For generations, women have been the unsung heroes in nurturing families and preserving traditions through meals made with love. Now beyond the kitchen, food has also become a generous medium for storytelling, education and conversation.
This International Women’s Day, we want to spotlight, few of the many, rising female content creators who are inspiring a new generation of food lovers and redefining how we connect with food and each other through the digital world we live in today. Women are bringing so much to the table from family recipes to unique takes on local dishes, plant-based eating to science-based nutrition. They are proving that food is more than what’s on our plates; it is about connection, creativity and community.
1. Michelle Yeong
@CHELLEMAKESFOOD started out of pure joy and love for cooking. To Michelle, cooking is therapeutic. Being neither professionally trained nor an expert, Michelle taps on food as a means to do what she loves whilst learning more about it each day.
Through her Cooking with Chefs series, she uncovers what goes on behind the kitchen and how each chef’s labour of love influences the dishes we devour in minutes at the table. F&B is no easy industry and in the fast paced world, Michelle plans to focus more on culinary stories of local chefs and restaurants in Malaysia.
Instagram: Michelle speaking to chef owner Keat Mun at Taisyu Yakiniku, Taman Desa
Malaysian dish that deserves way more love?
Kopitiam food… Thosai Paper is my favourite with chutney!
If you could swap kitchens with any chef or food creator for a day, who would it be and why?
“Dai chao” chef! I’ve always enjoyed cooking with woks and had the chance to cook with large woks when I took cooking classes in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam (I love attending cooking classes whenever I travel).
“It’s the abundance mindset that we all share — there’s enough for everyone.”
When asked about women in the food content creation scene, Michelle shares that the most beautiful part is how they carve out space to uplift, support, and grow together — not just as creators, but as a community.
2. Shuang Yu
Shuang Yu never thought that something she started out of Covid boredom could ever bring joy to another random person on the internet. And yet, @AFLOURYSPACE serves up easy-to-follow, nostalgic recipes that have brought people together (check out her comment section).
Instagram: Shuang Yu making Pandan Cinammon Rolls!
Behind that 60 second reel is creativity, passion and heaps of testing. Shuang Yu starts her content creation process with an ingredient she’s curious about. Sometimes, it is something she is obsessed with. Other times, it is something that has been sitting in her fridge or pantry for way too long. From there, she scours for inspiration, brainstorms and recreates the dishes with her own spin.
Singaporean dish that deserves way more love?
Chwee Kueh! It might look simple, but the combination of soft, steamed rice cakes with savoury chai poh (preserved radish) and spicy chilli is next level.
Female dream collab?
I really like Lululemon as a brand. They’ve nailed the whole community vibe of bringing people together through movement, wellness and female empowerment.
If I ever get the chance to work with them, it has to be fun and meaningful. A “Fuel Your Movement” series, where I share easy high-protein meal prep and post-workout snacks with a local twist. Because let’s be real – food isn’t just about eating; it’s about fueling, nourishing, and enjoying life!
“Content creation isn’t just about making food look pretty — it takes serious discipline and a lot of trial and error.”
Shuang Yu has always been surrounded by food. Growing up, she watched her family run a Zi Char business and listened to her parents talk about food, all the time. Some of her earliest, and fondest, memories were watching her grandmother cook with no recipes or references but with pure instincts and skill. Food was a way of life!
3. Joey Khor
Joey realised that she hadn’t come across local dietitians on her FYP. Taking TikTok-made-me-do-it to a whole new level, she started posting a series of lazy healthy meals online from a student dietitian 2-3 times a day. She changed her username from “Your Future Dietitian” to @DIETITIANJOEY when she graduated and decided to pursue social media full time.
“I found my passion in inspiring healthier lifestyles and empowering individuals to make informed choices. It’s always heartwarming to hear that my recipes saved lives.”
If you had a “nutrition starter pack” for someone who wants to eat better, what would it be?
A plate with a source of carbohydrates (noodle/ rice) to fill up a quarter of the plate, lean protein (fish/chicken/tofu/egg) to fill up another quarter of the plate and non-fried vegetables and fruits to fill up the remaining half.
One food myth I wish more people knew that there’s no superfood that’s more superior than a diet consisting of a diverse nutrient dense food.
Instagram: Joey, @zhiling_nutrition and @good.food.gang on Nutritional Icks
Malaysian dish that deserves way more love?
