Selina Jen

☆ Save On Wikipedia ↗
Selina Jen
任家萱
Born
Jen Chia-hsüan

(1981-10-31) 31 October 1981
Shilin, Taipei, Taiwan
OccupationsSinger, actress, television host
Years active2001–present
Agent(s)The Beauty of Ren CO., LTD
Spouse
Richard Chang
​
​
(m. 2011; div. 2016)​
PartnerXu (2022–)
Children1 son
FamilyLorene Jen (sister)
Musical career
GenresMandopop
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Chinese name
Chinese任家萱
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinRén Jiāxuān

Selina Jen Chia-hsüan (Chinese: 任家萱; pinyin: Rén Jiāxuān; born 31 October 1981) is a Taiwanese singer, television host and actress. She is a member of the Taiwanese girl group S.H.E.[1] On 11 June 2004, she graduated from the National Taiwan Normal University[2] with a Bachelor of Education degree, majoring in Civic Education and Leadership.[3]

On 22 October 2010, Selina was seriously injured in an explosive accident while filming the television series I Have a Date with Spring (我和春天有个约会), along with co-star Yu Haoming. Selina suffered third-degree burns on more than 54% of her body and needed to undergo skin grafting treatment/operation where her hands, legs, and back were injured.[4]

Her sister is actress and singer Lorene Ren.

Career

On 8 August 2000, HIM International Music held a 'Universal 2000 Talent and Beauty Girl Contest' in search for new artists to be signed under their label. Her younger sister Lorene Ren had wanted to join but she was too young. Instead, Jen joined the contest in her place. The contest had about 1000 contestants and after many tiring rounds of competing, seven contestants were left for the 'Cruel Stage' round. The three members of S.H.E were formed from here.

Following the competition, the record company gave all seven contestants an audition. Jen was the eventual winner of the contest. She caught the judges' attention in the first round by performing Coco Lee's "Before I Fall in Love" and entered the final round with "The Closest Stranger". She also sang "Reflection" by Christina Aguilera. Due to her nervousness during the final round, Selina was called out twice, and when she was announced the winner, she was doubtful because there were other contestants who had not been called out. However, all three future members of S.H.E were signed together under HIM International Music.

The name Selina was chosen by her company after taking a personality test; which represents "gentleness". The name initially had two possible spellings: Selina and Selena. Jen eventually chose "Selina" simply because she would be able to dot the i.[5]

Jen collaborated with Tank, a singer-songwriter with HIM, on the song "Solo Love Song" (獨唱情歌), as well with Leehom Wang, for "You're a Song Inside My Heart" (你是我心内的一首歌) a song from his 12th studio album "Change Me".

In September 2006, Jen released a bead-design book, Selina Loves Beading (愛的小珠珠).

Solo career

On December 16, 2011, Selina released her debut solo EP, "Dream a New Dream" (重作一個夢), which was produced during her rehabilitation following a severe burn accident while filming in mainland China. The lead single, "Everyone Who Loves Me" (愛我的每個人), was composed by JJ Lin with lyrics by Daryl Yao, was first premiered on the official HIM International Music website on October 29. The song "Dream" (夢) was composed by Jay Chou with lyrics written by Selina, through which she chronicled the pain, struggle, hope, and gratitude she experienced over more than 400 days of rehabilitation. This marked their reunion as collaborators following their 2008 work, "It's Quiet" (安靜了). Additionally, television host Kevin Tsai contributed the lyrics to the title track, "Dream a New Dream" (重作一個夢).

On January 19, 2015, Jen released her first solo album "3.1415". On February 15, 2015, she held her first solo concert as an individual in Taipei.[6][7]

Since 2018, Selina has experienced persistent vocal issues that have yet to be fully resolved. Although an examination by an otolaryngologist confirmed that there were no structural abnormalities in her vocal cords, and she subsequently sought both professional vocal training and psychological counseling, the underlying cause of the condition remains unidentified; she has suggested that the issue may involve a shift in her vocal resonance and voice placement. Selina has stated that singing has become a source of psychological pressure, leading her to indefinitely postpone plans for her second solo album and all singing-related engagements. She intends to prioritize her career as a television host while awaiting a full recovery of her vocal health.[8]

