While there may be no incredibly high pitches or remarkably low tones coming out of this new popster, it’s always nice to be able to experience something a little different when it comes to the world of show business; especially when that difference happens to be an honest depiction of who the person actually is. Because while many of her counterparts may be pretending that they are big African-American gangsta rappas (almost like Ali G), this new Ukrainian singer actually does have African roots. I was lucky enough to get the chance to sit down with her and let the newest face in Ukrainian Pop, Jacklin, tell us all about her career, the men she likes and her first erotic photo session.
Jacklin and I decide to do the interview in one of those fashionable cafes downtown and when I arrive I notice her immediately: a tall, slender, dark-skinned beauty in a figure-hugging black dress that has white fur all over it. I take a seat and settle down, eager to know about her origins.
Dark Roots
“I was born and raised in Kyiv, to a Ukrainian mother and an African father who both still live and work here. It’s my dad who’s given me my extraordinary look and I have to say that I’m quite thankful to him!” Jacki (the name her family and friends usually call her) tells me while sipping coffee. She’s not the only child in the family with this unusual appearance, however, and not mentioning any numbers, says she has an older sister. Jacklin goes on to talk about her life growing up and the differences she sees between herself and her sister now; pausing for just a moment, as we laugh at a few brawny gentlemen from the next table who can’t seem to take their eyes off her – she is very eye-catching! “It hasn’t always been this way,” is what she tells me, however. “When I was a child, the situation was quite different. Kids don’t often think about what they say and I often had unpleasant remarks come my way about where I am from. Even so, my father was always there to support me and settle any sort of conflict before it would escalate.”
The Colour of Fame
With a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the Kyiv KROK University, this girl has got the brains to go into the professional business world, but for some reason, has chosen a different path. It makes me wonder why and so I ask Jacki about inspiration and where she gets hers. Looking at her, the answer comes as no surprise: “Beyonce. I absolutely adore and admire her, and could add every expletive there is to tell you what I think about her. She’s just so cool...! I think she’s gained her popularity working herself into the ground, like only men can do. And while I’d like to reach the level of success she’s got, I don’t want to be her replica,’ Jacklin says.
Unfortunately, Jacki missed Beyonce’s performance in Donetsk due to her own birthday the day of the concert and I get to thinking about whether this beauty sitting in front of me realises what the local show biz really needs..? She assures me she does and says, I think it lacks the show, with cool dances and eye-catching outfits. But my origins give me some advantages because I think that people who have backgrounds such as mine can be more persistent and relentless in attaining their goals. And this is exactly what sets me apart from my Ukrainian counterparts.”
Gaitana is another Ukrainian pop star with similar sorts of roots. She has got an incredibly strong voice which has already found her a place in the entertainment industry and so taking into account the way both these girls look, I consider that these two could have been fierce competitors. But Jacklin just laughs and says, “I don’t see her as a competitor, she’s a friend! We first became acquainted on the M1 channel – I remember that she was so surprised to see a blonde mulatto!” But Jacklin says that all of the African community is like that in Kyiv, “Everyone is so friendly. Even if we don’t know each other, we say hello.”
The Real Deal
Jacklin first showed up on Ukrainian television screens with her first song sung in Russian called, Buy Me Love. It was a nice light song with pop and hip hop rhythms featuring words like, “My dear baby-boy, please buy me love, the kind I want. I’m an expensive play-girl, but I won’t get any lovin’ while I’m with you…” And keeping those words in mind, I am curious whether the song is autobiographical or whether it’s just a tribute to the daily trends. Jacklin thinks for a moment and says, “Well, I’d say it’s both.” And after a quick look at Anna, her PR director, adds, “Maybe a little closer to the second sense.”
I know now that she’ll be waiting for the question she usually gets asked right away by journalists, which has to do with her private life, and more specifically her current boyfriend. But I’m not so nave as to ask a question I know she’ll ignore; nor am I so nave to believe that she hasn’t got anybody at all, and so I come up with Plan B: What kind of a man do you like, is what I want to know. And the answer I get is, “Tall. Somebody who stands out in a crowd,” and we all just burst into hysterics. After a short time, Jacki turns serious and says, “He needn’t be big and tall, but he must be definitive, with a strong and persistent personality; so that he won’t be afraid of approaching me at a party.”
Continuing the Gab
In addition to the song mentioned above, Jacklin has another popular song, these days especially, by the name of, Novorichna, which means New Year’s. She sang it in Ukrainian and says, “Even though I don’t really speak the language, I do understand it. My father, however, whose native language is Bambara (the language of one of the former French colonies in Africa – author) speaks Russian, French, English and German. Unfortunately, I only know how to say Hello and Buy in Bambara,” says the Russian-speaking Jacklin.
At the moment, she has little time to put effort into such things, as this Ukrainian-African beauty has been putting all of her energies into pursuing the life of singer. Once the grand socialite at big parties, now Jacklin is busy with dance classes, vocal lessons and filming videos and I wonder if she has any time to herself anymore to do the things she enjoys, like reading, for example. She nods and says, “The last book I read was written by Ernest Hemingway; something starting with ‘H’.”
From books we go to shopping about which Jacki says, “I’m a big fan of eye-catching clothes. Whenever I get myself ready for a big party, I try to make sure I wear things to get me noticed. In fact I think I’m a real fashion addict as I’m typically ready to spend more money than I earn on clothes!”
Even though she might be a fan of them, photographers seem to like her better without them, or at least less of them, as you can see on the recent cover of the men’s magazine, Loaded. “I took a bunch of my lingerie to try a few different things for this shoot. The pictures from which my father was actually afraid to look at once he found out about it. But when he finally saw them, he was okay with it and relieved that I was dressed in at least something!” remembers Jacki.
We would probably talk more but her tight schedule means that we have to wrap up. She’s on her way to film her upcoming video where she tells me six different looks are promised. As she puts on her white fox fur coat, she flies away with her bodyguard shadowing her every movement. Perhaps it’s not so easy to stand out in a crowd after all.
