To understand the appeal of "Melayu Janda" in entertainment, one must first understand the cultural weight of the word itself. The Malay word janda (plural janda-janda ) refers to a woman who was previously married but is now without a husband, either due to divorce or the death of her spouse. According to a study published in the Multilingual Academic Journal of Education and Social Sciences , the term is in Malaysian society. The research, which surveyed 381 respondents, discovered that in general, the media in Malaysia portrayed janda negatively. However, the same study found that there are still positive portrayals of janda in the media as independent individuals , especially regarding their role as mothers.

The story of the Malaysian janda is reaching global stages. Anna Jobling, a 25-year-old actress, recently won the at the Seoul International Drama Awards for her role as a single mother in the TV3 drama Hai Cinta, Dengarkanlah! . The win places her alongside K-pop star Jisoo of Blackpink, proving that the narrative of the resilient Malaysian mother has international commercial appeal.

Among younger generations, the taboo associated with divorce is decreasing. What was once a silent issue has become a more casual topic of discussion on social media sites.