Nariah Ahmad, who uses the handle @kakchikya4, became a sensation after her cooking videos went viral on the video-sharing platform last week and garnered millions of views, attracting fans young and old, of various ethnicities – not only from Malaysia but neighbouring countries like Singapore and Indonesia.
What’s even more impressive is that her TikTok following has skyrocketed, jumping from a few thousand to over 370,000 in a short time.
Often starting her videos with the phrase, “Assalamualaikum, mula-mula Kak Cik Yah…”, Nariah’s ability to navigate social media and her casual, grandmotherly communication style have touched the hearts of netizens, some of whom regard her as their “online grandma”.
Met by Bernama at her home in Kampung Melayu Flats here, Nariah said age is not a barrier to learning technology. Case in point: she uploads all her TikTok videos and photos herself, without help from others!
Nariah said she has been taking photos and videos of her friends and daily activities for years, largely as a hobby. “Eventually, I thought about posting cooking videos since I love to cook. So, I used my phone to record myself cooking, before uploading them to TikTok,” she said.
Her first cooking video, uploaded last year, featured a recipe for mango salad. Nariah said she never expected that so many people would enjoy them and leave comments.
All the recipes she shares are her own creations, as well as family recipes passed down through generations.
The cheerful mother of four and grandmother of seven said her cooking videos went viral only recently, which she considers a blessing as it happened during Ramadan.
In the wake of her newfound “fame”, Nariah recently signed a two-month contract with a goat farming company, and has hired an assistant to help manage her daily schedule.
“My daily life is pretty much the same but I’m a bit busier now. I don’t have as much time as before to go out, but that’s OK,” she said, adding that many people, including younger users, recognise her and want to take photos with her.
“My children fully support me but they remind me to take care of myself and ensure I get enough rest and sleep,” she added.
Nariah is also grateful for her good health and ability to move around independently. Her eyesight, hearing and memory remain sharp, and she can go to the shops or take the commuter train back to her village in Mata Ayer, Perlis, alone.
She believes the key to staying healthy is maintaining a positive mindset, staying calm, and not stressing over things that can disrupt one’s emotional wellbeing. She also enjoys walking as a form of exercise.
Looking ahead, Nariah plans to continue sharing her recipes with her followers as she finds cooking therapeutic. She also dreams of collaborating with popular content creator Khairul Aming.
“I love watching him cook. I would love to meet him and cook with him someday,” she concluded.