He believes that there is no greater joy than bringing joy into someone else’s life.

With his astonishing afro, you’ve probably seen him on billboards on the street, pillar advertisements in shopping malls, or at various entertaining events.

The multi-talented entertainer, Ross Stephenson, is always the center of attention because of his enormous afro. He officially set the record for “The Largest Afro on a Living Male” with a recorded measurement of 16.33 cm (6.43 in) high, 14.00 cm (5.51 in) wide, and a circumference of 109.67 cm (43.18 in) in Malaysia on May 16, 2024. The first thing people notice about him is his hair, and with his friendly personality, his afro always becomes a conversation starter wherever he goes.

But the main reason for maintaining his hair isn’t just about style; there’s a deeper purpose behind it. Ross says his afro brings joy to people, which is why he chooses to keep it. Whether he’s in a shop or walking down the street, people always look at him with a smile. Whenever people ask him where his hair comes from, he used to simply say it came from his dad, who also had an afro in his youth. His mother, however, would remind him that the afro genes exist on both sides of his family—both his Indian and Portuguese-Eurasian sides. His Uncle Tony’s magnificent afro, famous in Malacca where he was a popular singer, also stood as a testament to their family legacy. Ross began growing his hair at the age of 17 to continue this family legacy.

Living the hustle life as an independent freelance entertainer today, Ross holds a Bachelor of Psychology from HELP University. Interestingly, his next career goal is to become a lecturer in the academic field without giving up his talents. He is a versatile entertainer, excelling in stand-up comedy, public speaking, magic, modeling, advertising, and more. Becoming the person he is today was not an easy journey, especially knowing that a career in the arts is not fully accepted in his country.

Ross began his career with magic tricks and later incorporated comedy, inspired by his father’s suggestion to mix humor into his magic. He started performing during his college years, but his love for magic began at the age of 9 when he was a shy child.

“Magic helped me break out of my shell because it requires you to interact and perform tricks for people. Thanks to those early experiences, I built my confidence and creativity,” said Ross. His parents initially opposed his pursuit of a career in the performing arts, but through hard work and perseverance, he built his reputation as an entertainer and became the person he is today.