Lei Cha (Thunder Tea Rice)! It’s like the Malaysian Chinese version of Ochazuke that gives way more complex flavours from the blend of ingredients. It’s nutritious, roasty, savoury and so delicious despite looking “too healthy” to taste good.
Best piece of advice you’ve received from another woman you’d like to share?
“Yes, love yourself. But also analyse and be critical of how you think, act and behave. Self love without self awareness is useless. Be accountable.”
4. Ramya Ramesh
Initially a food review account, Ramya, AKA @BROWNGIRLVEGAN, has always enjoyed exploring new cuisines. One day, she stumbled upon an Instagram post explaining the unethical practices of the dairy industry. Something clicked in her and thus, began her vegan journey.
“The best part was growing up in Singapore because you’re exposed to so many different types of Asian cuisines.”
Inspired to create plant based recipes that were local and familiar, Ramya met many wonderful friends within the vegan and vegetarian community in Singapore who continue to motivate her daily.
Instagram: Ramya and @vernahungrybanana making air-fried vegan Samosas
Singaporean dish that deserves way more love?
Hokkien Mee or Char Kway Teow! For drinks, bandung!
Female dream collab?
Growing up, my parents exposed me to Ayurvedic principles so I always try to be more in tune with my body and wellness. I was very inspired by Radhi Devlukia when I had just turned vegan so it would be hella amazing. What we could create is healthy veggie packed noodles!
Food for Ramya isn’t just about eating, but a gateway to share experiences, traditions and values. Her recipes are a reflection of her mixed roots and culture, and her evolving voice for animals.
5. Yi Feng
@LENGLUICOOKS started out as a form of experimentation and self expression – serving as a diary for Yi Feng to document recipes from her grandmother and family. How she came up with the name was when her boyfriend recorded her cooking and randomly asked: “leng lui, cooking ah?”
Fast forward a couple of years, Yi Feng co-founded Creators Club Malaysia with Michelle and Joey, and shares that it is her resilience and the empowering female community that has gotten her this far.
“I glow when I do things I am genuinely excited and passionate about!”
Malaysian dish that deserves way more love?
Kerabu (Malaysian salad)! It’s similar to Thai somtam.
Female dream collab? What would you create?
Rachel from Love Bonito. I love how she’s so real, whilst making a difference in today’s society, especially in Malaysia and Singapore. Sharing her experience with her struggles is something I deeply admire.
Maybe a kitchen line together? Aprons, tea towels? I’d love that!
Yi Feng enjoys time spent capturing moments with her grandma. When asked about a dish that holds particular significance to her, she says it has to be her grandma’s soup. As a love language of its own, every bite of any of her soups warms her belly and nourishes her soul!
6. Grace Lee
Grace is a familiar face on The Meatmen Channel! She started out as a Production Intern and is now a full time Project Manager. Of the many projects she helms, Grace dabbles in creating food content as a means to share personal stories, like her family’s Cornflake Cookies recipe and how a simple Apple Pie recipe can mean so much more.
Instagram: Grace making Apple Pie for Father’s Day
What inspired you to start sharing your narrative on our platform?
It all started with a content brainstorming session with the team for Father’s Day. Grief is a response I never thought would take so much exploration, confusion and discomfort. Father’s Day, as with any other celebration or occasion, is celebrated differently for different folks. All I wanted to do was let people know that they are not alone.
“I never really realised how much my ties with food have to do with my upbringing. Family is the reason why my standards for home cooking and food in general, are so high. My helper, Antz, is my masterchef!”
Singaporean dish that deserves way more love?
Hokkien Mee! Once you cross the border (from Singapore to Malaysia), the rendition changes. I never realised how hard it would be to find white hokkien mee in Malaysia.
From women on the internet to women who have taught her in school or at work, to her sisters, mother and helper, Grace shares that women have so much influence on each other, with so many lessons to give and receive from one another. Although, the most important voice is to listen and trust herself.
Instagram: TMC girlies!
While the traditional food industry may still require more female representation, the digital realm sees women making waves by using food to spark conversations and empower others to make conscious lifestyle choices. From Shuang Yu’s perspective:
“There’s a growing focus on how food fuels our bodies, with more female creators talking about nutrition, well-being and how to eat in a way that truly nourishes.”
These female food content creators are changing the way we experience food, from heartwarming stories with nostalgic recipes to modernising and nutrition-hacking traditional meals.
Our relationship with food is constantly evolving, as we evolve as people and societies, offline and online. This International Women’s Day, drop a like, a comment, a share and let’s uplift each other one post at a time.
