20 years after Singapore Idol, Leandra Lane’s star still shines bright

As she serenades crowds from Los Angeles’ Sunset Boulevard to stages in Austria, Turkey, the UK, and across Asia, Leandra Lane isn’t letting go of what makes her unique. This includes her bodacious curls.

The 38-year-old first captured Singapore’s attention during the inaugural season of Singapore Idol in 2004, standing out not just for her soulful vocals but also her striking hair. Though she once struggled with the urge to straighten her curls to fit in, she has since embraced her fro as a proud expression of identity.

“I went through a phase where I couldn’t stand my hair as a teenager and wanted to straighten it and try to fit in with a particular look. As I grew older, I embraced my diversity and wear my hair out with pride,” she shares.

This bold self-acceptance mirrors her artistry as a Singapore-born singer-songwriter of half African-American and half Dutch-Eurasian heritage. Leandra blends old-school rock, soul, and new-age sounds into a style that is her own. Her fro, she adds, isn’t just a beauty statement; it’s part of her rock-and-soul edge, a visual extension of the music she creates.

Having performed for icons like Michael Jackson and alongside Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Leandra continues to captivate audiences around the world. Her upcoming EP, Identity Crisis, explores her journey of self-expression, created in collaboration with musicians from Singapore and Los Angeles.  And if you’re in town, you can catch her live at the Motown Rock and Roll Party, where she’ll bring her signature soul and rock-infused energy to a night of throwback hits and feel-good grooves.

To Leandra, beauty is inseparable from confidence and authenticity. Her advice to young Singaporean artistes is clear: “There is enough sunlight for everybody, and everyone is born to stand out and not just to fit in.”

Her beauty routine reflects this mindset. “I’m a fan of NARS, Bobbi Brown, Fenty, Charlotte Tilbury, and Dior because they work well for my tanned skin tone and I’ve been using them for years,” she says. She keeps her curls bouncy with leave-in conditioner and swears by moisturising her body with a rich body cream. “I use makeup that keeps the summery colour of my skin,” she adds, always finishing with a bold red lipstick to feel “extra fierce and confident”.

Credits:

Photography: Angela Guo

Art Direction: Adeline Eng

Hair: Aung Apichai from Artistry Studios using Kevin Murphy

Makeup: Lasalle Lee using Fenty Beauty

Blazer and skirt, Cos

Jacket, Onitsuka Tiger

About this series:

The way we dress, style our hair, and paint our faces is more than aesthetic. It’s a reflection of who we are. Like a mirror, beauty captures identity shaped by culture, connection, and the places that leave their mark on us.

In celebration of SG60, this six-part series spotlights homegrown performers who’ve taken their craft to international stages. Touring the globe has not only elevated their music and performances, but also transformed their personal style.

Here, they open up about the beauty rituals they’ve picked up abroad, the signature looks that define them on and off stage, and how life on the road continues to shape their glow.