Scars that Shine: Penny Soo, the Sum of the Sacrifices Made by the Women Before Me

By Penny Soo

When my grandma was just a young girl, she left everything she knew behind. She escaped from China during the civil war with nothing but the clothes on her back and a heart full of hope. She didn’t know what the future held. She didn’t speak Malay. She couldn’t read or write. But she carried something far more powerful—an unshakable determination to build a better life.

When she arrived in Malaysia, survival became her daily battle. She worked tirelessly, taking whatever jobs she could find, often going to bed hungry so that my mother could eat. She ate just one meal a day so that my mom could go to school. She believed that if her daughter could learn to read and write, she could break the cycle of struggle. That was her dream. Simple, yet profound.

My mother carried that same fire inside her. When she had me, she knew education was my key to independence, just as it had been hers. But opportunities didn’t come easy. She worked 16-hour shifts, seven days a week, pouring everything she had into making sure I had a future with choices.

I remember those long afternoons when I would come home from school, drop my bag by the door, and head straight to her small laundry shop. The scent of detergent filled the air. The hum of the machines never stopped. I would help her fold freshly washed clothes, feeling the weight of each neatly stacked bundle—not just of fabric, but of sacrifice. This was more than just work. It was the foundation of everything she was building for me.

There were times when I wished she had more time to sit with me, to ask about my day, to simply rest. But even as a child, I understood that this was her way of loving me. She wasn’t just earning a living—she was rewriting the future for both of us. And because of her, I became the first woman in our family to graduate from university.

My education was never just mine. It was the sum of the sacrifices made by the women before me. It was the price of their sleepless nights, their empty stomachs, their endless resilience. Their struggle paved the way for my success.

For years, success was defined by those who had access—access to elite networks, expensive branding, and glossy professional photoshoots. People who looked like us, who came from families like ours, weren’t often represented in the narratives of success.

My grandmother had no photos of the life she left behind. My mother never had the luxury of professional portraits capturing her journey. Their sacrifices weren’t documented in magazine spreads or celebrated in history books. But they shaped everything I am today.

Now, technology is shifting that power. With AI, I can create visuals that reflect the reality of people like me—entrepreneurs, dreamers, and builders who need access, not approval.

That’s why I feel such a deep connection to my work. It’s about removing barriers, breaking down walls, and rewriting the definition of success so that it no longer belongs only to those with the right connections or the right resources.

The women who embrace AI today will be the ones shaping how it’s used in the future. We have the chance to redefine representation—to make sure our stories, our struggles, and our legacies are seen, not just by the world, but by the generations that will come after us.

Just as my grandmother did for my mother.
Just as my mother did for me.
Just as I will do for the women who follow.

P.S. A rare photo of my mother and me in a moment when she wasn’t working—one of the few times we got to pause and just be together. A reminder that behind every sacrifice, there is love. Always.

Penny Soo is a Brand & Messaging Strategist who helps online coaches and service providers stand out, fully expressed and profitable—working just 4 hours a day. With 10+ years in branding and messaging, she crafts bold, high-converting narratives that attract premium clients effortlessly.

Penny is also an AI Image Creator, producing striking, high-quality visuals that amplify brand presence. Passionate about authentic self-expression, she empowers clients to own their voice and values in their brand messaging. A dynamic speaker, Penny shares sharp, actionable insights on brand strategy and messaging for online entrepreneurs. When she’s not working, you’ll find her training in circus arts or volunteering for local dog rescues.

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