On December 6, 2019, Selina released a cover of the viral TikTok song "Talking To The Moon" (心如止水). This release marked her return to singing following the vocal struggles she faced in 2018, and served as her first musical work since the establishment of her own studio, "The Beauty of Ren Limited" (任真美好). The release garnered significant attention from fans. Her manager clarified that there were no underlying issues with Selina's vocal cords, attributing her previous inability to sing to psychological pressure. The manager reassured fans and noted that the singing style of this new single differs from her signature warm and sweet vocal style. A series of short comedic promotional videos was subsequently released from December 9 to 11.[9]

On October 11, 2020, Selina released her new single, "All year round" (四季), marking her first musical release in 11 months.

As of January 2021, Jen ventured into the F&B industry with packed porridge as her first line of products. Her company is known as Ren Sing Eat Shot (任性eat下). She occasionally shares Vlogs of her food and hiking experiences on her YouTube channel.

On December 17, 2021, Selina released her personal digital EP, "My Own Beauty". The EP features three tracks: "My Own Beauty" (往美的路我要自己作主), "Joyful Loneliness" (居里夫人), and " We Are All The Same" (你我他). Selina contributed to the songwriting and composition for two of the tracks[10].

On 1 April 2022, Jen's first horror movie, The Funeral (頭七) was released where she plays the role of a mother. This marks her first appearance in a film nearly twelve years after her accident.[11]

On April 29, 2022, Selina Jen released her second solo studio album "My Own Beauty". It was her first physical album released under her own independent studio, "The Beauty of Ren Limited". The album contains a total of eight tracks, including two "instrumental versions". One of the songs, "In The Dark" (黑夜中相擁), serves as the theme song for the film "The Funeral" (頭七). The physical release is available in two editions: a standard edition and a limited edition featuring a gold-foiled serial number (0001–1031). The limited edition, strictly capped at 1,031 copies, was made available for pre-order on April 8 and sold out within two hours.[10][12]

Personal life

Prior to her accident, Jen was on her way to becoming a TV show host. On 22 October 2010, Jen suffered third-degree burns on 54% of her body, mostly her back and legs, during an indoor shooting in Shanghai for the musical series I Have a Date with Spring (我和春天有個約會). Jen was discharged the following year on 19 January 2011, and held a press conference, stating her condition and her intention to return to work.

On 29 May 2010, during a concert at the Taipei Arena, Jen revealed that lawyer Richard Chang (張承中) was her boyfriend. She married Chang on 31 October 2011.[13][14] On 4 March 2016, through a post on her Facebook page, Selina announced that she and Chang were planning a divorce.[15] The divorce was finalized on 27 April.[13][16]

In March 2022, six years after her divorce, Jen confirmed that she was dating Xu, a non-celebrity seven years her junior. On 13 March 2023, Selina announced on her social media "Podcast" accounts that she was expecting her first child with Xu.[17] On 7 September, Jen announced the birth of her son.[18]

According to TVBS World Taiwan, on 26 December 2023, Selina's team announced that Rensingeatshot would conclude operations in January 2024. They added that the decision would not impact the company's collaborations with other brands.[19]

Discography

Studio albums

Album #AlbumReleased DateLabel
1st3.14159 January 2015HIM International Music

Extended plays

Album #AlbumReleased DateLabel
1stDream a New Dream 16 December 2011HIM International Music
2ndMy Own Beauty29 April 2022

The Beauty of Ren Limited

Concerts

Concert name Date City Country Special guests Venue
To the Fated: Live in Concert & Talk[20] February 15, 2015 Taipei Taiwan Hebe, Ella[21] Taipei City Government Taipei Family Theater

Filmography

Television series

Year English title Original title Role Ref
2003 The Rose 薔薇之戀 Zhuang Zhe Qing (莊哲芹) (Deceased/flashback in each Episode)
Di Ya Man (狄雅蔓) (Episode 8, 9, 10)		 [22]
2004 Happey 2004 新年快樂2004 Selina
2005 Reaching for the Stars 真命天女 Zhou Xin Lei (周心蕾) [23]
2015 Someone like You 聽見幸福 TV host Cameo[24]

