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New Straits Times

#SHOWBIZ: Zazzleen's role model is her mum

SHE is the most-talked-about single mother in Malaysian entertainment, at least since she emerged on the music scene with the rebirth of Media Prima's original reality talent show 'One In A Million' (OIAM) late last year. Zazzleen Zulkifli Zain, 38, has been branded a "hot mama" with an Amy Winehouse-like voice. The Kuala Lumpur-born singer and part-time actress has also been hailed as a role model being a single parent who endured two failed marriages, yet gave her best in bringing up three healthy and happy children. Sadly, Zazzleen has put up with her fair share of naysayers and detractors who have called her "too masculine in sound" and "unattractively past her prime", throughout the eight-week OIAM Season 4 or Calpis Soda One In A Million (CSOIAM). She took such talk stoically, worked extra hard to give stellar performances in each concert, and earned glowing praise from the show's judges Ziana Zain and Datuk Yusry Abdul Halim. At the end of her two-month journey, she finished fourth and was the only other woman in the top four besides the champion, Sabahan sweetie Marygrace Jane Penserga. ROYALTY Zazzleen is regarded as "showbiz royalty" as her parents were major showbiz icons. Her father is the late actor Datuk Zulkifli Zain and her mother is veteran singer-actress Datin Normala Omar. She also has a well-known elder sister, Dr Norzizi Zulkifli, a respected performing arts lecturer and theatre director, whose works have won or been nominated for numerous awards over the years. Zazzleen is the fourth of five siblings and has one younger brother. She has three children, Bunga Hanania Adnan, 16, Zayan Rahman, 8, and Zia Zayani Rahman, 5. She is paternally from Alor Star and maternally from Bayan Lepas in Penang. "Growing up, I was the most manja daughter to my parents. In fact, they always said that I was cute and adorable like a Siamese cat!" said Zazzleen. "Back in her heyday, my mother was a great singer and she released a self-titled album containing a dozen songs which I grew up listening to and memorising," she said. Normala's best known songs include 'Citra Cinta', 'Ringgit' and 'Opah'. "Mum acted, danced and sang, and I had always wanted to follow her footsteps, which I eventually did. "I owe my fame to mum, and I'm thankful that she is still in good health and joined me at most of the weekly CSOIAM concerts," said Zazzleen. Zazzleen sang in school talentimes during her days in Sekolah Menengah Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur. "While in secondary school, I also learnt dance and led the school choir. "I learnt traditional dance from the late Datuk Suhaimi Mohd Zain or Pak Ngah, my parents' dear friend," she said. BAND Zazzleen later became a Malaysia Tourism Information Centre (MATIC) dancer who accompanied live performances by her favourite female artiste, pop queen Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza. "Just as Pak Ngah became the maestro behind Tok Ti's rise to stardom, I'd credit him for bringing me up as an entertainer, too." Zazzleen has always shared her problems with her mother who is a very good listener. "It was mum who encouraged me to try my luck in CSOIAM, because it does not have age limits. "Furthermore, it does not fully rely on Short Messaging Service (SMS) votes, but marks from professional judges." During her nightclub days, Zazzleen helped form The A Street Band, which she served as lead vocalist for 10 years. "We had seven members, and while the band has since disbanded, we still keep in touch and my bandmates gave me 100 per cent support in CSOIAM," said Zazzleen. PILLAR Zazzleen describes Normala as her pillar of strength and her moral support after two failed marriages which brought her a lot of emotional pain. "Mum is a fantastic role model. She was firm and wanted her children to be independent and respectful of others. "At the same time she loved to play with us and make us happy," she said. Zazzleen, who raised her children with a little help from her elder sisters, has one regret — her former husbands have refused to reconnect with their children. "It was pretty harrowing at first, they tried hard to re-establish contact with their dads, to no avail. "But gradually, with support from their grandmother, they began to accept reality. "And today they've resigned themselves to the fact that their dads have their own lives to live," said Zazzleen. Zazzleen is currently promoting her single 'Merah' which was composed and written by Audi Mok and Shazee Ishak. "I hope to have a showcase for my mother one day. I plan to sing cover versions of her favourite songs, as well as my late father's favourites. "Mum is especially fond of 'Dia', the solemn yet hopeful breakup song made popular by Fauziah Latiff, a well-known former OIAM judge," said Zazzleen.