Next Lisa of Blackpink? Cambodian princess reportedly eyes K-pop stardom. - Photo: SCMP composite/IG@lalalalisa_m/Weibo
BEIJING: Princess Norodom Jenna of Cambodia has captivated many in China with her exceptional multilingual talent, beautiful singing voice, and elegant style.
The 12-year-old princess received public support on mainland social media when she was reported to be considering becoming a trainee in South Korea and debutant as a K-pop idol.
Some have compared her to Blackpink’s Lisa and (G)I-DLE’s Minnie, two K-pop group members who are both from Southeast Asia and shining in South Korea.
Jenna was born in 2012 to Princess Norodom Bophary and a French businessman.
She is the great-granddaughter of Cambodia’s former King Norodom Sihanouk, who lived in China for decades and called the mainland his “second home”.
She is fluent in five languages, her native Khmer, Thai, Chinese, English, and French.
Despite her tender age, Jenna is a talented singer, dancer and actress. She has uploaded covers of songs in five languages for the past five years on her YouTube channel, which now has 910,000 followers.
In 2022, she signed with K’ve Entertainment, a K-pop entertainment agency in Cambodia, and wowed many with her cover dances of girl group Aespa’s Pretty Savage and Next Level.
Jenna also released a new song You Da One with the agency’s male singer Bobo in 2022.
She also expressed her interest in K-pop with South Korean media outlet YTN.
“While watching K-pop idols sing and dance, I loved everything about it. I like K-pop because it is modern and unique, bright and dynamic.”
However, as the rumour of her becoming a K-pop trainee spread, the princess responded on her official Weibo account on October 15 that she had rejected the South Korean agency that invited her to become a trainee.
“Jenna has not, does not, and will not become a K-pop trainee in South Korea,” she said.
She added that she was very fond of music, but would prioritise her study and careers that benefit the Cambodian people.
Jenna said her recent plan in music was to prepare for her first Chinese album.
She performed several songs in Khmer and Chinese during this year’s China Central Television show The Beauty of Shared Arts, which invited artists from countries of the Belt and Road Initiative to show their talent and culture.
Jenna also performed Missing China, a song composed by King Norodom Sihanouk.
She received a warm welcome from the Chinese audience. Her Weibo account had amassed 220,000 fans shortly after it opened in September.
The last Gen Z member of the Cambodian royal family that went viral in China was 1997-born Princess Norodom Ponsoriya, an aunt of Jenna, who completed her bachelor’s degree studies at China’s University of International Business and Economics in 2020.
“You have a beautiful voice. Looking forward to your Chinese album,” one supporter said to Jenna on Weibo.
“How happy we are, to meet friends from afar,” another said, citing the famous quote from Confucius. - South China Morning Post
