Honouring the past, amplifying the future—BAZAAR Women of the Year 2026 celebrates the women whose music moves more than just a room. For Volume 1, we turn our spotlight to the new generation—the bold, the boundary-breaking and the ones writing the next verse. Meet Jeryl Lee.
With fresh-faced and doe-like eyes, Jeryl stepped on set with a quiet presence, someone off work and at ease—soft-spoken and gentle. But the moment you hear her sing, everything changes. On stage, Jeryl Lee paints a formidable portrait of a powerhouse—hitting notes that shake walls and fill every corner of the room with undeniable sound. Her success may seem as though it happened overnight, yet it was anything but. There was a time when the singer fought for recognition.
“My mom would bring me everywhere for singing competitions. She was the one who influenced me, because she loved singing too,” Jeryl recalls warmly. It was a childhood steeped in melody, guided by a mother and daughter’s passion. But the turning point came when she stepped onto the stage for a Malaysian music television program—a moment that rewrote the course of her life, leading her all the way to Taiwan. And, with each performance, recognition grew. “That was when singing slowly stopped being just a hobby,” she reflects. “People were paying attention.”
Jeryl Lee is wearing the Franck Muller Vanguard Curvex CX Lady watch from Cortina Watch.
The competitions then shaped her in ways she didn’t fully understand until much later, still learning the edges of her own voice, Jeryl found that every time she took the stage, it was a faint challenge and invitation to grow deeper into herself as an artist. “My biggest role model and mentor is definitely my mum; she has always guided me throughout my music journey,” she said. “But, my fans have also played a very important role in my journey; they give me the motivation to keep going.”
Her relationship with music began early, but like most things that start in childhood, it was complicated—shaped by the directions of others and layered with pressure. There’s so much noise and criticism in the world, and it can be hard sometimes. “There were many moments when I almost gave up and lost hope,” she divulged. But, since then, she’s learnt to stand her ground and speak up and not be afraid when it matters. “I used to try very hard to please everyone by doing what they liked. But, over time, I realised that being authentic is more important.” Being the voice of her generation, she’s acutely aware that her experience with the industry is only just beginning. There were moments early in her career when she found herself shrinking in rooms full of people, but she’s learned to assert herself—she might be wrong, but at least she used her voice. “When you are truly yourself, people can really see who you are. I think that’s also when people start to feel a real connection with you and your music.” She added: “After reflecting on everything, I realised that I would still do what I truly love. I choose to follow my heart and just go with the flow.”
Jeryl Lee is wearing the Franck Muller Vanguard Curvex CX Lady watch from Cortina Watch.
No stranger to crafting songs that instantly go popular, Jeryl has a lot of fun dreaming things up for her music, and she’s showing no signs of slowing down. “I’d describe my sound as healing and powerful—I always hope that when people listen to my songs, they feel comfort, strength and an emotional connection,” she expressed. Yet for all the reverence her ballads command, she refuses to be defined by them—her artistry too restless, too hungry, to be held within the borders of any one sound. “I enjoy challenges, and I like exploring different styles because it helps me grow as an artist and discover new possibilities in my music.”
Before she says yes to a song, the storyline and the lyrics need resonance—all the angst and emotions need to come out in her music. It’s always been about navigating her own path when it comes to her music, and this modus operandi has stood her in good stead. “If I can’t truly feel the song myself, it’s hard for me to deliver it in a way that allows the audience to feel it too,” she professed. And yet, for all her artistic certainty, the stage still has a way of humbling her. Even a certified hitmaker like Jeryl can still get anxious about being onstage. “I have very high expectations for myself, so I tend to feel nervous, but the moment I start singing and interacting, it slowly fades away,” she said. She also reflected, saying that “I hope people leave my shows feeling healed, energised and motivated. If my music can bring them these feelings, then that would mean a lot to me.”
When asked which artists she dreams of sharing a studio with one day, Jeryl doesn’t hesitate — Misha Omar and Yuna. “I admire their unique vocals and their way of expressing music,” and it makes perfect sense. Two women who have, in their own distinct ways, carved out a sound entirely their own—much like Jeryl herself is quietly doing.
And when it comes to measuring how far she has come, she is characteristically thoughtful, almost reluctant to claim too much. “I’m grateful that I’ve been able to achieve many things so far, but I don’t really see myself as someone very successful yet, because once I start thinking that way, I might stop pushing myself to grow,” she claimed. So, the drive to keep exploring more possibilities, for her, is non-negotiable.
And what is she moving towards, exactly? The answer arrives with a clarity that feels long held, long dreamed. Her biggest goal this year is to release her own album—and if the stars align, a concert of her own to follow the year after. “I want people to see the real and authentic side of me,” she says, her voice quiet but certain. “Over the past few years, I’ve experienced and learned a lot—and I hope to share those stories through this album.” A pause. Then, with the kind of softness that carries more weight than anything loud ever could—”I really hope I can bring everything to life.” And somehow, you already know she will. About to start another transformation phase right now, Jeryl Lee is about to grow another layer.
Stay tuned for BAZAAR Women of the Year 2026 Volume 2, coming out in October 2026. Find us on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook at @harpersbazaarmy for more WOTY 2026 coverage.
Credits
Photographer: Edmund Lee
Videographer: Syafiq Sazaly, Zakwan Taufiq
Art Direction: Khairani Ramli
Lifestyle Director: Syameen Salehaldin
Digital Director: Amalina Anuar
Assistant: Syazrel Boharin
Hair: Philex Chin
Makeup: Crystal Fong
Outfits: Zalora
