“When a woman raises her voice or pushes her limits, it’s often questioned or criticised, while the same behaviour is normalised for men. That double standard is worth addressing,” she adds.
Khai Wern didn’t expect her video to go viral, as social media isn’t her main hustle. But as we all know, the internet has a mind of its own.
When asked how other gym-goers react to her screaming, she says: “We all train in the same environment and share a close-knit community, and I’ve made great friendships in this high-energy environment. Most people at my gym do it (scream) too, and they’re very used to it.”
She’s seen the hate comments, but is not affected by them at all.
“They don’t unsettle me, because I stand firmly behind my message. I’m self-aware enough to understand what I represent, and confident enough to put myself out there and stand my ground,” she adds.
As for the comparisons to the “screaming plane influencer” and the jokes that followed, Khai Wern has seen them as well, but says: “I laughed about the reference. I thought it was really hilarious.”
Despite the wave of negativity online, Khai Wern chooses to stand by what she shared.
She says: “If my message triggers you, that reaction says more about the system we’re used to than about me. Resistance doesn’t make me retreat — it reinforces my purpose. I’m not here to fit comfortably into outdated expectations; I’m here to challenge them.”
Photos: khaiwern/ Instagram
