With a following of more than 100,000 on Instagram and YouTube, this 24-year-old has kept her audience hooked through her travel adventures, her love of local cuisine, and her mastery of the Malay language.
But perhaps the most attention-grabbing event in her life thus far has been her recent conversion to Islam and marriage to local actor Abbas Mahmood.
As Dunsmore prepares to celebrate her first Hari Raya as a Muslim, she reminisced on her remarkable adventure that began as an undergraduate student pursuing an international business degree in Scotland – and her random choice of Malaysia for her study year abroad.
“I literally closed my eyes, went down the list of countries my university offered, and pointed at Malaysia,” she told FMT Lifestyle recently. “I thought, destiny has picked – and now I would say God has picked.”
She arrived in Malaysia in 2019 as an exchange student at Universiti Tun Abdul Razak in Kuala Lumpur.
While Dunsmore calls Malaysia home today, it wasn’t always this way. “During the first two weeks of being here, I called my dad and said: ‘I can’t do this. I’m just not fitting in. It’s so hot here and the food is so spicy’,” she recalled with a laugh.
Her perspective changed, however, when she began travelling across the country with local friends and discovered what Malaysians are like.
“They have the biggest heart,” she gushed. “If you need help, they’re there for you. Everyone’s really smiley, friendly and welcoming, and just want you to enjoy Malaysia.”
From a student navigating the unfamiliar streets of KL, Dunsmore embarked on the ride of her life upon discovering her passion for content creation in 2020.
Locals online were amazed to see a foreigner adopting Malaysian culture, attending open houses, wearing traditional costumes, and even speaking Malay.
Meeting the ‘famous Abang Bomba’
Her love story with actor Abbas Mahmood, to whom she was married in January, began against the backdrop of the Merdeka Parade.
“It was Alana’s first time at the parade, and my first time as well,” Abbas told FMT Lifestyle. “I was promoting my latest film, ‘Bomba The Movie: Legasi Wira Merah’. Alana posted a video on Instagram, reacting to the ‘famous Abang Bomba’ in the parade.”
A witty comment from Abbas on her post sparked a conversation that quickly evolved into a whirlwind romance.
“As soon as I met him, I thought, yes, he’ll be my husband,” Dunsmore recalled warmly. “We were engaged within a few months of meeting.”
Contrary to popular assumption, Dunsmore’s conversion to Islam last year had little to do with her marriage.
“Most people think Alana converted to Islam because she wanted to marry me. But that’s not true,” Abbas asserted. “She was learning about Islam for four years before she even met me.”
Truly, her conversion was years in the making, and it didn’t surprise many of her relatives and friends when she made it official.
“I experienced two Ramadans even before I was Muslim. I observed fasting and read the Quran, too,” she shared.
“The night before I took my shahada, I had that feeling of realising there was no going back. But, when you’ve accepted Islam in your heart, you will know this is the way forward.”
Now observing her very first Ramadan as a Muslim, Dunsmore gushed about how grateful she is for the unwavering support of her followers, who have respected her journey.
And as she embarks on a classic balik-kampung trip to Abbas’s hometown in Kelantan for Hari Raya, Dunsmore’s story from student in Scotland to popular influencer in Malaysia serves as a reminder that often, the most unexpected paths lead to life-changing discoveries.
“I could not ask for a better job,” she concluded happily, “and now I get to experience it with my husband.”