The internet changed that. With the advent of YouTube, TikTok, and independent streaming platforms (such as Tonton and iflix, now merged), the "awek" became the CEO of her own content empire.
By leveraging affordable mirrorless cameras (Sony A7S III, Canon R5) and smartphone gimbals, a single "awek" can now produce a travel vlog that looks cinematic. This democratization has forced entire industries to upskill.
It says that a local girl from Shah Alam or Kuching deserves the same visual fidelity as a Seoul influencer. It says that Bahasa Malaysia deserves crisp Dolby Atmos audio. It says that nasi kandar looks delicious in HDR.