Some love stories unfold like grand romantic epics, while others blossom unexpectedly – built on laughter, friendship, and shared plates of nasi kandar. For newlyweds Zahir Omar and Kim Raymond, their journey of love is a refreshing departure from the scripted romances often portrayed on TV. It is a tale of second chances that started with a joke and a plate of crabs.
Both had already experienced the highs and lows of love and marriage before their paths truly intertwined. Coming from different worlds — Zahir, a visual storyteller with films like Fly By Night (2018) and Tira (2023) under his belt; and Kim, an entrepreneur and style icon in the local fashion scene — their connection may come across as unconventional.
As Zahir’s eldest daughter, Zoe, candidly remarked when the couple walked down the aisle last December: “It’s like watching a supermodel walking next to Adam Sandler.” Jokes aside, life often proves that the best love stories are the ones you never see coming – and such is the case for this dynamic duo.
A romance years in the making
Zahir and Kim’s romance didn’t begin with an immediate spark but rather a slow burn fuelled by a healthy dose of humour. They had crossed paths a long time ago, but as Zahir cheekily recalls, “She didn’t notice me lah. She was Miss Popular.” It wasn’t until a serendipitous meeting at a restaurant years later that their connection grew deeper.
What started as playful banter evolved into an easy friendship, with Zahir sneaking in strategic inquiries about fashion and skincare through Kim’s Instagram stories. “My fashion sense has definitely gotten much better since I met her. Before I go out the door, I would always get a spot check from her,” he teases.
But it wasn’t just humour that laid the foundation for their relationship. “I was separated for about two or three years at the time, and I told myself I was never going to date again,” Kim confesses. “As a single parent, when you meet someone else who has no kids, I feel like they may not fully understand things like timing and responsibilities. But we understand each other from a parent’s point of view, you know?”
“A sense of humour was important,” Zahir chimes in, “but the fact that she had a daughter too – that was something we really bonded over.”
“Love is shy. If you look for love, it will go hiding.”
While Zahir’s dad jokes and Kim’s punchlines kept their conversation flowing over casual meals, it was his tireless drive to provide for his daughters and her tenacity to achieve whatever she puts her mind to that ultimately turned their friendship into something deeper.
Then came their first official date. Instead of a high-end dining spot, Zahir picked Unique Seafood to make an impression – by personally peeling crabs for Kim. “That’s how I got her attention,” he laughs. Food became another natural love language for the couple, feeding the many dates that followed. “We spend most of our relationship eating. Only about two months before the wedding did we start to diet,” he quips light-heartedly.
Blending families, bridging cultures
Having both been divorced before, Zahir and Kim were cautious about taking the next step in their relationship. The couple took their time, waiting nearly three years before presenting their children to each other. “For me, especially being a woman, I did not want our kids to feel like it’s so easy to just date,” Kim explains. “I wanted them to see that when we introduced them, it was real.”
When the time finally came, the transition was seamless. Kim’s daughter, Skylar, embraced her new siblings – Zoe and Nyla – and today, they proudly call each other sisters without any prompting. “I’m outnumbered now,” Zahir jokes. “Four girls in the house, so I have no say.”
“I did not want our kids to feel like it’s so easy to just date. I wanted them to see that when we introduced them, it was real.”
Despite the complexities that can come with blended families, Zahir and Kim are grateful that everyone assimilated quite naturally. “My family is mixed; her family is mixed, so the cross-cultural thing isn’t really new to us. When you see our families together, it’s really one Malaysia,” Zahir says.
Their wedding reflected this spirit – a beautiful blend of cultures that showcased the harmony they had found in each other’s worlds. Speaking of the nuptials, it was their families that led them to marrying after five years of being together, including a year of under-the-radar engagement.
“Obviously, we love each other very much, but we still had to spend time apart because of the kids. We’re not getting any younger, so we thought, let’s all spend time together because we want to share this experience with the children and bring them into the mix,” Zahir divulges.
“Plus, our parents were also very excited. My dad was like, ‘Don’t wait another year,’” Kim adds with a grin. “It’s a happy thing because now our kids can feel like we’re all a unit. Before this, it was kind of like his side and my side.”
Taking a second chance on love
For Zahir and Kim – who turn 43 and 40, respectively, this year – (re)marriage wasn’t about reinventing their relationship but simply making official what they had already built. “We’ve been together for so long that the marriage itself doesn’t feel like a big change,” Kim shares.
Zahir concurs, adding, “Not to say that there wasn’t before, but I feel like there is a lot more conscious thought being put into the sanctity of marriage. We try to be kinder and more patient now.” As for how their journey has shaped his current perspective on matrimony? “There’s no winner [in marriage]. In everything, you cross the line together. It’s not about who’s right or wrong. It’s not a competition.”
With age comes the maturity to “differentiate between the forest and the trees,” but he maintains that there should still be some form of ‘puppy love’ in any romantic relationship, regardless of what stage of life you’re in. “I think it’s absolutely necessary that you’re obsessed with your partner but also have enough strength to give your partner space and not suffocate them.”
When asked what advice they’d give to those hesitant about love after heartbreak, their response is simple: “Don’t go looking for it.” Love, they believe, finds you when you least expect it. “Love is shy,” Zahir jests, “if you look for love, it will go hiding.”
“Be open to it, but don’t force it,” Kim says on a more serious note. “Don’t bring your past into your current relationship. If you’re not ready, if you’re still hurt, then don’t even try. But when the right person comes along, you have to trust them and communicate to work on it together.”
“I think it’s absolutely necessary that you’re obsessed with your partner but also have enough strength to give your partner space and not suffocate them.”
Their love story may have started off unassumingly, but what does their ‘happily ever after’ look like? “It looks like this. I’m already living in it,” Zahir gushes in response, making his wife blush beside him. Having said that, their next chapter includes plans for a bigger home to accommodate their shared family, opening a padel court, and of course, continuing to go on foodie dates.
With humour cementing their bond, Zahir and Kim’s love story is a testament to the beauty of second chances. And if laughter is the best medicine, then the infectious giggles shared throughout our shoot and interview prove that they have the recipe for a happy, healthy marriage.
Featured image: Zahir wears stylist’s own suit, while Kim is fitted in Maje.
Editor and words: Natalie Khoo
Creative direction: Driv, assisted by Chin Yi Ting and Mon Kai Siong
Props: Imran Sulaiman
Photography: Lobach, assisted by Sara Kong and Carl Lim
Videography: Haoyii Lim
Video concept and subtitles: Charmaine Loh
Styling: Birdy Lee, assisted by Alicia Wong
Makeup, hair and grooming: Fiona Yip