They might steal each other’s clothes or squabble over who gets to hold the PlayStation, but when it comes to having their siblings’ backs, there’s no room for doubt at all. We speak to the Kuan sisters, Christinna and Jestinna, on their unbreakable family bonds.

“In terms of personalities, she’s an E and I’m an I,” says Christinna Kuan over the hustle and bustle of the studio, as the GRAZIA Malaysia team wraps up the morning’s photoshoot. “She does take the lead most of the time, but she also listens. She’s more organised; I’m more go-with-the-flow. We’ve learned to meet in the middle.”

“We’re similar in some ways, but we express ourselves differently,” adds elder sister Jestinna Kuan. “I’m more of an extrovert, while she’s closer to an introvert who can be extroverted when she chooses to.” That suits their chosen career paths to a T, then: Jestinna as the entrepreneurial, outgoing musical artist and content creator, and Christinna as Mskuan, the enigmatic influencer and fashion tastemaker.

The Kuan sisters were brought up in Penang and were fortunate enough to enjoy what Jestinna describes as a childhood “full of laughter and love.” Their parents were ever-ready to go the extra mile for them: Christinna’s first-ever photographer was her father, who would take photographs of her outfits—her OOTDs—all around Penang, while Jestinna (who began dancing and singing from the age of four) was encouraged to perform at competitions and events by her mother.

“Our family wasn’t just about rules or structure—there was always space for jokes, fun, and a lot of teasing,” says Christinna. Lots of that still goes on, particularly when questions are raised about clothes-stealing, as both sisters adore getting new clothes: “We do raid each other’s closets sometimes, but Jestinna’s style is expressive and cute, and mine is more minimalistic and neutral-toned.”

So far, the occasional act of wardrobe thievery has done nothing to dent the relationship between the two siblings. “We’ve always had that sisterly bond, but I’d say we’ve definitely grown closer over the years, especially after working together,” muses Jestinna. “My little sister is the sweetest person I know, and I’m lucky to have her because she makes all my days better and brighter.”

“I was more rebellious and she was more disciplined,” Christinna says of their younger years. “But as we grew up, we really started to understand each other. There’s something comforting about knowing your sister always has your back.” It’s all the more important, given that the Kuan sisters also run creative agency UFCO Media with their brother Perry, handling content production, events, and social media marketing.

“We each bring different strengths,” Jestinna notes. “She’s creative and instinctual, and I’m more structured. We’ve really grown to understand each other’s working styles.” From Christinna’s perspective, the experience of working together has been a similarly unifying one: “We’ve really found our groove. I’ve learned to appreciate Jestinna’s patience and how detailed she is. UFCO Media has brought us so much closer, as we always have discussions and meetings with our family to ensure everyone has the same vision.”

Even if the two siblings roll their eyes at each other’s quirks—Jestinna tuts at Christinna’s Netflix addiction (“Even when she’s eating or going to bed, she’s still watching Netflix!”), while her younger sister feels Jestinna’s niceness sometimes risks ignoring her own voice—their shared love and support seem unshakeable. “Christinna’s growth in confidence—seeing her voice become stronger online and offline—makes me proud beyond words,” smiles Jestinna, “And, of course, her being at Milan Fashion Week representing Malaysia.”

“For me, it’s how Jes never gave up on music: she’s always stayed true to her artistic self, even when it wasn’t the easy path,” Christinna insists. “She’s also just launched her very first pet supplement brand, Chubee!” Further into the future, the Kuan sisters intend to keep family at the heart of their shared goals, which include expanding UFCO Media, taking care of their parents, and even building a space where they can ‘create and chill’ with their future families.

All of these dreams will need plenty of hand-in-hand cooperation between siblings, but the sisters already know how to keep that going. “Grace,” is Jestinna’s answer. “Give each other space to grow, mess up, and come back stronger. Always cheer each other on.”

“Talk things out,” says Christinna. “And most of all, don’t forget to laugh with each other. That’s the glue.”

Photography: Ng Joe Ee
Creative Direction: Ian Loh
Styling: Ian Loh, Joseph Cheng
Hair: Ckay Liow
Makeup: Bao
Styling Assistants: Sarah Chong, Adrianna Haris
Photography Assistant: David Ong
Art Department: Danial Yap, Adzmi Zawawi
Videography: Adam Amin