By Angel Men Chan
Instagram @angelmenchan
Former 2003 beauty pageant winner, Miss Oregon USA Murphy gained national attention when she appeared on the fourth season of Trump’s reality show - The Apprentice. Although she was “fired” in the sixth week along with three others, her journey on the reality show paved the way for her transition into the entertainment industry. Murphy's initial contact with Donald Trump about appearing on the show occurred during her time competing in the Miss USA pageant, which is part of the Miss Universe Organization formerly owned by Trump.
Following her stint on The Apprentice, Murphy made the move from New York to Los Angeles, California, to pursue a career in entertainment. She landed her first feature film role in Killer Movie, portraying the character of Mrs. Falls. Additionally, Murphy made a guest appearance on an episode of CSI, playing the role of "Dream Girl." Her foray into the world of acting marked the beginning of her blossoming career in Hollywood.
In April 2016, Murphy showcased her musical talents by uploading a video on her YouTube channel performing her song "I Want to Be NEENJA!" at a private event promoting her line of Murphy beds. The controversial video, which garnered over 8.3 million views, resurfaced in January 2021 and went viral once again.
With a better understanding and appreciation of Asian culture, she has dedicated her production to pursue a newly mostly all Asian production crew and publicity to a full-length feature film based on her viral video and song. Currently, Jennifer is in production at The Huntington in Los Angeles shooting the full-length feature film for her "I Want to Be NEENJA" song.
One of the key people involved with the production is Cheng Kai-Chung, also known as Andy Cheng, who is a Hong Kong actor, stuntman choreographer, martial artist, and director. He was a prominent member of the Jackie Chan Stunt Team from the late 1990s to early 2000s until he broke out on his own and became a member of the Stunts Unlimited team. He has doubled for Jackie Chan as well. Sunny Zhao is the Director and Cinematographer and a key member of the project.
The film’s soundtrack was created by award-winning composer and concert pianist Georges Tomb with the Budapest Symphony Orchestra and a 40-person choir. He will be the youngest composer ever to perform at Carnegie Hall in May 2024.
Through her perseverance and dedication to her craft, Murphy is making her mark in the entertainment industry.
Website IWantToBeNEEJA.com
Jennifer Murphy @jennifermurphygogirl
Andy Cheng @andycheng23
Sunny Zhao @sunnyzhaofficial