02/04/2025

LYFE WEDNESDAY | APR 2, 2025

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South Korean girl group Aespa wins Group of the Year.

Girl power o Women in music grace blue carpet

American singer-songwriter Megan Moroney sports an all-black look, keeping it classy and classic.

Blackpink’s Jennie wears a ruby red Zuhair Murad dress with a plunging, sweetheart neckline.

Billboard’s Impact

LYFE’S LOOKBOOK T HE 2025 Billboard Women in Music Awards on Saturday in Los Angeles, California, US celebrated the influence and contributions of women across the music industry. The evening honoured artistes and industry leaders with performances, tributes and awards. This year’s honourees included Doechii as Woman of the Year, Erykah Badu received the Icon Award, Aespa as Group of the Year and Angela Aguilar with the Breakthrough Award, among others.

honouree and South African sensation Tyla.

I Love You, I’m Sorry hitmaker Gracie Abrams wins Songwriter of the Year Award.

Billboard’s Rising Star American singer Muni Long.

American singer-actress Becky G.

Contrasting the blue carpet, actress Meg Donnelly opts for a lime green mini by Rachel Gilbert, paired Charles & Keith platforms in the same colour. – ALL PICS FROM REUTERS

American singer-songwriter Gabi Sklar dons a black column maxi.

Malaysians shop smarter for Raya 2025, prioritising budget, trust

MALAYSIAN consumers are shopping earlier than ever, with 98% of shoppers beginning their Raya purchases as early as the fourth quarter of 2024, according to Shopee Malaysia’s Raya 2025 Buyer Trends Study. This trend highlights a growing preference for early planning, allowing buyers to take advantage of year-end sales and promotions to maximise savings. The remaining 2% make last-minute purchases, typically for gifts and fresh festive or unexpected essentials right before the celebrations begin. The study, conducted with 1,500 Shopee users, highlights a strong budget-conscious mindset, with seven in 10 (70%) shoppers keeping

traditions. The remaining 10% focus on travel essentials, gadgets and automotive products, indicating a segment of shoppers are gearing up for their balik kampung journeys or family holidays. As Malaysians adopt earlier, more strategic and value-driven shopping habits, secure and seamless e-commerce experiences have become increasingly essential. Reliable sellers, flexible payment options and platform-wide savings play a key role in helping consumers make informed purchases while maximising value. As digital retail continues to evolve, e-commerce platforms are shaping a more convenient and trusted shopping environment.

buyers value authenticity, social proof and real-time engagement over static posts, making live commerce a preferred way to explore and secure the best deals during peak shopping seasons such as Raya. The findings further reveal 70% of Raya shoppers purchase fashion and beauty products, reinforcing the cultural significance of dressing up and self-care during the festive period. This category includes traditional attire, modest wear, footwear, accessories, makeup and skincare essentials. Beyond fashion, 20% of shoppers prioritise household items, festive food and gift hampers, reflecting preparations for hosting family and friends as well as cultural gifting

transactions and platform reliability when making purchases. The remaining 25% of consumers emphasise product variety, convenience and community-driven insights, often relying on seller ratings, peer recommendations and Shopee’s affiliate marketing programs to guide their purchasing decisions. The study also highlights a strong buyer preference for interactive, real-time content when discovering Shopee’s Raya deals, with a majority relying on affiliate recommendations. Notably, four in five Malaysians tune to Shopee Live and Shopee Video content, drawn to the ability to see products in action, access exclusive deals and get instant answers to their questions. This trend highlights how

their Raya expenses under RM500. Among them, about half, set a budget between RM300 and RM500. These higher-spending shoppers tend to prioritise bulk purchases for family gatherings, festive gifting and home upgrades, suggesting spending habits are influenced by family size, hosting responsibilities and cultural traditions. When asked on the feature that gives the most confidence when shopping online for Raya, 75% of respondents chose Shopee’s secure shopping ecosystem, citing flexible payment options, Shopee Guarantee and Shopee Mall, as key factors influencing their trust. This suggests consumers increasingly prioritise risk-free