This week sees the launch of #WANITABESI, a new campaign by Grey Malaysia for P&G haircare brand Pantene. Starring the award winning Malaysian singer & song writer YUNA, the campaign is a landmark for the world-leading haircare brand, representing first time that PANTENE MALAYSIA has used a celebrity ambassador who wears a hijab.
The film launches worldwide on YouTube this week
Marking the latest chapter in their long-running ‘Strong is Beautiful’ platform, the campaign launched this weekend (23rd June) with a premiere in cinemas across Malaysia of #WanitaBesi, a new short film starring, Yuna alongside two high profile Malaysian women; Health and Fitness star Linora Low and former Malaysian National Diver Adeline Chin.
Shot by Think Tank, the title of the film, ‘WanitaBesi’ is a Bahasa Malaysia phrase that translates as ‘Iron Lady’ – a term that is traditionally used as an insult to ‘unfeminine’ women. Pantene create a new meaning to the phrase, drawing inspiration from real-life events in the cast’s, showing how they each triumphed over adversity.
Said Yuna “It is a fact that every year thousands of girls cast aside their passions under the weight of peer pressure. Phrases such as ‘Wanita Besi’ are used negatively in the schools, sports fields and across social media, forcing us to doubt ourselves and give up on our dreams. It’s time to flip the script. I’ve been lucky enough to have a lot of strong women in my life, or as I now call them ‘WanitaBesi’, together we can all inspire each other to chase after our dreams”.
Forming the soundtrack of the film is song that every woman in Malaysia already knows, the nursery rhyme “Bangun Pagi”. Sung by a Malaysian girl choir, the song is given a unique twist, with a re-written final verse that transforms it from a child’s song, into an anthem of strength.
Ms May Teoh, General Manager Procter & Gamble (M) Sdn.Bhd. added “PANTENE has always championed the inner strength of women across the world and I am proud to unveil #WANITABESI a uniquely Malaysian expression of our belief of “Strong Is Beautiful” that every woman has the strength inside to be the very best that they can be.”
“We’re proud to announce Yuna as the newest member of the Pantene family. Yuna is the epitome of contemporary #WANITABESI, a testimony of strong women who rise above society expectations, resonates with today’s generation of aspiring woman – proving once and for all that strong is always beautiful.”
Credit List
Grey Team
Graham Drew, Executive Creative Director
Andrew Fong, Creative Group Head
Jo Yau, General Manager
Brendon Low, Copywriter
Sandy Ng, Art Director
Suzy Chiang, Producer
Sharon Rodrigues, Group Brand Director
Audrey Chua, Account Executive
Huma Qureshi, Regional Director, PR & Corp Comms AMEA
Production Team
Think Tank Directors Sdn Bhd
Post Production
VHQ Post (KL)
Sound Production
Fuse Asia Sdn Bhd