Yeo Mei Ying, an artist who has been fascinated with dolls since she was seven, has become a successful doll maker not just in Malaysia but also abroad.
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00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:03 Yeo Mei Ying's parents wanted her to pursue hotel management
00:09 in college and enter the tourism industry.
00:13 She dutifully went along with their wishes
00:15 for about two and a half years, but eventually
00:18 quit, realizing her passion lay elsewhere.
00:22 Instead, Yeo found joy in crafting dolls part-time.
00:26 Today, at 42, she has become a renowned doll maker,
00:31 both in Malaysia and internationally.
00:34 In her first online auction, Yeo sold one of her creations
00:38 for $200, which eventually fetched nearly $1,900,
00:44 or around RM9,000 after three days.
00:48 It's a one and only doll.
00:49 I made one only for people to bid.
00:52 So the price is bidding price.
00:54 Yeo, the elder of two siblings, said her parents, who
00:58 were both noodle manufacturers, were disappointed when she did
01:02 not finish her hotel management studies
01:04 and briefly worked as a secretary
01:07 and managed a comic book and stationery shop.
01:10 Yet her love for dolls, since she was seven years old,
01:14 persisted.
01:16 Her debut creation was a bunny hugging doll,
01:19 drawing inspiration from various sources,
01:22 like books and magazines.
01:24 Yeo became a full-time doll maker at 25
01:28 and has since crafted over 10,000 unique dolls,
01:31 including a notable red riding hood creation.
01:35 Besides selling her creations online,
01:37 Yeo has also showcased her work at international fairs
01:41 and doll exhibitions in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau,
01:45 Britain, and New York, USA.
01:48 Her parents, now proud of her accomplishments,
01:51 converted their school-dyed homes master bedroom
01:54 into her dedicated doll-making studio.
01:57 Yeo, meticulous about every detail,
02:00 works solo to ensure precision.
02:04 I try to bring in workers, but they cannot achieve the work
02:10 that I want.
02:11 I want very detailed, very fine work.
02:16 Yeo said her clientele comprises both men and women,
02:20 with the preference for dolls with somber expressions,
02:24 creating using fabric, clay, and plastic.
02:28 Her current focus is on producing
02:30 exclusive and high-end dolls.
02:33 As for other aspiring artists, Yeo's advice is simple--
02:37 follow your heart and never give up.
02:41 [MUSIC PLAYING]
02:45 [MUSIC ENDS]
02:47 [BLANK_AUDIO]