Singer Tinna Tinh performs onstage at the Bai Hat Viet (Vietnamese songs) music competition last month

Reflecting on her life in the spotlight, singer Tinna Tinh says compromising her values was never an option.

With her lustrous locks and stunning looks, the racially-mixed Tinna – half Vietnamese and half Czech – also known as Tinna Dinhova, seems to be living the dream life.

National composer Pho Duc Phuong said Tinna’s music was “really insightful and alluring.”

But appearances can be deceiving. The 26-year-old singer, who’s lived in Vietnam for nine years, and has been hailed by music experts for her talent and songs, still struggles to stay relevant in this cutthroat world.

It’s taken her a decade of hard work and sacrifices – including leaving her home – to be where she’s at today. The journey has been difficult.

“Four years ago, I was totally disheartened,” she said. “I could see all the dark sides of what I was pursuing.”

Tinna began her professional career in obscurity as a bar singer in Hanoi in 2000. She adopted the name Tinh, or love, to express her heartfelt connection to her homeland. After six months, Tinna returned to the Czech Republic to work a slew of jobs to earn money for her dream career.

When she returned to Vietnam in 2001, she was locked out of the music industry. She decided to pursue the world of cinematography. After her singing career halted to a standstill, in 2003 she landed a leading role for a character named Hoa in the movie Tro Dua Cua Thien Loi (The Thunder Genie’s Joke). The movie, directed by Nguyen Quang, unexpectedly garnered Tinna a Promising Actress Award at the national Golden Kite Awards that year.

With one movie and award under her belt, Tinna gained confidence and signed on with an unnamed talent company. After a fairly acrimonious two years with the company, she left empty handed. Those were some of her toughest and darkest moments of her turbulent entertainment career so far, she said.

Making movies was in interesting detour, but her real passion remained with music. She clung on to the hope that perhaps her chance had not come yet. During this time, she fought against giving in to doing work that went against her standards.

“I had refused two films that required me to be nude,” she said. “I knew I did the right thing. I just did not want to play those scenes.

A girl in a mirror

Tinna began finding her path musically. She started composing music as a way to express herself and stumbled upon the world of rock. She felt connected to rock music and liked its strong, emotive quality. She included nu metal (an offshoot of heavy metal) and alternative mixed with world music in her first album “Mirror” with three singles Chiec guong (Mirror), Thi tham (Whisper) and Chi vi (Only as).

People’s Artist Tran Hieu, Tinna’s vocal teacher, said her songs are innovative, fresh and have the makings to be successful.

“Tinna is one of the most diligent students I have ever taught,” he said on nhac.net. “My first impressions of her were that she was a stubborn and slovenly girl but she has since convinced me step by step with her commitment.”

Besides talent, Tinna’s beauty is undeniable. But that too, is riddled with pitfalls. The singer said the entertainment world is filled with money, rich men and seduction.

“I would be a big fat liar if I said I didn’t have any weak moments,” she said. “Recently, I was with a really cute man, but then I realized it was not heartfelt love.”

Everything has a price, and after having her fair share of both good and bad relationships, Tinna said in the end, “I just want an unconditional and honest relationship.”

She’s also gained another perspective after living in Vietnam.

“Vietnam is more and more beautiful in my mind,” she said. “I found many lovely friends here. It is not more important where you live than whom you are with.”

After releasing her second album Mu Tac (Mustard) in March 2009, Tinna has changed her appearance to be more feminine to connect better with the public.

She insisted that although she altered her wardrobe, she and her music remain unchanged.

“Mu Tac is an unpleasant spice, but once you’ve try it, you will love it, like the way we choose our lives,” she said. “If you know how to live, it will be heaven, otherwise, a hell.”

Tinna said despite her successes, she’s only achieved half what she’s envisioned. She plans to remain a strong contender in this business.

“I will never quit,” she said. “I have to keep working on my singing and continue composing. There are no bad jobs. It’s just people who make it depraved.”

Reported by Kim