Creative mastermind Reena Combo returns to the world of media with her latest project, Fusian magazine, a new woman’s fashion, beauty and lifestyle magazine targeted towards the real British Asian women of today.Reena has been surfing the waves of the Asian media industry for quite some time. She was the editor of DesiXpress, a weekly Asian newspaper, she also set up Ikonz, an Asian version of Heat magazine, which went on to become the official media partner of the IIFA awards. After a brief stint at the TV channel Brit Asia, where she helped with the set up of the channel, she returned to her publishing roots in order to satisfy her creative calling.

InsideDesi was lucky enough to catch up with the media queen and here is what she had to say…

Pras: We’re all very curious to know where it all began. Tell us all!

Reena: Gosh, it is such a long story that I may just end up boring you! I shall give you the short version. I started out because of a dear man called Amarjit Sidhu, who worked for the BBC Asian Network at the time and knew about my passion of media. Eventually I managed to get some work experience with him at the BBC Asian Network. I then started volunteering for Asian internet websites and magazines. After graduating from university with a BA Hons in English Literature, English Language and Drama Studies, I applied for a job as a reporter for a local Asian newspaper and got the job. Shortly after being promoted, I set up DesiXpress with the same company, where I became the editor. Soon after that, I was offered a challenge to set up Ikonz, after which followed my time at Brit Asia. I noticed that I was not being challenged creatively, and on a personal level, things were not going too well for me. I decided to go back into publishing and was offered the editor role at Fusian magazine.

Pras: Who has been the coolest person you have worked with? 

Reena: I was lucky enough to be in the presence of Amitabh Bachchan for two days. Wow…what an experience! He was such an amazing man, very kind and so humble towards me. He spent lots of time talking to me and was a pleasure to be around. I am also a huge Shah Rukh Khan fan, and I’ve had the pleasure of being in his company many times. He was ever so nice, even after I embarrassed myself the first time I met him… I got star struck! I tell you, he has not forgotten me after that day and has always made an effort with me. On the flipside in the mainstream I have enjoyed chatting to the likes on Dannii Minogue, Simon Cowell and Katie Price. Katie Price is amazing. I have a lot of respect for a woman who can work so hard yet make time for her children and husband.

Pras: …and the worst?

Reena: Oh I would never divulge such information. Celebrities have so much media attention and fan attention to cope with and always have their guard up so they have every right to be in a mood from time to time.

Pras: You are a great role model to young Asians pursuing the non-traditional media route. What advice would you give people who are thinking of the same?

Reena: Thank you, it is very overwhelming when people tell me I am a role model to them. I love what I do and I do my job well because I enjoy the challenge and love seeing the Asian industry grow. Media is a hard industry to get your foot into, so my advice is to get the experience under your belt, volunteer if you have to. Obviously no one likes doing things voluntarily, but media companies have so many people knocking their door that they can be spoilt with choice so gain your experience well. I always believe if you want something badly enough you will work hard for it.

Pras: Do you prefer the writing to the presenting?

Reena: I like both. I love publishing and feel I am good at expressing myself on paper. I even write songs so writing comes naturally to me. Presenting is great and I feel I have the right personality and confidence for it.

Pras: Being an Asian woman with a strong career ethos, has this affected your relationship/personal life?

Reena: With regards to my family, they have and will always come first. I think it is very important to spend time with your family, my parents have always taught me that, and I hope to pass that onto my children one day. Relationships? I do have to admit my work has slightly affected that yes. I work very hard and am very dedicated to Asian media. I did not really feel ready to settle down until recently. I have worked day and night on publications and there was never really time for a relationship. Then again, I think some guys are actually scared of me! I am very outspoken and I think guys see that as a threat, or automatically assume I am taken so they never approach me.

Pras: That’s such a shame! How would you say you balance work and personal life?

Reena: Very simple, compromise and prioritise. I have always made time for my family and they would tell you the same, and as I’ve already said, when that certain someone comes along I will make all the time in the world for him.

Pras: Alright, now tell us about your new project.

Reena: Fusian is a women’s Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle magazine and therefore it is aimed at the British Asian women of today. The great thing about Fusian is that it is not just a catalogue of images like other Asian women magazines; we really hit hard on real-life issues that Asian women in the UK have to face everyday. It is a national bi-monthly magazine and it is available across the whole of the UK and soon to hit India, Dubai, Pakistan and the United States too.

Pras: Who else is involved?

Reena: Well there is a whole team involved in Fusian. The magazine has been set up by a new publishing company called Two 3 Media, which is run by Zar Ahmed.

Zar has been working on the magazine for a long time now, and in my opinion has brought together a great set of people to give the consumer a fantastic magazine. We are a very close knit team and we all work well together. I think that’s because we’re all so passionate about Fusian.

Pras: A bit like InsideDesi then. How is Fusian different from the publications you previously worked on?

Reena: Well both Asian Today and DesiXpress were newspapers and you can never compare the two because magazines and newspapers are very different publications - they have a different style of writing, different imagery and many other different aspects to them.

Pras: You have done so much in such a short period of time, we never know what to expect from you. Do you have anything else up your sleeves, any exclusives for InsideDesi?

Reena: Thank you! As a lot of people know, I love singing and acting. Singing for me is a hobby, not something I professionally want to pursue. However I can reveal that I am in the process of scripting my first theatre production. It is in its very early stages and I cannot say much more on that just yet.  I am also currently  working on a new digital media platform within a mainstream company. Again, I must be careful about how much I say on it.

Pras: Thank you Reena. We at InsideDesi wish you all the best with your future ventures. Hopefully we can catch up with you very soon!

Reena: Thank you very much and yes of course!

To keep up-to-date with Reena Combo and her various projects, you can join her on her Facebook Group.

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