Move over brides: This Pak Andam gives grooms their wedding-day glow-up

New Straits Times

3 days ago

AT first glance, Megat Mat Akhir Megat Mohamad seems like just any other successful entrepreneur, proudly running a well-known charcoal factory in Kuala Sepetang, a coastal town in Perak.
But behind the business-like exterior is a man with an unexpected passion; one that involves shimmering powders, makeup brushes and wedding-day magic.
Fondly known online as Megat Tan, he has been taking the Internet by storm with his wedding transformations, infectious energy and unwavering confidence. Not for brides, as you might expect — but for grooms.
For the 57-year-old father of eight and grandfather of 12, the path to becoming a respected Pak Andam, a traditional term for makeup artists and stylists for Malay weddings, was neither conventional nor easy.
In a field largely that's largely dominated by women, Megat had to carve out a space for himself through sheer passion and resilience.
Smiling, he confides: "People online used to call me effeminate. But my children know that their father is a strong man. If I really were effeminate, I wouldn't have survived working in a mangrove charcoal factory."
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
Long before he became a familiar face on TikTok and a go-to name for grooms on their big day, Megat was just a simple kampung boy from Matang Merbau, Sungai Tinggi in Trong, Perak.
The eldest of seven, he grew up in a modest household where survival hinged on daily labour. His late father worked as a mangrove woodcutter and his mother was a full-time homemaker.
"We lived hand-to-mouth — kais pagi makan pagi, kais petang makan petang. That was our reality," he says softly.
Even sitting for his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination was nearly out of reach. The fees were too much for his family to afford, and if not for the generosity of neighbours and relatives, he might not have sat for it at all.
He completed his primary education at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Tinggi before moving on to Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tat Beng.
"I couldn't continue my studies because I felt sorry for my late father," he shares, adding: "So, I started working to help ease the burden of supporting my six younger siblings, who were still very young at the time."
After finishing school, Megat worked with his father in the mangrove wood industry, chopping logs and helping transport them to charcoal kilns. Within a year, his dedication earned him the position of kepala, or site supervisor.
"From there, I started earning a bit more than usual. I had the woodcutting income plus a supervisor's allowance. That's when I began dreaming of becoming a mangrove wood and charcoal entrepreneur," he recounts.
In 2000, Megat applied for a licence as a Kup Kayu Jaras Bakau (KKJ) operator. His application was approved by the Forestry Department, granting him the legal right to operate.
That marked the beginning of his journey as a licensed mangrove harvester. Before long, he began delving deeper into the charcoal industry and eventually expanded into Kup Arang Kayu Bakau operations.
With the licence secured, he successfully expanded into charcoal production — a business he still runs today. Yet, what many don't know is that his parallel journey as a Pak Andam also began around the same time.
MAKING OF A GROOM STYLIST
In the mid-1980s, Megat was one of only four young men in his village frequently chosen to serve as wedding groomsmen. He often found himself responsible for preparing the groom — adjusting outfits, calming nerves and even applying light makeup.
It was an unpaid role, typically rewarded with food and bunga telur, but it quietly laid the foundation for a lifelong passion.
"At that time, there was no such thing as a makeup artist for grooms," he recalls, adding: "The groomsmen had to do everything — from makeup to dressing the groom in traditional attire."
Megat quickly became the go-to person for these tasks. Whether it was pinning the tengkolok or offering a last-minute touch-up, he was always ready.
At first, he didn't think much of it. "Preparing a groom can be tricky. It involves a lot of tools. I wasn't really interested in the beginning," he admits, continuing: "But over time, the ideas started coming. I began to figure out how to enhance a groom's glow and picked up knowledge about the products along the way."
Weddings then were formal, guided by strict religious customs. "If you wanted to be a groomsman or a Pak Andam, you had to know a bit about the religious side of things too," he says with a chuckle.
Makeup was also much simpler. "We didn't have all the products available today. I only had four or five basics — face powder, an eyebrow pencil, lipstick and a bit of kohl."
What began as a favour soon turned into fascination — and that fascination blossomed into a full-fledged passion, one that would quietly anchor his life for the next 40 years.
Under the guidance of seasoned peers like Shaharudin Mat Nayan, Mohamad Haroon and Halim Bakar, Megat gradually mastered the craft the traditional way — slowly, patiently and with heart.
Encouraged by a close friend who shared his passion, Megat also began to explore the world of makeup more deeply by studying skin tones, product formulas and the subtle art of enhancing rather than masking.
Today, he is a seasoned Pak Andam, a groom stylist with four decades of experience under his belt and a reputation for making men look and feel their best on one of the most important days of their lives.
"I don't just want to put makeup on faces. I want to bring out confidence in men to make them feel like they belong on the wedding dais just as much as the bride," he says.
Passionately, Megat adds: "And for that, sincerity is everything. Without it, no matter how expensive your products are, the result will always look… flat."
Unlike others who learnt the trade through formal courses or apprenticeships, Megat honed his craft one wedding at a time. He arrives at weddings not just in full traditional attire, but also with brushes in hand and a quiet determination to get it right.
"Both paths — charcoal and makeup — have supported my family," he reflects with pride, adding: "It's been almost 40 years in both fields now… and all to put food on the table."
In his 40s, he even enrolled in a distance-learning diploma in business management at Open University Malaysia. But midway through, he had to give up to support his eight school-going children.
Today, Megat stands proud. Not just as a businessman or stylist, but as someone who carved his own path with grit, resilience and heart.
TIKTOK FAME AND VIRAL STARDOM
It wasn't until Megat began documenting his process on social media, especially TikTok, that things took a dramatic turn. With videos that now reach up to 5.6 million views, his flair for transformation quickly caught the attention of Malaysians across generations.
The views translated into bookings. Where he once only received two or three clients a month, Megat now gets two to three bookings a week, earning him a supplementary income of RM1,000 to RM3,000 per month solely from his services.
And with service charges starting at RM250, excluding transport and lodging, his rates are considered affordable, especially given the premium cosmetics he uses.
"I only use international brands," he explains, adding: The full kit I carry costs around RM5,000. But I want the best for my clients, they deserve it. These products are more comfortable on the skin and reduce the chances of breakouts."
BUILDING A WEDDING EMPIRE
Today, Megat proudly helms a growing wedding empire that includes deejay and emceeing services, his own equipment, a bridal boutique and full-service wedding packages.
Despite his success, Megat believes there's still space — and a real need — for more men in the field. He feels the role of Pak Andam, particularly for grooms, is one where a male presence can offer genuine comfort and make a meaningful difference.
"When you're helping the groom dress or applying skincare, there's a certain comfort when it's another man," he says, adding: "I hope more young men realise that this is a dignified profession and there's nothing to be ashamed of."
It's a message that resonates with a new generation unafraid to break free from gender stereotypes. And if Megat's journey proves anything, it is that passion and authenticity will always outshine outdated labels.
[e-mail]