The Z List: Small town girl Tracie Sinidol makes it big, in pursuit of greater success

Tracie Sinidol gets completely candid with us about her ‘falling’ into the industry with complete chance and grace. Meet The Z List 2024, actress and beauty queen, Tracie Sinidol.

Beauty pageant contestants turned actresses are a tale as old as time, but one who can hold her own on-screen is one in a million. While many dream of the glitz and glamour of the big screen, Tracie Sinidol does not.

Hailing from the picturesque town of Tambunan, Sabah, Tracie’s journey from the quiet hills to the glittering lights of showbiz is a story worth telling. With her captivating Sabahan heritage and no-airs attitude, she’s a breath of fresh air. For Tracie, humility comes a long way as she greets everyone in the room like she’s met an old friend. Despite being one of the industry’s fastest rising stars, the actress shows no air of arrogance as she warms the room with her affable smile. 

Be it Sabahan hospitality or not, Tracie keeps her hometown and Sabahan culture at the forefront of everything she does — always showcasing the beautiful nuances of Sabah to her audience online. “I want to portray more Sabahan culture on screen — no matter how big or small. For me, whenever the role incorporates Sabahan slang, I’ll accept it immediately,” she tells me. 

She, a proud Sabahan and myself, a fellow Sarawakian, being on the same table has definitely sparked an instant kinship. While the interview was entirely in Bahasa Sabah, we both switched into our East Malaysian dialects very quickly — almost telepathic.

I sit down with Tracie Sinidol to talk about her rise to stardom, breaking out of her doppelganger’s shadow, and what the future holds.

Falling into the Industry

Tracie’s meteoric rise began in the beauty pageant circuit of Sabah. Initially uninterested in pageants, Tracie’s plunge into the Unduk Ngadau competition was more of a stroke of chance and a sponsor’s stubborn insistence than a lifelong dream.

“I actually didn’t have any interest in joining,” she recalls, amused by the series of events that pushed her into the spotlight. Her victory at Unduk Ngadau Tambunan led her to the state-level competition, where she approached the event with a nonchalant attitude.

“In all honesty, I had no hopes of winning. I thought to myself, I’m doing this for the experience,” she says, embodying every bit of an underdog you couldn’t help but root for. Her unexpected triumph at the state level was a prelude to another unexpected chapter: Dewi Remaja.

While Dewi Remaja is embedded in the West Malaysian subconscious, it was a complete mystery to the East Malaysian starlet. She retells the story of almost missing the audition as she wasn’t initially interested and going into the audition with nothing prepared.

“You didn’t know about Dewi Remaja?!” I shockingly ask, and she laughs, “Yeah, I didn’t know! I was like, what is this?” Her unprepared yet spirited approach saw her through the rigorous audition stages, eventually landing her a spot.

The competition was a series of reality checks for the star. In the first episode, Tracie found herself in the bottom four, a jolt that lit a fire. “It was a wake-up call. I told myself, wake up! Why are you here?” she remembers. This drive propelled her to the top 10 and ultimately to victory.

Playing the Role of the Ingénue

Tracie’s foray into acting was as unexpected as her entry into the pageant world. The Bornean ingénue never intended to become an actress, describing the transition as something that “just happened.”

Yet, her natural talent and charismatic presence have made her a rising star in the industry. Of course, no journey is without its struggles. One of her most significant hurdles has been linguistics. As a native Sabahan, Tracie struggles to perfect her Malay as her familiar Sabahan twang was too pekat (thick), as she would say.

“My accent is thick and at the time, I was still new in town, so I didn’t have many West Malaysian friends,” she shares. “So, to improve, I spoke to the crew and cast to master the accent. I would even call up my friends and ask them to say whatever was in my script so I could learn how a West Malaysian would say it.” One thing about Tracie is, if she wants it, she will put her whole heart into it.

In her rise to fame, Tracie would once again be a topic of conversation for her resemblance to established actress, Mira Filzah. While Tracie finds it flattering, it poses a challenge in carving out her own identity in the industry.

“They only see me as a Mira Filzah look-alike, so it’s like, who am I actually? What can I do? I’m here to create something for myself that when people see it, they’re like, ‘Oh, that’s Tracie!’” she asserts.

Strength in Family

Looking ahead, Tracie dreams of expanding her filmography, particularly in action films. “I wish I could do an action film. Not just acting, I want to do the stunts,” she reveals, driven by a desire to perform her stunts and conquer her fears.

I admit when looking at the polished beauty queen in front of me, the thought of her appearing in a Michelle Yeoh-esque action film isn’t the first thing I had in mind, but this is a Gen-Zer that is not afraid of coming out of her comfort zone. Her ultimate goal is to retire with a portfolio that includes at least one action film where she performs every challenging scene.

Tracie draws this bravery from her family’s support. “If I feel like I cannot do it, I will do it,” she states firmly, driven by the desire to provide a better future for her siblings. Their constant advice and encouragement have been pivotal in keeping her focused and humble.

“My mum always tells me, ‘Jangan lupa mana kita pijak. Jangan macam kacang lupakan kulit,’ (Never forget your roots. Never forget where you come from.)” she shares, emphasising the importance of remembering her roots and the people who supported her journey. This grounding influence has not only kept her centred but also motivates her to keep pushing forward, no matter the odds.

As Tracie continues to navigate the world of the silver screen, her journey stands out not just for its unexpected twists but for the grace and determination with which she has embraced them. And to those from an underrepresented background aspiring to enter the entertainment industry, Tracie offers this advice: “If you want something you have to get out of your comfort zone. Set a goal and always remain humble.”

interview MALLIE MARAN | editor-in-chief & creative direction MARTIN TEO | assisted by RONN TAN & YASMIN PUTERI SURAYA | stylist ISAAC CHONG | stylist assistant ZIYIN | photography EDMUND LEE (ONE3FOUR STUDIO) | videography POR JIA JUN | assisted by STANLEY LOH | makeup SHIYO JOO | hair CODY CHUA | styled in HERMÈS, LOUIS VUITTON, COACH

In its fourth year, The Z List 2024 continues to celebrate the inspirational and aspirational, as well as the most dynamic youths who find strength in empowering their communities through the work that they do. Working together, the Gen-Zers come in full force to make an impact strength on strength.