Film

Year English title Original title Role Ref
2004 A Disquised Superstar 冒牌天皇 Selina
April 1, 2022 The Funeral 頭七 Li Chun-hua (李春華) [11]

Music videos

YearSong titleArtist
2003"Leaf" ("葉子") [25]A-Sun
2017"Full Name" ("連名帶姓")A-mei

Awards and nominations

References

  1. (in Chinese)"我猜我猜我猜猜猜 20070212." Web. Retrieved 10 December 2009.
  2. (in Chinese) Xinhua Net News. Celebrity students on the Honour Roll Archived 31 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine. 13 July 2004. Retrieved 6 February 2007.
  3. (in Chinese) Xinhua Net News. S.H.E's Selina graduates, her sisters there to hug her and cry with her. Archived 16 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine 12 June 2004. Retrieved 6 February 2007.
  4. (in Chinese) Net Ease 俞灏明 Selina三度烧伤 Archived 21 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine 24 October 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2011
  5. (in Chinese) Sina.com. S.H.E's Life Story, Part 4: S.H.E's Name Archived 7 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine. 14 September 2004. Retrieved 13 February 2007.
  6. "SHE同台合唱《給小孩》　Selina求子告白：先來我這！". Ettoday. 16 February 2015. Archived from the original on 17 May 2025. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  7. "Selina哭笑唱談 S.H.E合體祈願". Liberty Times. 16 February 2015. Archived from the original on 11 December 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2025.
  8. "Mayday's Ashin Shows Support for Selina: 'Your Voice Will Return! Courage Is More Than Just a Lyric". ETtoday. 12 September 2018.
  9. "Selina Releases New Single "Heart Like Still Water"; Adopts Laid-back "Sugar-free" Vocal Style, Featuring Wang Po-chieh in Short Promotional Videos". Marie Claire. 1 March 2024.
  10. "Selina Jen's 40th Birthday EP "My Own Beauty": A Personal Manifesto on Being Her True Self". Marie Claire. 8 December 2021.
  11. Lily Chang (15 April 2022). "The trailer for The Funeral, marking Selina's first leading role in a horror film, features a mysterious burnt pair of feet and an eerie figure in the funeral hall". cosmopolitan.
  12. "Selina Jen on "The Sum of All Beauty": "Escaping May Be Shameful, But It Works!"". Marie Claire. 20 May 2022.
  13. Wang, Ching-yi; Wu, Lilian (28 April 2016). "Selina finalizes divorce". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 29 April 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  14. Lu, Heng-chien; Su, Fang-ho; Chin, Jonathan (14 September 2015). "Richard Chang to run for legislature". Taipei Times. Archived from the original on 1 October 2015. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  15. JOAN CHEW (5 March 2016). "S.H.E's Selina Jen announces divorce on Facebook". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 7 March 2016. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  16. Wang, Jing-yi; Chen, Jay (5 March 2016). "Singer Selina's marriage over after 4 years, 4 months". Central News Agency. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
  17. "Selina announces pregnancy; ex-husband Richard Chang discreetly makes a statement". Oriental Daily News. 13 March 2023.
  18. "Selina gives birth! Son had fluid in lungs and "spent a few days in an incubator": tiny hand makes "OK" sign". ETtoday. 7 September 2023.
  19. S.H.E. Selina’s food brand to cease operations in 2024 Archived 6 February 2024 at the Wayback Machine Reporter TVBS News Staff Release time: 26/12/2023
  20. "Performance Name: Selina Jen's "To My Kindred Spirits" Concert & Talk Show" (in Chinese). niusnews. 15 February 2015.
  21. "S.H.E Reunites to Make Wishes After Selina's Emotional Performance" (in Chinese). Liberty Times. 16 February 2015.
  22. "「S.H.E.」 SELINA垂死？". TTV. Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2025.
  23. "「真命天女」殺青 Selina哭花臉". The Epoch Times. 28 July 2005.
  24. "Selina Makes Cameo in Someone Like You, Surprisingly Gets into a Tussle with Lorene Jen" (in Chinese). SET News. 10 April 2015.
  25. "selina、鄭元暢，為阿桑演出淒美人鬼戀！". iNEWS. 17 November 2010.