Singer and actress Heliza Helmi tells Dennis Chua about her numerous passions, including humanitarian work
FANS best remember Heliza Helmi as the attractive, wide-eyed finalist of Akademi Fantasia 5 who wowed audiences with her talent in spiritual pop music and nasyid.
While she lost to Mila Jirin and finished fourth, Heliza has been carving her own niche not only in show business but in the business world, too. Above all, she is a humanitarian who is involved in charitable causes, in Malaysia and in West Asia and Eastern Europe.
“I recently got back from a humanitarian mission with Muslim Care Malaysia, a non-governmental organisation. We were in Syria and distributed necessities to victims of the ongoing civil war,” says Heliza who was deeply moved by the suffering of Syrian children.
“Visits to less fortunate lands teach me many things, one of them is to count my blessings and be grateful that I live in a peaceful and harmonious country,” she says.
Heliza visited Palestine in 2012, and Russia, Jordan and Bosnia-Herzegovina last April. Joined by Akademi Fantasia 4 graduate and singer-actress Salima Habibi, Heliza brought cheer to the sick and suffering in refugee camps in Palestine, and orphanages and hospitals in the other countries.
“We also took part in Sebarkan Kasih Sayang, a spiritual concert held in Ireland and the United Kingdom. The event was aimed at raising funds for the organisation.”
SPREADING HER WINGS
Heliza, 28, from Terengganu, is a chemistry and biology graduate from Universiti Malaysia Sabah in Kota Kinabalu. After graduating four years ago, she underwent a brief course at Training Cube Academy in Ampang to become an image consultant for Muslim women’s fashion.
Over the last two years, she established her own fashion line, Falah Abiyana, which is a partnership with fellow television personalities Farrah Adeeba, Awin and Shafinaz Yunuz. Heliza also has her own boutique, Women Of Jannah in The Curve, Petaling Jaya and in Plaza Masalam, Shah Alam.
“I am always interested in modest and beautiful women’s fashion,” says Heliza, whose other businesses are Umrah travel package company Jom Travel and handphone casing company Islamic Casing.
Despite her busy schedule, Heliza is always on the lookout for the right opportunities to be on TV. For the past two years, she has been hosting women’s magazine SIS on TV9; she describes her broadcasting job as “joyous”.
“I’m a keen follower of women’s issues, and SIS enables me to present them in an informal, yet informative manner. SIS has a good following, and I believe it’s an innovative magazine as it caters specially for the spiritual yet modern woman.”
In 2010, Heliza hosted the culinary magazine Rasa Halal Antarabangsa on Astro Oasis which took her to Turkey, Australia, South Korea, the UK and France. “It was so exciting to enjoy the best of halal recipes from around the world. Rasa Halal Antarabangsa enlightened me on the abundance of halal recipes in most major travel destinations, East and West.”
Heliza also presented the humanitarian documentary Sinar Itu Hadir Jua on TV1 that year. “As a teenager, I have always wanted to help those who are less fortunate. And now, as a TV personality, singer and actress, I can do so.”
PICKY ABOUT ROLES
Heliza’s acting career is taking a back seat because “I am picky about my roles”. She says she will only play modest and upright characters.
Heliza has starred with One In A Million and Melodi host Awal Ashaari in the romantic comedy Syurga Cinta in 2010. “It was great fun working with Awal as both of us are graduates of reality talent shows. In Syurga Cinta, I played a good girl who guided Awal’s bad boy character towards the straight path.”
She describes Awal and his actress wife Scha Alyahya as socially responsible actors who take part in charitable causes.
Last year, Heliza was in the Al-Hijrah series Warkah Cinta directed by Mior Hashim Manap, and in 2012, she was in the television movie Kun Fa Ya Kun on the same channel.
“When I pick a role, I always look at the story line first. I am a stickler for stories that impart everyday human values and those that emphasise honesty and integrity,” she says, adding that she hopes to produce religious and environmental programmes someday.
“The environment is our common treasure and we must go green sooner or later. I love watching documentaries that highlight the plight of the less fortunate, as well as those which introduce us to the beauty of nature.”
Heliza is a member of the NGO Usrah Fitrah alongside Salima and actresses Yatt Hamzah, Irma Hasmie and Diana Amir.
“Its mission is to help less fortunate individuals and children with physical challenges. Being celebrities, it is our responsibility as role models to do what we can to help others. It brings us closer to God.”
SINGING CAREER
Heliza, who is also a motivational speaker, has not abandoned her singing career and enjoys being a “Jane of all trades”.
“I’ve always loved singing,” she says, adding “I am planning to duet with my younger brother Hazwani, who has a talent for composing music.”
The song, Jom Selawat, will be part of her new album together with other spiritual songs such as Jom Zikir and La Tahzan. “I also plan to work with Salima on another album, which will feature three songs in Bahasa Malaysia and Arabic.”
The second of four siblings, her parents have always been her pillars of strength. “They have always encouraged me to do what I loved, within the boundaries of a Muslim woman, and what makes me happiest is spending quality time with them and doing a good job.”
