<h2><i>“People used to call me names because I was born with a birthmark on my face and it really affected my confidence. I shied away from people and a lot of things – that’s how my love for music developed.”</i></h2><h2>About the <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/7zQPOdJU3Rhj4yEouM34l4?go=1&amp;sp_cid=753159fc20260c4dcf0eec92cc9f1817&amp;utm_source=embed_player_p&amp;utm_medium=desktop" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">episode</a></h2><p>Episode 9 of <i>Hello Mentor</i> features Rozella Marie, a singer, songwriter, and voiceover artist from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Rozella shares her inspiring journey of overcoming body image struggles and building confidence after facing bullying and discrimination for being born with a facial birthmark. She reveals how these experiences led her to discover her passion for music and start her career as an independent artist.</p><p>In this episode, Rozella talks about her work in the Malaysian music scene and the challenges of being an independent artist in a segmented market. She also introduces her social awareness platform, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/truecomplexion/"><i><strong>True Complexion</strong></i></a>, which highlights stories of individuals with visible and invisible differences to promote inclusion and diversity.</p><p>Check out <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/64EXbFouXfu3j6HjbC6qRg">Rozella Marie’s single “Body Talk” on Spotify</a>.</p><h2>Getting to know Rozella Marie</h2><p><img class="image_resized" style="width:100%;" src="https://blog.hiredly.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/8-1024x576.jpeg" alt="" srcset="https://blog.wobbjobs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/8-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://blog.wobbjobs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/8-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://blog.wobbjobs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/8-768x432.jpeg 768w, https://blog.wobbjobs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/8-1536x865.jpeg 1536w, https://blog.wobbjobs.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/8-2048x1153.jpeg 2048w" sizes="100vw" width="1024"></p><p>Rozella Marie (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/rozellamarie/?hl=en">@rozellamarie on Instagram</a>) is a singer, songwriter and voiceover artist reigning from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.</p><p>After winning <a href="https://www.heinekenmalaysia.com/news-article/tiger-jams-donamarie-rozella-and-soap-are-malaysias-top-three-undiscovered-bands/">Tiger Jams</a>, <a href="http://colourlessopinions.com/2016/08/chvrches-tiger-jams-centrestage-2016.html">her winning single ‘Home To You’ was remixed by popular Scottish synthpop band CHVRCHES in 2016</a> (give it a listen on <a href="https://soundcloud.com/rozellamusic/home-to-you-chvrches-remix">Soundcloud</a>). What followed was another hit single – this time ‘XOXO’, garnering 14 New Music Friday playlists on Spotify. She is one of the very few Malaysians who have been featured on the New Music Friday playlist in the US.</p><p>Besides making music, she is the founder of True Complexion, a social awareness platform that celebrates inclusion and diversity. Rozella is also an Obama Foundation Asia-Pacific Leader, an Eisenhower Global Fellow and a TEDx speaker.</p><hr><p><strong>Overcoming Challenges to Build Confidence<img class="image_resized" style="width:77.72%;" src="https://assets.hiredly.com/cms/image_2025_01_24_114610322_83c110b05b.png"></strong><br>Rozella’s personal story offers valuable lessons about <a href="https://www.professionalacademy.com/blogs/5-tips-for-overcoming-challenges-and-boosting-your-confidence-at-work/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>resilience and self-acceptance</strong></a>. Growing up with a visible difference, she struggled with low self-esteem and retreated into solitude. Music became her escape and later her platform for self-expression. Rozella rebuilt her confidence by stepping out of her comfort zone, starting with open mic performances and later expanding to larger audiences.</p><hr><p><strong>The Realities of the Malaysian Music Scene<img class="image_resized" style="width:75.91%;" src="https://assets.hiredly.com/cms/image_2025_01_24_115109927_5e852112ac.png"></strong><br>Rozella candidly discusses the unique challenges of pursuing a music career in Malaysia. The segmented market and lack of financial support for independent artists make it difficult to sustain a career. However, Rozella emphasizes the importance of <a href="https://positivepsychology.com/perseverance/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>perseverance and authenticity</strong></a>.</p><p>Her advice to aspiring musicians is to focus on creating content that resonates with their true selves rather than chasing trends. Networking and collaborating with like-minded individuals are also key to building a successful career.</p><hr><h3>Hello Mentor is a podcast show that platforms raw discussions on career, ambition and success with inspiring individuals who are accomplished in their own rights.</h3><h3>Hello Mentor is hosted by <a href="http://linkedin.com/in/derektoh">Derek Toh</a>, Founder and CEO of Hiredly.</h3><h3>Check out all our episodes on <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2XquM47vpj8g4P5g0fBIfu">Spotify</a> for your dose of inspiration and career advice from real people who have been there!</h3><hr><h3>Looking to take the next step in your career? Explore job opportunities on <a href="https://my.hiredly.com/jobs?utm_medium=article&amp;utm_source=career_advice&amp;utm_campaign=hello_mentor_ep9_|_rozella_marie_on_building_a_positive_body_image_and_the_malaysian_music_scene&amp;utm_content=freelancing_malaysia,_job_seeker,_job_opportunities" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Hiredly</strong></a> and discover roles that align with your unique strengths. Take the <a href="https://hiredly.typeform.com/to/K4idZTDK?utm_medium=article&amp;utm_source=career_advice&amp;utm_campaign=hello_mentor_ep9_|_rozella_marie_on_building_a_positive_body_image_and_the_malaysian_music_scene&amp;utm_content=freelancing_malaysia,_job_seeker,_job_opportunities" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Work Personality Test</strong></a> to uncover your strengths and connect with the right career path.</h3>

<p>Electronic artist hailing from Kota Kinabalu, Rozella Marie sheds light on the importance of inclusivity, fostering a positive body image and how it helped her discover her love for music.</p>
