Beauty and bonding: Nora (centre) and her daughters, Arabella (left) and Angelinatasia (right) share their passion for make-up artistry. Photos: Tayren Gorden
Mothers Day is just a couple of days away and siblings Angelinatasia Geranang, 26, and Arabella Gracia Geranang, 19, want to make it extra special for their single mother, businesswoman Nora Tony, 47.
The sisters are planning a barbeque gathering with their relatives on Mothers Day in Kuching where they live.
“Every year on Mothers Day, we organise a get together with our family members. This year, we are planning a barbeque party. Our cousins are helping us the barbecueand also preparing the cakes and cookies for the mothers who will be present,” says Arabella.
Nora, an Iban, has been running a bridal and make-up business in Kota Samarahan, Sarawak for nearly two decades. Her daughters help her manage the business, and also work as make-up artists in the bridal boutique.
Arabella (left) and Angelinatasia (right) think Nora is the coolest boss.
The girls think their mother is “the coolest boss” there is.
“Arabella and I practically grew up in Mum’s bridal house,” says Angelinatasia. “After school, we’d head straight to the shop, where we’d do our homework and assist Mum with anythng she needed. Once we finished secondary school, it felt like a natural step to help Mum with the business.
“She’s strict, but she’s a great boss,” shares Angelinatasia.
Nora (centre) her daughters, Arabella (left) and Angelinatasia (right) craft memorable bridal experiences together.
Arabella chips in: “Surely, we have our ups and downs, and my sister and I do disagree on some matters when it comes to managing the business. But Mum always reminds us to set aside our differences for the sake of our business.
“Though she can be strict at times, I know it’s because she wants us to excel. We’re fortunate to have her as both a mother and a boss.”
Nora means the world to them, and the girls want to show their love and appreciation to their mother who single-handedly raised them since young. And what better day to show their appreciation than Mothers Day?
“Mummy has faced numerous challenges in raising us. She is always prioritising our needs. We owe everything to her. She’s our hero. My sister and I are even planning a small surprise for her,” shares Angelinatasia.
The power of love
Nora can now take a step back and bask in the love and admiration of her two girls.
But life wasn’t always so perfect. About 20 years ago, her life was filled with uncertainties.
Nora’s world was shaken when, six months pregnant with her second child, her husband walked out on her. She was 27 then and a homemaker.
Behind the scenes: Angelinatasia (left) and Arabella (right) work as a team to build the bridal business their mum started.
Left in the lurch, facing financial constraints and in need of emotional support, Nora moved back to her parents’ home in Kuching.
“It was a difficult time after my marriage crumbled. I fell into depression. The biggest challenge was that I wasn’t working and I didn’t get any financial support from my former husband. After Arabella was born, I knew I had to take matters into my own hands and earn money to feed my kids,” she shares.
“I started off by working as a shampoo girl at a hair salon around the neighbourhood. Later, I was promoted to be a hairstylist and make-up artist, earning only RM500 a month. Life was very tough, and I even had to pawn my jewellery to buy milk for my young kids,” said Nora, tears welling up in her eyes.
Two years later, in 2006, she left Kuching after securing a job as a masseuse and part-time make up artist in Sepang, Selangor. Fortunately, her parents were able to care for her girls.
“I worked overtime to save money for my little girls. Finances were tight, making it very challenging for me to manage everything. My salary was just RM2,000 so I had to be frugal. Often, I would just have simple meals like rice with soy sauce and fried eggs so I could save money.”
Family first
In 2009, she decided to leave her job in Sepang and return to Kuching.
“I started a small bridal shop named Sweet Memory in Stutong Market, Kuching. With only RM3,000 from my savings, I embarked on this new venture,” Nora recalls.
However, she discovered soon enough that running a business was no easy task.
“I only completed Form Five, and I have no business knowledge. Over time, I had to learn how to make money, manage risks, understand and keep up with what customers wanted to survive against other competing businesses.
“To enhance my skills, I enrolled in make up and entrepreneurship courses. When the girls were younger, they often accompanied me to the shop and events where I worked as a makeup artist. Both girls started off as part-time make-up artists in their early teens,” says Nora, who also ran a home-based catering business to augment her income.
Nora (right) and traditional outfit specialist Louis Wessly (left) at an Iban wedding in Danau, Kalimantan in Indonesia.
Her business gradually expanded, and over the years, she managed to upgrade to a full-scale bridal rental business, called Nora Bridal at Country Land Commercial Centre, Kota Samarahan where she now offers a wide range of rental options for about-to-wed couples. These include rentals of bridal outfits, evening gowns, and traditional costumes such as ngepan Iban, saree, cheongsam, and kebaya.
She also has a studio available for indoor bridal photoshoots.
Nora says that she is always drumming it into her daughters how important it is for them to be self-reliant, even after marriage.
Over the years, Nora and her girls have dolled up hundreds of brides and also beauty contestants across Sarawak, and even Indonesia. Nora travels in her trusty Proton Pesona to different parts of the state to get her brides ready.
Nora is happy that she has established a business that can serve as a stepping stone for her daughters to grow in the future.
“After my experience in marriage, I’ve realised how important it is to be independent.
“It’s crucial for women to have their own savings so that they can be independent, particularly in the event of losing a spouse or facing separation.
“Equally important is acquiring additional skills to sustain oneself financially,” she says.
Nora is happy now that she has an established business to pass on to her two girls. Photo: Facebook/Angelinatasia Nana
"Angelinatasia recently got married, and I always remind her about the importance of being financially independent, even with a husband.
“It’s crucial to have your own source of income and be self-reliant. None of us can predict the future, so it’s wise to prepare for unexpected challenges,” says Nora.
She also emphasises to the children the importance of being steadfast in managing their business.
“Often, my daughters argue over household chores, even bringing it up while working at the boutique. I consistently remind them to avoid conflicts over trivial matters, as it can impact our business. I stress the value of family unity and the wisdom of not squabbling over minor issues.
“But, above everything, I enjoy spending time with my girls at the boutique. It has strengthened our family bond and helped us forge this deep sense of togetherness,” concludes Nora.
