Bella Astillah named Young Mother Icon at National Mother's Day 2025
KOTA KINABALU: Actress and singer Bella Astillah, 31, has been named the recipient of the Young Mother Icon Award in conjunction with the 2025 National Mother's Day Celebration, held today at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC).
The award — comprising a certificate, sash, and bouquet — was presented by Toh Puan Faridah Tussin, wife of the Yang di-Pertua of Sabah, and witnessed by Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, along with Datin Seri Juliah Salag, wife of the Sabah Chief Minister.
Bella, whose full name is Dayang Ara Nabeela Awang Astillah, admitted she was initially in disbelief upon learning she had been selected.
"At first, I couldn't believe it, so I checked with my management — and they confirmed I had indeed been chosen for the Young Mother Icon Award. I was overjoyed; it's a feeling that's hard to put into words.
"I believe many others are just as, if not more, deserving. But perhaps this is a blessing — for me and for my children. I was truly speechless. I hope this encourages me to grow and become a better mother."
Bella, a mother of two, acknowledged her own imperfections but said the recognition inspired her to continue striving.
"I know I have many shortcomings, and I'm far from the perfect mum. But my children give me strength — they are my motivation to keep going."
She also shared heartfelt advice, particularly for young working mothers and single mums, urging them to prioritise time with their children.
"I may not be fully qualified to give advice, as I'm still learning too, but I'll share what I've experienced. Once you become a mother, your children naturally become your priority.
"What they need most is love and affection. Since I also take on the role of both mother and father, I choose to prioritise time over money. At this stage, while they're still little, quality time is everything.
"One day they'll remember that even though I was busy working, I still made the effort to be present, to make them happy, and to ensure they felt loved."
Bella encouraged fellow young mothers to always give their best — especially for their children.
"Keep moving forward. Don't be overwhelmed by worry about the future — that's not our burden to bear. We just need to go through the journey with trust and an open heart.
"Leave the rest to God. What matters most is appreciating every moment in the present and being grateful for what we have — that's the key."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
11 hours ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Syed Saddiq secures RM100k for Muar students' SPM prep at edu roadshow
KUALA LUMPUR: Muar Member of Parliament Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman recently teamed up with prominent personalities, including singers Nabila Razali and Bella Astillah, for the "Mula Awal Skor A+ SPM" educational roadshow. The roadshow, aimed to boost students' performance in the SPM examinations, was held at the Ideal Convention Centre (IDCC) in Shah Alam and generated considerable excitement among 4,000 SPM candidates. The celebrities shared their personal experiences, offered valuable advice, and motivated the students preparing for the upcoming examinations. Syed Saddiq also received an educational sponsorship of RM100,000 from the event's organiser, PTTI Tuition Centre. This significant contribution is earmarked to assist underprivileged SPM students in Muar, Johor, providing them with access to tuition classes and improved learning facilities. Syed Saddiq emphasised that this initiative represents a crucial investment in the future of Malaysian children from low-income families. "I must express my deepest gratitude to the PTTI team for their huge contribution," he said. "Education is indeed a priority for our children, and not everyone has the opportunity or ability to access quality tuition classes." An additional sponsorship of RM20,000 was channelled directly to the former Youth and Sports Minister. This sum will be used to purchase laptops and tablets, which will be distributed to students ahead of the Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration. The PTTI SPM A+ Roadshow featured motivational talks by artistes such as Bella Astillah, MK of K-Clique, Iman Troye, Zaki Yamani, Nabila Razali, and Asyraf Khalid.
Hype Malaysia
15 hours ago
- Hype Malaysia
(Video) Bella Astillah Flustered When Syed Saddiq Gives Her A Rose Onstage
It seems that fans couldn't get enough of actress-singer Bella Astillah and politician Syed Saddiq. Whenever these two attend the same event or are spotted together in public, you can be sure that the pair will go viral on social media. Previously, many were charmed by the young Member of Parliament (MP)'s romantic gestures towards the singer, most notably when he opened the car door for her and affectionately called her 'Sayang' during a recent event. Now, it seems he's at it again—this time during her stage performance. Here's what happened: Earlier this week, PTTI tuition centre shared a video on their Instagram page featuring Syed Saddiq holding a rose backstage while Bella Astillah performed at the recent PTTI Road Tour event in Shah Alam. As soon as the songstress finished her performance, the politician stepped onto the stage and presented her with the flower, prompting cheers and excitement from the crowd. As seen in the screenshot above, the performer couldn't help but blush at the sweet gesture, covering her face to hide her flustered reaction. The 32-year-old then left the stage with a cheeky smile, clearly pleased that his mission had been accomplished. 'Wooow so sweet!' the host teased the rumoured couple while fans continued cheering. The post instantly went viral with now over 160k views at the time of writing. Fans were quick to react to the video, with many commenting on how adorable Bella's response was to the romantic gesture. Some even noted that Syed Saddiq appeared visibly flustered, with his face turning red after handing the rose to his sweetheart. The MP's older brother, Syed Abdullah, also chimed in, saying he couldn't help but smile while watching the entire moment unfold. A few commented how the moment between the two stars reminded them of high school lovers. Although neither Bella Astillah nor Syed Saddiq has officially confirmed their relationship, it's clear they're no longer going out of their way to keep it under wraps. Now, all that remains is for that one special announcement that would certainly make this love story all the more memorable. Watch the viral clip below: Source: Instagram What's your Reaction? +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0
New Straits Times
4 days ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Bella's son Ayden completes 400m sea swim, receives praise from Syed Saddiq
KUALA LUMPUR: Actress and singer Bella Astillah's 8-year-old son, Ayden Adrean Aliff, has showcased remarkable swimming prowess by completing a 400-metre sea swim after only a week of training. Ayden participated in the Langkawi Swim Fest at Tanjung Rhu yesterday, much to the surprise and immense pride of his mother. Bella, 31, shared her astonishment and joy on Instagram, saying, "Ayden is amazing, after only a week of training he has been able to swim 400 metres in the sea." She added that his achievement left her speechless, noting, "He gave his all, and reached the finishing line safe and sound." The feat was particularly significant for Bella, who admitted to being traumatised by a past experience while swimming in the sea. "I thank God that Ayden is not like me, and he has proven himself to be brave and competitive," said Bella, who shed tears of joy upon hearing about her son's successful swim. Bella and her former husband, Singaporean singer and actor Aliff Aziz, have two children: Ayden and five-year-old Ara Adreanna Aliff. Adding to the celebration, Muar Member of Parliament Syed Saddiq also offered his support and praised Ayden for his accomplishment. In the comments section, he expressed his pride in Ayden's "amazing achievements" despite his young age. "He has the heart of a lion by conquering his first open water swim with just a week of training, despite being fearful of the sea before," Syed Saddiq posted. "His discipline, determination, and unwavering grit are truly inspiring. He embodies what it means to push boundaries and achieve greatness at any age. "Ayden, soon to be Iron Kid," he added.
