Natalie Prabha Surrenders to Summer Reverie to Talk About Personal Growth, Vacation Ideals & the Mindfulness of Matcha

Natalie Prabha comes full circle with Harper’s BAZAAR

For our June/July ’26 issue, model Natalie Prabha returns to our cover for the second time in four years. (Coincidentally, both times dripping in oodles of Cartier). The Sabahan beauty first graced the cover of Harper’s BAZAAR Malaysia in September 2022, sporting a pixie cut with her big brown eyes piercing through the reader’s gaze. In the interview, she shared with us her journey towards becoming a model, a vegan as well as a sustainability advocate. One has to ask, how different does it feel between then and being on the BAZAAR cover now?

“It feels quite different, honestly,” she answers. “I was still figuring out who I was then, both personally and professionally, so there was a lot of excitement but also a lot of uncertainty. Coming back almost four years later, I feel much more grounded and comfortable in my own skin. I’ve grown, made mistakes, learned a lot, and become more confident in my voice and the choices I make. Doing this cover now feels less like proving something and more like celebrating the journey so far. It’s a full-circle moment, and I’m incredibly grateful to be back with Harper’s BAZAAR.”

How have you grown since your last cover with BAZAAR? What has life taught you these past 4 years?

As years go by, the more experiences we collect, and those experiences make us wiser. Before this, I’d chase for external validation and not trust my own judgement. Times are different now: I’ve started making decisions without consulting anybody, without asking for advice, and have leaned into trusting my intuition. Most of the time you already know the answer to your own questions anyway.

So what have you been up to between then and now? I believe at that time you were based in Bali.

In Bali, I got a taste of my dream lifestyle at that time—the beach, the warm people, spirituality and modelling at the same time … it was amazing. And the food—gosh, the food! I was lucky enough to be able to pick the brains of food and wine extraordinaires there. It got me so inspired to start projects of my own—supper clubs, dessert pop-ups, and selling matcha too.

Alright, explain to us, why the obsession with matcha?

Matcha to me, is more than a drink—there’s a ritual to it. Preparing it forces me to slow down and to be present in the moment. I also appreciate the craftsmanship behind it, from how its grown and harvested to how different regions and producers express different flavours. In a world that’s constantly moving, matcha feels intentional. It’s energy boosting for sure, but it also represents a sense of balance and mindfulness that I find really appealing.

Where can we get the best matcha in KL?

Matcha Hero!

Summer is here. If you could escape to anywhere in the world for a vacation now, where would that be, and why?

Right now, I’m currently in Europe for summer— Italy to be exact! Usually, I’d go for a beach vacation, but this time I chose the lake of Garda and it’s beautiful here. Plus, we got to go to Natural Wine Day and it was so much fun!

What is the ideal vacation like to you?

It’s a mix between lying on the beach, going for a cold swim, devouring the best food the place has to offer and if there are waves to catch, I’ll be out surfing.

Personally, what makes the best souvenir from a holiday?

I’m a bit unconventional with these things haha. On my last trip to Paris, I brought back really good quality french butter and sea salt for my friends. So you guessed it, from my Italian trip, expect to receive olive oil.

Most meaningful holiday you’ve experienced, and why?

My dad and I share the same birthday. We’d try our best to do birthday trips just the two of us. My two favourite places we went together was Vietnam and Japan. They’re always so meaningful because my dad has this ability to make new friends easily and strike the most touching conversations with them. The last one I remembered was when we were just in a little trattoria in Osaka, having pizza. He was talking to these two diners about philosophies in life. Next thing I knew, the diners shed a tear and gave my dad a hug because they were so touched.

When you can’t travel to escape, what do you do to relax and de-stress?

Make matcha and meditate.

What would you say is one of the most underrated places to explore in Malaysia?

Danum valley in Lahad Datu.

You were born and raised in Sabah—one of Malaysia’s most stunning natural destinations. If someone had one week to spend there, where would you send them?

Sabah is HUGE. So many places to explore honestly and it’s tough to just pick one place. But for me, Sabah has the beauty of the mountains and beautiful beaches. So I would say spend a few nights around Kundasang and explore the areas around Mount Kinabalu—or climb the mountain even, haha—and enjoy the cool climate. Then spend the remaining time basking in the sun in Dinawan Island or if you don’t mind a drive to Kuala Penyu, there will be a new ClubMed there and I heard it’s going to be amazing!

Any future projects or plans?

Spending more time with my family, I hope.

Creative director & concept: Abdul Aziz Draim Senior art director: Khairani Ramli Videography: Jackie Mah (Dinoh Videography) Make-up: Khir Khalid Hair: Juno Ko Model: Natalie Prabha Shot on location at Villa Takun

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