She thought it was just a sportswear ad: How Malaysian model Vibha Rajish ended up on set with Zendaya (VIDEO)

Malaysian model Vibha Rajish, born in Kuala Lumpur and raised in Petaling Jaya, recently appeared alongside Hollywood star Zendaya in a campaign video for Swiss sportswear brand On. — Picture via hahahamodels.com and Instagram/vibhaaaaaa

By Ian Jeremiah Patrick

First Published: Friday, 16 Oct 2026 5:30 PM MYT

Last Modified: Friday, 16 Oct 2026 5:33 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 — When Malaysian model Vibha Rajish auditioned for what she thought was an ordinary sportswear commercial, she had no idea she would soon be sharing the screen with Hollywood star Zendaya.

In fact, the 23-year-old almost skipped the audition altogether because she had a wedding to attend in Belgium.

Instead, her decision to give it a shot landed her a role in an action-packed campaign for Swiss sportswear brand On, featuring Zendaya in a cinematic showdown with a group of female martial artists.

Titled Zendaya in Your New Favourite Action Movie, the two-minute campaign film opens against a striking backdrop of brutalist concrete architecture, with Zendaya being pursued through the city by a group of fighters.

Vibha makes a fleeting appearance between the 1:08 and 1:11 marks, playing one of the martial artists targeting the actress.

Released on YouTube on October 1, the campaign marked a significant milestone for Vibha, who told Malay Mail she felt emotional, grateful and proud to have been part of the production.

“It was so surreal that this little girl from Bandar Utama was about to meet, let alone act alongside Zendaya in her prime,” she said.

When ‘Z’ turned out to be Zendaya

Vibha’s brush with Hollywood began with an unusually vague casting call for a “sportswear ad”.

The only instruction was to turn up wearing sportswear.

With a wedding in Belgium already on her calendar, she initially considered giving the audition a miss.

She eventually went along, and just two days before filming, learnt that she had landed the job and needed to return for the shoot.

At the time, she saw it as an opportunity to earn some extra money for her summer holidays.

What she didn’t know was that she was about to work alongside Zendaya — or that the actress’s celebrated stylist, Law Roach, would also be involved in the production.

“Initially there was no mention of Z (as we called her on set).

“I arrived on set for the rehearsals and passed two unusually large trailers.

“Didn’t think much of it.

“Until I met the other girls who had been training since the week before, and they asked how I was feeling.

“‘Feel about what?’ I remember saying, and everyone started laughing.

“Then they broke the news to me: the Z on the trailer I passed was for Zendaya, and the L trailer was for Law Roach (who I’m also obsessed with),” she added.

For a young Malaysian model who had arrived expecting a straightforward commercial shoot, it was quite the revelation.

And despite the hectic filming schedule, Vibha found Zendaya to be warm and considerate towards everyone on set.

The actress even offered her pizza — although nerves got the better of her.

“It was a very hectic few days but yes! She was lovely to everyone, she even offered me pizza.

“No, I didn’t take it cos I was too nervous and freaked out lol,” she shared.

From Bandar Utama to Prague

Born in Kuala Lumpur and raised in Petaling Jaya, Vibha describes her childhood as quintessentially Malaysian, with her schools all located within a 2km radius of her family home.

“I feel like I had a pretty standard Malaysian upbringing.

“I went to the tadika (kindergarten) in my taman, SJKC then SMK, all within a 2km radius of my house,” she said.

Malaysian model Vibha Rajish (right) appears in On’s action-packed campaign video, ‘Zendaya in Your New Favourite Action Movie’. — Picture via YouTube/On and Law Roach

Her journey into modelling began at 16, when she was looking for a way to help pay for treatment for her beloved cat, MJ, who had been diagnosed with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).

With the Covid-19 pandemic making retail jobs difficult to come by, she enlisted the help of a neighbourhood friend who was an aspiring photographer.

The arrangement was simple: he would gain photography experience, while she would have photographs to help her pursue modelling opportunities.

“That’s where it all began!” she said.

Her next chapter took her to Prague, a city that had captured her imagination after she first encountered it in a fantasy book.

The Czech capital’s relatively affordable cost of living compared with other European cities also appealed to her as a place to study.

During her first year there, she was approached by a modelling scout and subsequently signed with an agency.

For a time, she balanced her studies with modelling assignments and part-time jobs to cover her living expenses.

“But since the last two years, modelling and acting have become my bread and butter.

“I love it here so much, but I also love spending the winter back home in Malaysia!” she said.

A homecoming in the making

Although the On campaign has given Vibha another memorable addition to her portfolio, her ambitions extend beyond modelling.

Having spent five years abroad, she is keen to explore more acting opportunities closer to home, particularly in Bahasa Malaysia.

“I would love to do some acting in Malaysia and in Bahasa specifically.

“My Malay has deteriorated a little since living abroad for five years, but I love a challenge and it would be so special to me to do something local.

“I’ll be back in January so I’m just excited to be back home, eat good food and see what Malaysia has in store for me,” she concluded.