171: The Platform Of Self Confidence With Jackie Tang

Jackie Tang is is known as Australia’s High Priestess of Malaysian Cuisine. She’s an ex-restaurateur, cook and sole parent to Noah, her nearly 4yr old Down Syndrome son. Jackie has a large social media footprint and is the #1 most followed Australian on Google+ and the #2 most influential Australian chef on social media based on Klout. In between raising her toddler son, Jackie sells Malaysian food at a weekly market stall, presents food segments on Australian and Asian television, and livestreams her cooking to her 1.9 million followers.

Jackie was told never to share anything outside her celebrity status since it might damage her brand but when she realized that she can use her status and platform for more important issues, that is when she gained more confidence to take a stand and fight for what she believes in. Tune in to Jackie’s episode as she shares her story.

Bio

Jackie M. Tang is known as Australia’s High Priestess of Malaysian Cuisine.

Cultural Background

Jackie is of Malaysian-born Chinese from the Hakka dialect group.

Favorite Self Confidence Quote

No matter who you are, no matter what you do, no matter who your audience is: 30% will love it, 30% will hate it, and 30% won’t care.

Definition of Self Confidence

Using your platform to take a stand for what you’re passionate about, without worrying that people will think less of you.

Her Life Before the Discovery of Self Confidence

Jackie was told by a business consultant she hired years back, that “People don’t care about your sob story. They just want to know what’s in it for them”. As a result her website and online content made very little reference to her personal life.

The “AHA” Moment

It’s been a gradual process but the catalyst was when there was a controversy about her son Noah being with her at one of her weekly markets about July last year. Jackie was contacted by the market manager that a member of the public took exception to the fact that she had her Down Syndrome son with her and was in the process of petitioning to have him removed. Because the next market was less than 2 days away, Jackie posted on Facebook to her followers that the upcoming market could be her last one, and she gave the reason.

The uproar was completely unexpected. A TV crew was dispatched to Jackie’s market that Saturday, and the story received global coverage. She started getting messages from people who told her to take a stand instead of giving in and quitting that market. What struck a chord was one particular message from a woman telling Jackie of her own experiences of discrimination. She told her pointedly – not all of us have a voice – you do – you need to take a stand for all of us.

Her Life After the Discovery of Self Confidence

It’s been incredibly liberating. Jackie tells her followers that look, she is not a recipe bot, if that’s all you’re after – there are a million websites out there that can serve your needs better. Her life does not fit into neat little compartments and you’re going to get shares from her that expose her vulnerabilities, her struggles and her failings.
Jackie lost some followers because of her latest campaign to expose a celebrity TV ghost hunter, as a sexual conman who has gone around using his celebrity to target vulnerable women, especially single moms, and using them and promising them a future that he had no intention of keeping.