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Meet Jenna, a dynamic artist whose unique blend of cultural influences has shaped her music and fashion style. Born as Jennifer Bhagwandin in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, she proudly embraces her Indian heritage, with roots tracing back to Suriname. A singer-songwriter known for her powerful voice and bold presence, Jenna gained recognition through her appearances on The Voice of Holland and Dutch Idol.
As an advocate for body positivity and self-love, Jenna is not afraid to challenge cultural taboos and societal expectations. Her international journey, traveling between the Netherlands and the UK, has deeply influenced her art, blending Eastern and Western musical styles. With a rich background that spans continents, Jenna is dedicated to breaking boundaries, both in music and fashion, while embracing her age and natural beauty with confidence.
Congratulations on the success of “Attitude”! With over a million views, it’s clear the song resonates with many. What would you say has been the highlight of your music career so far, and how does this achievement compare?
Thank you so much! Yes, I am super proud of reaching one million views! It’s the first time I’ve reached this milestone with any of my videos, so this is definitely the highlight of my career, especially with my own original song. This has been an international production on all fronts. The song was written in Pakistan, produced in The Netherlands, where I come from, and for the music video, we traveled to Tunisia to shoot the full video. I worked closely with international videographer and director Sunny Dhinsey to create a magical music video. We even filmed on the original movie set of the iconic Star Wars films, which makes me very proud to be the first female artist to film there. During the video shoot, I encountered many obstacles. It all started when my flight to Tunisia was delayed, and we even had sandstorms during the shoot. For a moment, I thought I was filming The Mummy Returns! We had to cancel shoots and skip locations to save time. I didn’t sleep for three days. Now I can laugh about it, but at the time, I was doing my best not to cry. So, yes, this was one of the most difficult endeavors, and I didn’t think we would make it. But all our efforts paid off in the end. The final result was amazing, and I’m so grateful that people have acknowledged my hard work with one million views.
You’ve spoken about being proud of your natural appearance at 47, without any cosmetic enhancements. What has driven you to embrace your age and beauty so confidently in an industry that often emphasizes youth?
I think women these days need natural role models. We are constantly told that we are not good enough by society, the beauty industry, and the internet because they profit from our insecurities. It’s almost as if women have an expiration date, unlike men. I have, however, never been afraid of getting older. I see it as a gift, a blessing. With age comes wisdom and confidence, and I love that! We are taught that women shouldn’t age and should stay as youthful as possible. I’m not obsessed with youth; aging is a part of life, and I’m embracing growing older. I’m not chasing youth; I’m living life, and life is blessing me with getting older.
Somehow, I think that having this mentality, as well as taking good care of myself with natural resources, has helped me look this good at 47 years old. I’ve come to accept myself the way I am, with all my flaws, scars, cellulite, excess weight, etc. I love everything about myself, and I remind myself of that every day. As you know, body and mind are one, so your body automatically picks up what your mind is telling you. If you believe you are not good enough and need to change your appearance constantly, things will deteriorate because that’s the message you’re sending out.
It hurts me a lot to see so many women these days using so many fillers and Botox when I can see the beauty they already have without all these cosmetic enhancements. I am not against cosmetic enhancements, but I think it’s going overboard. Everyone is starting to look the same. Trust in your own beauty! I love people with unique faces and authentic bodies. Beauty comes from the inside. That’s why I want to convey the message that you don’t need all that to look good. You just have to take care of your body, mind, and soul.
Maintaining well-being, both physically and mentally, is crucial. What are some of the key practices or routines you follow to take care of your body and mind, especially given the demands of your music and fashion careers?
First of all, the oldest beauty trick in the world: I drink a lot of water, at least 2 liters per day. I try to eat healthy as much as possible, which is not always easy because I’m often on the road. To compensate for missing out on vitamins, I take extra supplements, which I’ve been doing for 20 years. I follow a low-carb diet that consists mainly of fish and vegetables. I don’t smoke, and I don’t drink coffee.
To relax, I dance. I love dancing—it’s a form of healing and meditation for me, and I can totally lose myself in it.
