Cover image via @marissa.wwc (Instagram)
Most people scroll through TikTok for dance trends or cooking hacks.
Marissa Wong?
She's on a mission to expose the good, the bad, and the downright horrifying realities of Malaysia's public toilets — one flush at a time.
What started as a quirky content idea has now turned her into the country's unofficial hygiene watchdog, with FMT giving her the title of "Malaysia's public toilet inspector".
But how does someone go from being a video intern to Malaysia's most well-known public toilet inspector? Marissa's journey is as unexpected as it is fascinating.
Before making a name for herself in the world of toilet reviews, Marissa was an intern at SAYS. While her time here was short, it laid the groundwork for her content creation skills.
"I developed a keen interest in content creation, learning project management, storyboarding, and content direction," she told SAYS over email recently.
In trying her hand at creating comedic skits, food reviews, and skincare content, admitting that much of which she felt lacked originality and purpose, she found herself feeling burnt out. The turning point came when she asked herself a simple yet absurd question: "What's the opposite of food reviews?"
And just like that, the idea of reviewing toilets was born.
Image via @marissa.wwc (Instagram)
Did she expect to go viral? Absolutely.
Unlike many creators who stumble into virality, Marissa had a strong hunch that her content would take off.
"I personally enjoy content that highlights quirky or unusual things, and I thought others would appreciate it too," she told us. By focusing on local experiences, she knew her Malaysian audience would relate.
The response has been overwhelming — viewers flooded her comments with their own toilet horror stories, requests for reviews, and even tips on which public restrooms to avoid.
She has more than 150,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram combined, having reviewed over 300 toilets, with some of her most viral videos having close to two million views each.
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Marissa's reviews aren't just for entertainment; they've led to actual improvements in public restrooms
One of her most notable moments was when she called out the unpleasant smell at a well-known café called Urban Daybreak Cafe in Bangsar. Instead of brushing off the criticism, the café took it as constructive feedback and invited her back to see the improvements they had made.
"It's amazing how people are starting to take feedback positively and make changes," she shared.
Even government bodies have taken notice.
The Housing and Local Government Ministry (KPKT) invited her to witness the first-ever Toilet of the Year Award (TOTYA), which evaluates and recognises the best public restrooms in the country.
"It's great to see that authorities are actively involved in raising public restroom standards," she said.
Image via @marissa.wwc (Instagram)
With fame comes unexpected perks — like watching restaurant and café staff scramble to clean their toilets the moment Marissa walks in
"It's been surprising (and funny) to see business owners rushing to clean their toilets when they spot me," she told SAYS.
Some even go a step further, asking her for advice on how to improve their restrooms.
"I've somehow become an unofficial 'toilet consultant' without intending to!" she quipped.
Not all public toilets are created equal.
With over 300 toilets reviewed and counting, Marissa has seen it all — from spotless, high-tech washrooms to absolute nightmares.
One of her worst experiences? A restaurant in Kuala Lumpur that charged RM1 for entry, only for her to find the toilet completely flooded with murky brown water.
"The toilets were completely broken. It was an absolute disaster, and they really should have their business license revoked," she recalled.
While Kuala Lumpur's public toilets have improved, she pointed out that places like Ipoh and Melaka still have a long way to go — especially in heritage areas where restrooms are often neglected.
"We're not talking about modernising them, just maintaining the functionality for public safety and hygiene," she emphasised.
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With any viral content creator, criticism is inevitable.
Some people have suggested she should make her videos more "aesthetic" instead of focusing on toilets.
Her response? She doesn't even need one.
"Thankfully, my loyal followers come to my defence, reporting the negative comments.
"It's great to have such a supportive community," she said.
In fact, her community is what makes this journey even more fulfilling.
"I appreciate every single feedback from them. Many praised me for being honest, not tiptoeing or overly criticising toilet premises. They also shared their personal experiences in the comments section. It's amazing to see my video comment section become that little discussion and sharing forum," she shared.
Her passion for toilets runs deep, with her dedication to public toilet awareness going beyond just content creation
"I wanted to create awareness on this topic because many Asians find it 'taboo' or inappropriate to talk about openly.
"People constantly complain about filthy toilets, but no one was making impactful moves to change that. So, I decided to start doing it," she explained.
Unlike food reviews or dance trends, toilet content is refreshingly simple to produce.
"This niche doesn't require massive editing or a big production. I can review toilets anytime, anywhere — even when I'm sick, I review hospital toilets!" she shared.
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Her work has sparked national conversations, with over 10,000 public toilets being upgraded in the past two years. She's also noticed better ventilation, improved lighting, and functioning taps at highway R&Rs.
"I feel like my voice plays a big role in the online world. People are now paying more attention to public restrooms and taking action to improve them," she said.
If you have been her regular viewer, you may have noticed that Marissa has shifted her reviews, which were in English, to primarily in Bahasa Melayu
The reason? Audience engagement.
"I noticed my viewers were from countries like the US, UK, and Australia. If I wanted Malaysians to watch, I had to fully switch to Bahasa Melayu," she explained.
The impact was immediate.
Since making the change, her videos have seen more engagement, with local viewers actively recommending public toilets for her to review.
Marissa's future plans include expanding her content beyond toilet reviews — exploring restroom products for children and people with disabilities, or even topics like toilet tiles and ventilators
And if she could change one thing about public toilets in Malaysia?
"I don't want to change the toilets — I want to change the people.
"Many issues, like vandalism or hygiene neglect, come from how people treat restrooms. The problem isn't the toilets, it's how they're used or abused," she pointed out.
As she aims for her 400th toilet review by the end of the year, one thing is clear — Marissa Wong isn't just Malaysia's "Public Toilet Inspector".
She's a movement.
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