Friendship Day is just a couple of days away! While we shan’t wait for one particular day to celebrate love and friendship, 30th of July is a day where we all reflect upon the bonds that we’ve made; for some friendships are here for a season or a reason, whereas others last for a lifetime!
Some say that best friends are siblings that we get to choose.
True friendship is when someone knows you better than yourself; someone who celebrates you for who you are, triumphant moments or time of despair, they are always there to cheer for you and lift you up. They speak words when it’s needed, and they share the silence with you when words fail to string into sentences.
In the days to come, Sevenpie will be releasing real stories about the best of friends (some of you might even recognize them from social media!). Through their stories, you will be able to learn a thing or two about how they friendships blossomed, and in spite of the dynamic of their friendships, how they weather through the turbulence of life, together.
Many have known this pair for their stunning travel pictures together via #CxCwanderlust. For Carmen and Chenelle, nothing can stand in between their friendship and theirs would inspire every pair of BFFs out there to encapsulate fun times together in pictures. The pair shares with us the craziest thing they have done on their trips and their mantra to keeping a strong sisterhood despite their different personalities!
So get comfy, and grab your best pals because these are reads that you don’t want to ignore!
Carmen Layrynn & Chenelle Wen
1. Hi Carmen and Chenelle, it’s really wonderful to have the both of you with us here for Sevenpie’s Friendship Day interview! Between the both of you, would you say that you are complete opposites? Or do both of you have so many similarities with each other, that you girls are always “in-synced”?
CARMEN: I would say that Chenelle and I are kind of in-between: we have our differences and similarities. Chenelle and I have different personalities. Chenelle is more of an extrovert, able to socialize with anyone she meets, but I’m more of an introvert when it comes to meeting new people. But we do share a lot of similar taste in art, style, and our preferences!
CHENELLE: I personally think that we are opposites. We both have different lifestyles: I’m the outgoing one whereas Carmen is more of a stay-home person. Despite our different personalities, we would always have endless conversations!
2. We’ve seen your travelling photos from #CxCwanderlust, and it was absolutely beautiful and indeed a #friendshipgoal! Can you share with us some of the silliest things you have done together on your trips?
CARMEN: I don’t think it’s more of the silliest thing we have done: because on our trips, there would always be something hilarious that happen, haha! But, I think the craziest thing we both did was when we decided to do plastic surgery together and we made our decision within one to two weeks time!
CHENELLE: This isn’t the silliest, but I think the craziest thing we have done together would be doing plastic surgery in Korea!
3. Being best friends, have you both ever been annoyed at each other before? How do both of you overcome your differences?
CARMEN: We do have small arguments, but we’ll always find the time to talk it out with each other. No argument could change our relationship with each other. Just like in any family, we would fight with our parents, our siblings, because we have different point of views. But, no matter the arguments, a family still stays as family. Nothing could change the relationship.
For me, my circle of close friends is like family. We shouldn’t let the little things affect our relationships. Instead, talk it out just like how we talk to our own family members.
CHENELLE: Of course! To me, Carmen and I are more like a family. Arguments are definitely unavoidable. Carmen and I tend to talk things out and solve our arguments through conversations. Despite any arguments, we understand deeply that both of us really care about each other.
4. What was the most touching thing that both of you have done for one another?
CARMEN: For me, it would be the time when Chenelle helped my now-husband in planning his proposal to me! Not only that, she surprised me by making an appearance at the proposal. She lied to me saying that she was busy and could not meet me that day.
CHENELLE: Carmen has always been there for me during my breakups. That to me had been the most touching thing she has done for me. She would check on me, like how a sister would, and make sure I am alright.
Oh and, on my birthday last year, where Carmen surprised me with all of my other good friends for the first time!
5. Both of you are among the most influential content creators in Malaysia! Do both of you often share ideas with one another in terms of building your career and your work? Share with us how you both have been an aspiration to one another!
CARMEN: Thank you for the compliment, Sevenpie! But, I wouldn’t say I am one of the most influential content creators in Malaysia, because there are still so many things for me to learn! Yes, both Chenelle and I do share ideas in our work! As both of us love the minimalist style, we understand each other quite well when it comes to sharing photography or business ideas.
CHENELLE: Yes, we do share ideas with each other! When it comes to our work, we are very transparent with each other and would never want to compete with each other, despite being in the same field. I love how we are always exchanging ideas with each other to generate more contents.
6. Between the both of you, what is your mantra in keeping this friendship strong, especially in the front of social media?
CARMEN: Just being ourselves on-screen and off-screen, because that’s what I love about us!
CHENELLE: I guess being transparent and true to each other is very important in keeping the friendship strong.
7. Are there any future travel trips together that we can look out for on #CxCwanderlust?
CARMEN: We just came back from a trip to Krabi, and are planning to travel again at the end of this year. But, I would like to keep it a surprise for the next destination.
CHENELLE: Definitely! We just came back from Krabi and are already planning for our next trip this year-end!
8. Being in the fast-paced media industry that entails with a lot of social commitments, how do both of you still make time to spend with one another?
CARMEN: Although Chenelle and I are not sisters by birth, we are pretty much like twins! We would text each other, like almost every day? We’ll have phone calls or FaceTime if we did not meet each other for weeks. And if both of us have the time, we would make it a point to meet each other.
CHENELLE: Carmen and I do not stay in the same city. But we always make an effort to see each other with any chance we get. Also, we chat on the phone very often!
9 Share a message with one another this Friendship Day!
CARMEN: To my annoying little best friend, I can’t thank you enough for being there for me, whenever and wherever. People often say: “Best friends are hard to find” because the very best is already mine. We’ll be friends forever because you already know every detail about me, so I’m keeping you forever. I love you!
CHENELLE: I’m thankful to have you in my life. You’re like a sister to me. You accept me at my worst and you’re always there for me when I fall. I like being with you because I can be myself. And that’s why I love you. You’re my BFF and nobody on this earth could replace you. I promise I will never leave you behind.
