Once-shy girl now talk of town

There was a time when Nur Aamily Saffiya Muhd Zabari Izyan was too shy even to speak up in class.

Today, the 11-year-old Penang lass has found her voice far beyond the classroom, striking gold in the public speaking category at the iWISE London Global Final 2026 at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom.

Aamily, who was also named the third-best overall performer in the English category of the competition, said the achievement was the result of years of taking part in competitions and gradually learning to trust herself.

"I never imagined that the little girl who was once too shy to speak in class would one day stand on an international stage in the UK and be recognised as among the top performers.

"I think that was one of the moments when I realised, 'Wow, I have really come a long way,'" the SK Permatang Tok Mahat pupil told the New Straits Times.

Her confidence, she said, did not come overnight. It was built competition by competition, through practice, experience and the repeated challenge of standing before an audience.

Long before public speaking became her forte, Aamily took part in traditional dance and Young Innovators competitions, experiences that helped her overcome stage fright and taught her how to present herself before judges.

"At first, standing in front of judges and an audience was quite scary. But I kept doing it.

"Traditional dance helped me become more comfortable performing on stage, while Young Innovators taught me how to present my projects, explain my ideas and answer questions.

"Every competition gave me more experience and slowly helped me become more confident. When I started public speaking, I already had some stage experience."

For the competition in the UK, Aamily underwent two months of specialised training with two teachers. One helped sharpen her speaking and presentation skills, while the other worked on her critical thinking and ability to field questions.

London was not her first experience competing overseas.

In February, Aamily won a silver medal at a public speaking competition in Dubai.

"In Dubai, I faced a different challenge. I had to give an impromptu speech about recycling with very little preparation time, and I won a silver medal.

"That experience gave me more confidence and showed me that I could think and speak under pressure, even with minimal time to prepare.

"Looking back, I realise that every competition before London was a small stepping stone that prepared me for the next challenge.

"Before the results were announced, I was already quite confident that I could make it into the top three in the English category," she said.

For other children still hesitant to step into the spotlight, Aamily's advice is simple: "Don't be afraid to try."

"If you are afraid, start with something you enjoy. It could be dancing, presenting a project, storytelling or anything that gives you a chance to stand in front of an audience.

"Take one small step, practise and keep trying. You never know how far you can go until you try."

Earlier this month, Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek met Aamily and her family, presenting her with an iPad to support her learning and encourage her to explore new areas of knowledge.