“Oh my god, your boss is so hot.” As a self-proclaimed smart mouth, it is not often that I find myself at a loss for words. While it is a given to reserve niceties for a client out of professionalism, I found it both absurd and hilarious to casually nod along, unsure of the integrity involved when it comes to objectifying someone who clears my invoice. “You think he’s hot? Buy his products,” I usually laugh in response. Unlike the other subjects I have previously profiled, entrepreneur and content creator Han Pin Ma is neither a complete stranger nor someone I have merely witnessed on a screen. 

Having worked on his wellness label, Gote, I have had the pleasure of getting to know him on a personal basis. This was an opportunity to introduce Han Pin through a different lens — beyond the thirst traps, swoon-worthy travel content and glimpses into the early stages of his fatherhood. 

Parallel with the brawny, commanding stature of the all-new JAECOO J7 PHEV, the initial impression of Han Pin may come across as unyielding and rugged. Still, upon close interaction, one would be quick to dispel expectations of a stuffy display of machismo and instead observe facets of masculinity rooted in self-assurance.

“I was just a uni student who studied abroad and shared my travel experiences — where I ate, what I wore and places I visited. Instagram didn’t even have video back then, how we posted on our feed is similar to how we would post on Stories today,” Han Pin explains that he started creating content out of wanting to capture certain moments of his life.

Upon dating Jane Lau, best known as @janechuck, who was already an established content creator then, he discovered all the ways he could elevate his storytelling. “She taught me a lot, like how to improve my photography skills, knowing my angles and everything in between. That was how I came up with better quality content and slowly transitioned into becoming a content creator.”

While he noticed that there was public interest in his life, he did not know social media could be a full-fledged career until he met Lau. “There was a genuine curiosity from others who wanted to know what it was like being able to study abroad,” he shares. When asked if he minded being perceived by others, he coolly answers, “Honestly, I only share the things that I feel like sharing.”

In the present day, he boasts an impressive portfolio of ventures — running a gas station, a fitness studio, a wellness label and a livestream shopping platform — alongside raising a family with his wife. Where does he draw the line to maintain his privacy and navigate between all these different roles?

“I draw that line pretty clearly because I stick to a schedule. When I work, I work. When I spend time with the baby, I don’t touch the phone unless there’s a moment I want to capture.” Longtime followers would notice that he does not post in real time, but instead does it recap-style at the end of the day.

While he posts with an authentic point of view, he draws the line at emotionally unloading onto his followers. “We don’t tell others our problems and let them solve them for us. As a creator, there are so many who look up to you, so I don’t see myself as being the one who brings negativity and asks for solutions,” he confesses.

However, the goal is not to bottle it in and sweep it under the rug. He looks to resolve it with his personal support group before sharing it a few days later, choosing to showcase the problem-solving process instead. When Han Pin talks about how others do not follow to know your problems, he is not looking to portray a spotless, faultless persona. Instead, he prefers to add value to others this way.

At Gote, there was a clear message to redefine masculinity in its early launches, targeting men who felt emasculated in pursuit of self-care and hygiene. Has his vision of masculinity evolved with time?

“I think it has been the same, just the way we deliver the message is now different. We now understand that the ultimate takeaway is empowering confidence, and see masculinity as a component of being confident,” he expresses. Making it his mission to educate others to be more confident, he embraces a more detailed, actionable approach. “Maybe it means being more active, or taking care of your own hygiene and practising self-love. Masculinity is not about being alpha.”

In a time where male podcasters go viral for sexist statements and “alpha male” TikTokers build cult-like followings, the concept of masculinity currently holds a negative connotation in the zeitgeist. When does masculinity become a toxic trait?

“It isn’t just a Gen-Z phenomenon. Even back then, there was always this idea that men don’t cry, they should just work very hard, never ask for help and tell others what they need. I find all these ideas to be extremely toxic — if you need help, just ask.”

Stemming from the sentiment that a masculine individual is someone others can rely on, Han Pin points out the tendency for some to adopt a deluded sense of assurance that leads to their detriment. “When you don’t showcase your true self, how do you expect others to trust you?” he challenges.

Just as the J7 PHEV presents a resistant build that withstands the elements and versatility through its hybrid capabilities, Han Pin demonstrates a sense of fluidity that allows him to navigate through tough times.

“A common challenge that I experience is always not having enough time. Now that I have a bigger family, I have to manage my time even more wisely. How do I have the right amount of time for family, work and friends?”

Admitting to seeing his friends less these days, Han Pin finds this a work in progress to identify a routine that works. When it comes to avoiding burnout across the various ventures he juggles, he boils it down to one important factor: trust.

“You just gotta trust people: your teammates and employees. At the end of the day, you are just one person, and you can’t be doing everything yourself. While I understand wanting certain things to be done your way, letting others shine allows you to go even further.”

He embraces the idea of not needing to be the smartest person in the company. “When I hire, I want someone right for the job, smarter than me — for some bosses, they feel the need to know everything, perhaps it’s an ego thing — but not me.” He, too, holds space for mistakes as a way to harness growth.

For his baby August, a lesson Han Pin hopes to impart is the importance of kindness. “I feel that the most important trait to have in this world is to be kind. You might not be the best at what you do yet, but being kind allows others to give you support.”

As for himself, he anticipates a future where he gets to build an empire with his wife. “Jane and I have been doing different things by ourselves for the longest time. It would be interesting to observe how we can come together and run everything like a family business,” he shares.

It would also be interesting to observe how Han Pin would plan a weekend with the J7 PHEV, especially with its ability to travel up to 1,300km on a single tank and single charge.

“I’d go to Fraser’s Hill. Others may consider Cameron Highlands, but I find it a bit too crowded. We could just find a quiet spot, watch a movie on the cinema tonneau cover and just chill.” At his best, Han Pin is not bothered with going above and beyond to prove his masculinity — and perhaps the manliest thing about him is that he minds his own business and stays in his lane.

Photography: Chee Wei  

Creative Direction: Izwan Abdullah  

Styling: Liew Hui Ying 

Fashion Coordination: Asha Farisha 

Grooming: Daphne Wong | Insglobal Creation  

Photography Assistant: Max Ong  

Styling Assistants: Illy Azman, Aqeil Aydin  

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