Biography
Janna Cachola is a Filipina-New Zealander actress, singer, and model. She began performing in 1996 but gained recognition in 2010 when she was cast in Miss Saigon in New Zealand. Often known as Janna Cach or Janna C, her surname 'Cachola' (pronounced "CATCH-OLA") is frequently mispronounced.
In 2006, she auditioned for New Zealand Idol (season 2) but did not pass the initial rounds. That same year, she performed at various bars in the Philippines and recorded a demo titled 'Self-titled.' She subsequently joined several musical groups.
In 2008, Kiwi rapper Joshua Webb discovered Cachola and selected her as a backing vocalist for the Parachute Music Festival, one of the largest Christian festivals in the southern hemisphere. She later featured on two tracks, "Society is a Warzone" and "Keep On," from Webb's album. That year, another New Zealand rapper, Jzaman (Shaun Jervis), invited her to contribute vocals on his track "Back Against the Wall" from the album 'Comfort Zone.'
Performing under the stage name 'Lyka,' Cachola toured throughout New Zealand and the Philippines as a backing vocalist, though she later changed her stage name due to confusion with Filipino R&B artist Kyla.
In 2009, Cachola shifted her focus from music to acting. She secured an agent in Auckland who helped her land background roles in various TV shows, commercials, and music videos filmed in New Zealand. Moving to Dunedin that year, she began participating in local musical theatre, including the 2010 production of Miss Saigon alongside Tina Braganza and internet personality Kimpoy Feliciano.
In 2011, feeling depressed and struggling with self-esteem, Cachola enrolled in a confidence and modeling course with Dunedin-based agency Ali McD. She trained with New Zealand's Next Top Model (cycle 2) twins Nellie Jenkins and Elza Jenkins, as well as agency owner Aliana McDaniel. Despite her petite height of 5'1½", she was signed as a petite model. US-based blogger, model, and author Isobella Jade later recognized her as 'Petite Model of the Week.'
In October 2011, Cachola was cast in two short films. She played Scarlet in Will Allan's Detective Doctor Felon Mystery Woman and portrayed Isabella in 'Bella Bandida.'
Cachola is related to Filipino entertainers Juvy Cachola (Sampaguita Pictures actress), Jean Altavas (beauty queen, model, and producer of Kisapmata Productions' 2010 production of Romeo at Juliet starring Alessandra De Rossi and Victor Basa), and Febe Magbanua-Pantoja (former member of The Company). Her great-grandmother, Marcelina Cachola, was a World War II heroine who confronted Japanese forces to secure the freedom of captured men in Paete, Laguna, including her husband, Vicente Cachola.
