WINNING first place in storytelling was a massive achievement for young Malaysian Yashica Vijayakumar, who recently competed at the Grand International Talent Festival in Beijing, China, from Aug 28 to 31.
Since standard two, the 12-year-old has participated in several competitions and won the gold award in the festival’s preliminary round back in early June, in Genting Highlands, under the Speech Performance Storytelling category for the 11-12 age group.
In addition to winning first place, Yashica also received an RMB 1,000 cash prize and a popularity award, which she won through a Facebook poll supported by her friends, family, teachers, and community.
In the finals, she competed against participants from six other countries, including Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, China, India, and Vietnam, performing The Lion Who Lost His Roar.
This year has been her biggest achievement so far, after securing second runner-up at the district-level STEM talent show and participating in the Central Seberang Perai District Storytelling Competition.
Yashica said competing internationally required more effort compared with competitions in Malaysia.
As a student at SK Convent Bukit Mertajam, Yashica also described what it is like to balance her studies with competitions.
“I study for one and a half hours, an hour maximum preparing for any competition, then I have my free time to play, study again, and before I go to sleep, I practice one more time,” Yashica told Buletin Mutiara during an exclusive interview at her residence in Simpang Ampat on the mainland on Sept 11.
Yashica’s other major achievements included:
Presenting a storytelling performance at the handover and inauguration ceremony at SK Convent Bukit Mertajam in 2022.
Participating in a programme with DidikTV Media Prima on NTV7 that same year; being a top-five finalist in the National Public Speaking Competition 2023; winning first place in a storytelling competition organised by a private organisation in 2024, and achieving second runner-up in the storytelling competition at the Central Seberang Perai District Language Unity Celebration Carnival 2025.
Her mother, Latha Pardapan, 44, who was also present, said her daughter’s talent came entirely from her passion for storytelling.
“Storytelling is her passion.
“I know when she goes up on that stage, she will transform herself; thus there is no pressure, just passion,” Latha said.
When asked for advice for children interested in public speaking, Yashica reflected on how she was initially shy behind the microphone but gradually gained confidence and overcame her fears through participating in more competitions.
“I would like to tell them to try before they are afraid. Try at least one competition,” Yashica said.
She also spoke about the most important lesson she has learned since participating in competitions from Standard Two.
“The important lesson is you should have confidence in yourself, always trust yourself, and do not give up,” she said.
Aside from storytelling, Yashica also participated in the Kedah ITF – MTF Closed Taekwon-do Championship 2026, district-level uniformed body marching competition (TKRS), and the Kids Contest and Talent Show 2025 in conjunction with Columbia Asia Kawan Anda Day, among others.
Story and pix by Ammar Mikhail Aamer