Jennylyn Pineda Mercado (born May 15, 1987 in Parañaque City, Philippines) is a Filipina actress and singer. She became famous after winning in the first season of StarStruck, a reality-based talent search show of GMA Network in the Philippines.Jennylyn started out as a recording artist, in 1999, with Alpha Records through the recommendation of her voice coach Susanna Pichay. She was with the singing group G4 of Nonoy Tan. Unfortunately, two of the co-members did not continue on so the group and the planned album was scrapped. But the group was able to record two songs. Though her short experience with the group dismayed her, it developed her love for singing.
After G4, another opportunity was opened to her and that was modeling. She kept herself busy with a number of VTRs from advertising agencies.
Luckily, her patience paid off as she landed an endorsing stint with Bambini cologne and a Ponds television advertisement before that. She also made it to the elite Circle of 10 modeling search along with fellow Starstruck member, Dion Ignacio. She won the Ms. Photogenic title and some cash. But according to her, she was also a contestant in the previous year’s search. She withdrew from it because the cigarette smoke from the bars they visited as part of the search’s promotions made her sick and affected her voice.