Meet the Malaysian princess campaigning for cannabis use – Tengku Chanela Jamidah, reinvented as an LA and Vegas-based wellness guru

Tengku Chanela Jamidah always starts her day with a gratitude list. As clichéd as it may sound, it’s the prima materia that sustains this Malaysian princess since she relocated permanently to the US two years ago.

Before the big move, Tengku Chanela – who descends from the Pahang royal family via her father, the late Tengku Arif Bendahara Ibrahim – helmed two major fashion and beauty brands, Thavia and Dida while balancing her role as a mother of two. Today, sitting down with STYLE, the 36-year-old is more than happy to skip all fashion talk and share the details of her newfound calling in health and wellness.

She actively advocates for mindful cannabis usage

Marijuana is illegal in many parts of the world, including Malaysia, but Tengku Chanela appeared unfazed when our conversation loomed over the controversial subject of cannabis usage.

Then again, she is the appointed patron for Malaysia Society of Awareness (MASA), a non-profit organisation currently working hard on destigmatising, decriminalising and legalising marijuana production and usage in Malaysia. With her help, the organisation recently released a manifesto structuring the economic, medical and social benefits of decriminalising cannabis usage in Malaysia.

“What’s challenging, as with any other non-profit, is to get the team mobilised [especially with the ongoing Covid-19 health pandemic]. On the upside, our mission is clearer than ever and the manifesto reflects this,” she said.

She adds, “In 2018, I started taking CBD [cannabidiol] oil for anxiety, insomnia and chronic pain. It was mind-blowing. The diverse use of this plant, coupled with how transformational it was in improving my quality of life, encouraged me to share about it with others.”

For a royal, her life is pretty simple