Nominees

Every year, KLue seeks out ten deserving and outstanding individuals who have been making waves. It seeks out people who have the potential to do more in the future. We've always had a diverse list of nominees and this year is no different. From a climate activist to a race car driver, a photographer to a rapper, a sugar artist to an actor, 2009's top ten looks completely random but they're all primed for big things. Who will be this year's Blue Chilli? Take your pick - but it won't be easy.

Zahiril Adzim | Mohammed Shahidan A'madudin | Khairun Nisa Mohamed | Leona Chin |
Huen Su-Yin | Jazmi Izwan Bin Jamal | Jin Hackman | Mahathir B. Masri | Chong Chin Yew |
Suhaili Micheline Ahmad Kamil

Zahiril Adzim

25, Actor

Zaharil Adzim is definitely a force to be reckoned with in the world of performance arts. He first caught our attention when he played Boy in the hit flick Kami. His portrayal of the scheming drug-dealer stole the limelight. He proved that he had every flair for theatrics as Burn in Instant Cafe's award-winning production Air Con. He was nominated for the coveted Most Promising Artist award at the recent 7th Annual BOH Cameronian Awards. Further proof that his star is rising: Zahiril (or Bob as he prefers to be known) was at the 62nd Cannes Film Festival. He is the leading man in Chris Chong's Karaoke, the second Malaysian feature film to be screened at the prestigious festival. Bob has raw talent and an easy charm-not to mention, a killer knack for juggling both independent (Gadoh by Brenda Danker and Namron) and commercial (Popiah Pictures' Ghost) roles.

Mohammed Shahidan A'madudin

20, Fashion Photographer

When we first met Mohammed Shahidan A'madudin, better known as Idan, we took a quick liking to this bubbly and funny young lad. Idan's flair for fashion photography is nothing to joke about. With a big following on Flickr, Idan has branched out and teamed up with Malaysian designers, models and magazines. From working with upcoming designers like Amir Luqman and Hatta Dolmat, Idan has photographed Tengku Azura, Anita Aziz, Jaishana Logan and Devakhi Nathan amongst others. Although his portfolio reads like an extravagant shopping list, Idan admits, "I'm still new in fashion photography and I want to learn more about it."

Khairun Nisa Mohamed

23, Climate Activist

Khairun Nisa Mohamed is a role model for our generation. In the heated environment (no pun intended) of climate change and green concerns, Khairun is not content just playing armchair critic- she's out there saving the world and getting her voice heard! This bubbly Communications major has been involved in various green movements since the age of 9. She was the first Malaysian student at the 14th Conference of Parties (COP14) to the United Nations Framework Convention of Climate Change and was also the country's first recipient of the Bayer Young Environmental Envoy award. Currently, Khairun is prepping for her overland travel trip to Australia-that means she won't be flying! Khairun's personal mission is to "convince my peers, young people, that climate change is the single, most pressing issue of our generation." She's got our attention.

Leona Chin

23, Drift Car Racer

Not many young women decide to become a drift car racer. Whatever it takes, Leona Chin has it. Her passion for racing started when she was still in high school. She would follow guy friends to see drift events. When she was offered a ride one day, the rest was easy. In 2007, she was selected to become part of the all-girls Red Bull Rookies Team. She completed her degree a year later and went on to compete in the highly competitive Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race (MME) where her team finished in 6th place. Leona is on course to become a professional racer. Watch her burn up the track!

Huen Su-Yin

23, Sugar Artist

Huen Su-Yin took the first step by starting a blog on baking. Readers thronged to read the stories about her triumphs and failures-her blog is currently third in the top 30 Australian food blogs (according to Technorati) with over one million hits and counting. Over a short time, she quickly proved that she had undeniable talent in the kitchen. Su-Yin's baked creations are quirky and elaborate art pieces that take unusual forms, from designer handbags to Super Mario Bros. (which landed her a feature in the Los Angeles Times). In June 2009, Su-Yin took her thriving business one step further and launched Delectable in The Gardens Mall, Midvalley City.

Jazmi Izwan Bin Jamal

23, New Media Artist

Even though Jazmi Izwan could easily be mistaken for an average shy guy, this new media artist totally rocked the Blue Chilli shoot! Last seen with his curious interactive light installations at The Light Show 2009 last April, Jazmi was drawn to the new media artist movement after having studied such subjects as interactive installations, generative arts and sound art in university. Citing the likes of Toshio Iwai, Joshua Davis and Camille Utterback as sources of inspiration, Jazmi's interactive installations are so cutting-edge that the audience can affect a performance or even participate in it. When he's not experimenting with technology, Jazmi freelances as a creative designer and a sound artist.

Jin Hackman

22, Rapper

One would never guess from Tang Eu-Jin's quiet demeanour that he had a book of rhymes. Eu-Jin goes by the name Jin Hackman and it is this name which has been making waves-first in the underground scene and now, creeping into the mainstream. He gets dap for being a class A rapper, finishing second in the finale of the Think You Got Skillz? MC battle tournamet and it seems like his hard work has paid off. Not only is he a Blue Chilli finalist, he's been nominated in 8TV's Shout! Awards in the Flava category alongside local hip hop heavyweights Joe Flizzow, Phlowtron, Ahli Fiqir and more. He may seem like the underdog amidst the competition but Jin has the support of the hip hop community, as well as a stellar debut album entitled Jinius At Work which critics have been raving about.

Mahathir B. Masri

26, Graffiti Artist/Curator

Mahathir B. Masri is better known as THEY. The Malaysian Institute of Art graduate (and best student in his batch!) began his career as an artist and designer of street art nine years ago. Since then THEY's works have graced the walls not only in KL, but Turkey, France and New Zealand too. A proud recipient of last year's coveted Piala Seri Endon Batik Award, THEY runs his own space called They Art Studio. Located in Central Market's Annexe building, the studio specialises in customised mural designs, graffiti, shoes and caps. When asked to comment on his work, THEY said, "Graffiti is the best medium to communicate between artist and society."

Chong Chin Yew

28, Artist/Director

Chin Yew's story is one for the books. Forced into a tedious nine-to-five fresh out of school, Chin Yew slogged through the days feeling like he was missing something from his life. That missing piece was the pursuit of art. He quit his stable job, rented a room for a month, locked himself in and proceeded to paint 40 pieces, documenting his efforts in his blog, 30 Day Artist is now a global effort, where a new artist takes upon the challenge Chin Yew did. The works from that month-long lock-in turned into an exhibition at Seni Gallery entitled The Boy Who Loved Clouds. They also birthed a picture book of the same name. Chin Yew also published a graphic novel called I See So Many Butterflies in two volumes. When not immersing himself in the world of art, Chin Yew participates in TV production. Chin Yew is an exemplary Blue Chilli nominee for this reason-for fulfilling a dream, no matter how hard it may seem at first.

Suhaili Micheline Ahmad Kamil

25, Dancer/Choreographer

At 17, Suhaili Micheline entered Melbourne's Victorian College of the Arts where she spent half of her day dancing and the other half on academic studies. In Australia, Suhaili collaborated with a number of well-known Australian choreographers before returning to KL with an honours degree. Suhaili's talent in both dance and choreography has created waves in the arts community. In 2007, she was a runner-up on 8TV's inaugural So You Think You Can Dance. Suhaili received three nominations at this year's BOH Cameronian Arts Awards. She won two: Most Promising Artist and Best Featured Performer. When Suhaili's not winning awards, she teaches at Aurora Ballet School and Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan Kebangsaan.