Dee Alimin is the kind of travel influencer who turns your “I need a vacation” daydreams into serious life goals—while making sure you’ve got your halal snacks packed. Just back from a birthday bash in the Maldives (because, duh, tropical paradise), Dee knows how to blend the perfect mix of stunning content and genuine, heart-in-the-moment experiences. Her unforgettable dolphin sighting? Pure magic. It’s moments like that which remind her why she ditched the typical 9-to-5 to travel the world and inspire others to do the same. Whether she’s capturing the perfect beach shot or exploring a hidden gem in a small town, Dee’s all about diving deep into the soul of each destination—and making sure her fellow Muslim travellers feel confident doing the same.
What sets Dee apart is her commitment to keeping it real—both on the road and on her feed. She’s not just collecting passport stamps for the sake of it. For Dee, travel is about connecting with the local culture, experiencing the hidden corners of the world, and making it all feel a little more accessible. And, of course, there’s her signature mix of style, adventure, and a healthy dose of ‘living in the moment’—because that perfect shot will happen naturally when you’re truly having fun.
Now, with her next trip around the corner (hello, Melbourne!), we’re diving into what makes Dee tick as a travel influencer, how she balances the beauty of travel with the reality of it all, and what exciting adventures are on her radar next. Get ready to hear more about her wild experiences, must-see destinations, and the ultimate tips for balancing content creation with pure travel bliss in our interview with Fathom’s September cover star!
You just celebrated your birthday in the Maldives—living the dream! What’s one unforgettable moment from that trip that made you think, ‘This is exactly why I became a travel influencer’?
“It was the dolphin search for me. It was exhilarating to be on a speed boat in the middle of the open sea, just sailing around hoping for a glimpse.
Even though I’ve had a dolphin sighting experience in Australia just 2 months prior, it just goes to show that there’s never two same experiences. The conditions, environment and the people you’re with makes every experience unique. ”
The Maldives is often seen as the pinnacle of tropical paradise. Did you feel the pressure to capture the "perfect shot"?
“I tend to feel the pressure before I fly for a trip. I’ll be busy saving content to do or deciding which I should prioritise.
But I always remind myself that right now only happens once. At the end of the day, I want to capture moments where I’m truly happy and enjoying my present - the perfect shot will naturally follow. ”
As someone who inspires wanderlust, how do you want your followers to experience travel through your eyes?
“I want to share the wonder I feel every time I discover the heart of a place – its people, its culture, its hidden treasures. I love diving into a destination like a local, and my greatest hope is that my followers can experience the everyday beauty that makes each place so special.
I also want to make travelling more accessible for my Muslim followers. As a Muslim myself, I understand that food and safety can be a concern. I hope that by sharing my experience as a Muslim traveller, I can make other Muslims feel confident to travel and make it easier for them to find halal local food. ”
Your travels span beaches, cities, and more—what’s one underrated destination you think the world needs to know about?
“Smaller towns! I might be biased because I was born in one but they hold a certain charm to them. The locals are usually friendlier, you get to explore hidden gems and they usually have the best food. ”
What’s one area of travel content you’re excited to explore more of in the future? What’s calling your name?
“I definitely want to try more adventure travelling while I’m young. I’ve always preferred cultural experiences but I do want to have more adventurous experiences while I still can. ”
With a passport as full as yours, how do you strike a balance between showcasing travel and staying authentic to the more relatable, ‘real-life’ moments?
“Honestly, it’s not that hard. A 1 minute video only showcases 1 minute of travel - there’s another 23:59 hours where the camera is not turned on.
Capturing a memorable moment takes only a few seconds and then you get to enjoy the rest of it in real-time. And the best part is that you have these few seconds that live on permanently so you can relive the moment. ”
Looking ahead, what’s the next destination on your radar, and what unique story do you hope to share with your followers from that trip?
“My next trip is tomorrow actually! I’ll be headed to Melbourne for 2 weeks for a little work slash vacay. Its been awhile since I’ve done an extended stay in a country so I’m excited to share how a digital nomad life would look like in Melbourne.
I’ve also got family and friends there so I’m hoping to check out some local faves as well!”
Travelling as often as you do, how do you keep your beauty routine consistent while on the go? Any holy grail products you swear by to survive long flights and beach humidity?
“I literally live from a bag nowadays haha. I just trial and error to see what ingredients or products that work for me. I do switch up my beauty products, but my current must-haves while travelling are the Krave Beauty Oat Cream Moisturizer and the Skin1004 Calming Toner. It’s the best for sensitive dry skin girls like me!”
What’s your secret for keeping your skin glowing after days of sun exposure or even adapting to the different environments and weather as you visit different countries?
“My go-to tip is to get facials. I do mine at Dr Ko when I’m back in Malaysia and that really helps.
Also, always use a good sunscreen with at least SPF 50. I love the Ultraviolette Tinted Veil Sunscreen and the Melixir Vegan Airfit Sunscreen”
How does exploring different cultures and places influence your beauty style? Have you picked up any unexpected tips or products from the countries you’ve visited?
“I’m an easily influenced person hahaha. I get excited seeing the different fashion styles and beauty practices, which makes me FOMO and want to adapt. Just this year, I went to Makkah for Umrah and now I can’t stop wearing abayas. But that’s the fun part of travelling - you get to learn about new styles and expand your range.
One beauty trick I still use until now is applying a face mask every other day. It was something a Korean friend told me about when I was there and its been a game changer since. ”
Moving forward, what can we look forward to from Dee Alimin?
“Oof tough question. I’m not sure where I’m headed next, but you can definitely expect more Muslim-friendly travel content. I really hope to inspire more Muslims to get out there and explore, and hopefully, through my vlogs and experiences, make travelling feel a little easier and more exciting for everyone.
I also want to start doing things out of my comfort zone. Put myself in situations that challenge my limits - perhaps a hike in Kashmir? I guess we’ll both have to wait and find out. ”
CREDITS
Location:
Coach Airways
Luggage:
Coach
Wardrobe:
Kate Spade New York
Makeup:
Samantha Fernandez
Editorial and Styling Support:
Christy Yong, Fariza Farzana, Alyssa Gabrielle