Cover Story: Beauty Mogul Kim Lim is A Rose By Any Other Name

Socialite Kim Lim has built quite an empire over the years, with her holding company KLHealth Group being home to beauty brands, salons and clinics: Papilla Haircare, ILLUMIASKIN, Illumia Therapeutics and Illumia Medical, which have been growing steadily due to her impressive work ethic and drive. 

On top of juggling these, she has important roles in her family — she’s a daughter to  billionaire, Peter Lim, and a mother to her six-year-old son, Kyden. With all these titles, it’s easy for outsiders to look in and say she has it all, disregarding the journey she has taken to get to where she is today.

“I would say I am someone who always gives my 100 per cent — even more so if it is something that I believe in,” says the entrepreneur. “There are many things that have shaped me to be who I am today — my family and upbringing, the people around me growing up, past relationships, and the opportunities that I’ve had. And I still have to go all out to achieve my dreams and passions."

What would you say is the most fulfilling part of this  journey with beauty for you?

The most fulfilling part is to see my vision and all of my hard work come to life. There are a lot of things that go on behind the scenes to ensure that we deliver what we promise as a brand. These include trying out different beauty treatments around the world in search of the next big thing (with me as the experimental subject), endless back-to-back meetings, and non-stop ideation and content creation. I dedicate all of my time and effort to this business, so it’s really rewarding to look back and see how we’ve grown. 

What have you learned about yourself over the course of the year since we last spoke?

I’ve realised that I am a lot more patient and forgiving than I think I am. Recently, I’ve been reflecting on the things that have happened in the past year and it struck me that my capacity to tolerate things has increased exponentially. The younger me would never have been able to put up with any of this, but the current me has learned to take a step back, break down and analyse situations before I come to a conclusion and take action. 

Also, I know this sounds like a cliché but what doesn’t kill you really makes you stronger. Life is filled with adversities, and it’s about coming out of each situation wiser and with more resilience. Sometimes, when I look back and reflect, I realise that things weren’t all that bad and I’m proud of myself for surviving those downs. Now that I am here in the present, I’ve learned to cherish the people and things that truly matter to me even more, and I’m all set to take on new challenges. 

What are three qualities that you appreciate most about yourself ? And is there anything you’d like to change about yourself?

I am focused, fun and fearless. I work hard and play harder. And no matter what I do, be it for work or to have fun, I go all out. I can be strong-headed, so maybe I need to learn to let go. 

Do you think any parts of your identity are determined for you by those around you or by society?

For sure. Some parts of my identity are shaped by my family, loved ones and the people I grew up with. People are usually more familiar with the glamorous side of me, and yes, while that part exists, there’s also a big chunk of me that the public is not privy to. I was concerned with how people viewed me in the past, and I needed to always put on my best face. But now, I’m a lot more confident in my skin and I’m able to show signs of vulnerability.

What are your hopes for the rest of the year?

I hope to do better, both as an individual and as a business entity. I’ve been working doubly hard and I really wish that all my effort will come to fruition.