled,&rdquo; he shares. With this awareness, Gajen is actively preparing for his next significant moves, hoping they will conclude with a bang.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Photography</strong> Weeyang<br /><strong>Words &amp; Creative Direction</strong> Syazil Abd Rahim<br /><strong>Grooming &amp; Hair</strong> Joey Yap</p>

Interview: Gajen Chandra is just vibing

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