Mentally, I’ve just recently learned to put myself first and take better care of my mental state. I’ve learned this through shadow work and therapy. I can honestly say therapy is a lifesaver if you are dealing with mental issues. Therapy has helped me deal with my traumas and create boundaries. In my culture, which is Surinamese-Indian, going to therapy is quite a taboo, but I am not afraid to share this message because I believe it can help others. It’s a taboo because people think someone who goes to therapy has to be crazy or weak. But I believe that working on yourself shows your strength, and being vulnerable is not weak, but powerful.
As a known fashionista, how do you approach fashion in your daily life and on stage? Are there any particular styles or trends that inspire your looks?
Fashion is in my blood. My grandmother was a seamstress, and she used to design special outfits for me when I was little. My mother also made beautiful outfits for me, so I have that fashion sense from both of them—it runs through my veins. I also know how to sew my own clothes, but I just don’t have the time for that. In my daily life, I like to be comfortable because I’m always on the go. However, for my performances, I always want to create a glamorous look.
I am very much inspired by my Indian culture and anything vintage. My grandmother inspired me a lot with her beautiful sarees and vintage purses. She had that old-school Indian glamour. I also love old-school icons like Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrich, and Sophia Loren, and 1970s vintage outfits. I think because I was born in 1978, I’m an old-school girl.
Fusion, glam, diva, sexy yet classy—I would describe my style as that, and I love to mix both worlds: East meets West, Bollywood versus Hollywood. Something nobody expects is that I actually love rock music, so sometimes the rock chick comes out. I also love female-tailored suits, which give me a sassy, badass vibe.
Being of Indian descent and born in the Netherlands, how has your cultural background influenced your music and fashion? In what ways has it shaped your identity as an artist living between the Netherlands and the UK?
Even though I am of Indian descent and born in the Netherlands, my background is very international. My ancestors came from India, with a passage through Suriname in South America, and eventually ended up in The Netherlands after decolonization. So I have musical influences from all over the world. Because of all these different influences, I have tried to fuse them, mixing East with West, my Indian roots with my European upbringing, and my Surinamese sassiness. I use all these influences in my music and fashion choices. That’s why I sing in many languages and dress in different styles. My Indian roots have inspired me greatly, but it has been a difficult journey. The Indo-Caribbean community I come from is very small, making up only 1 percent of the entire population of The Netherlands. However, in a predominantly white country, it has been hard for me to be seen and acknowledged as an Indian woman of color. I think the UK is more diverse, and the Indian diaspora is much more represented in areas like entertainment, modeling, politics, and business. That’s why I feel more at home in the UK than in The Netherlands. I feel more seen in the UK.
Your journey as an artist has been truly inspiring. Who or what has been your biggest inspiration in both your music and fashion?
In music, I would have to say vocally, Whitney Houston, and Madonna for her fashion sense and attitude. A big idol of mine is also the Pakistani singer Nazia Hassan—she was a music icon all over the world. And because of my Indian heritage, I am very much inspired by iconic Bollywood actresses like Zeenat Aman and Rekha for their impeccable fashion style.
Looking ahead, what exciting plans or projects do you have in store?
I am currently working on the follow-up single to my last song “Attitude,” which was in Punjabi. My new song will be my first-ever original Hindi song. It’s again an international production—the music is being produced in India and will be released soon worldwide. I’m super excited for this because I’ve released a lot of original songs in English, Dutch, and Punjabi, but never an original Hindi song. Right now, Indians and Bollywood are very prominent worldwide, crossing cultural borders, so I want to reach a broad audience with my new song. The song is called “Marhaba,” which means “amazing,” so look out for that one. As for fashion, I’ve recently picked up modeling work again after a long break, so I’ll be doing more of that too. You can follow all my adventures and projects on my social media channels under the name of Jenna Music Official.
@jennamusicofficial
Photographer: Barbara Germes @bgermes
Art Director/Styling: Sharmila Dewkinandan @milamalasandmore
MUA: Evelina Roginskyte @evelinaroginskyte
Hair: Ela Eroglu @hairstyling.ela
Styling: JENNA
