Sharmila Joghi, a singer-songwriter and pop artist from the Netherlands, has been nominated for the International Recognition Award at the Influencer Magazine Awards 2026. The nomination recognises her career as a performer who has combined music with advocacy while working as a social worker supporting children’s homes, women’s shelters, and refugees across the Netherlands. Sharmila was the opening artist for the American boyband O-Town during their return tour in the United States, an experience that marked a significant milestone in her musical journey. She trained in jazz ballet for eight years during her childhood before later taking vocal lessons and developing her own songwriting practice.
Her music career has been shaped by a deeply personal journey of hardship and loss. Sharmila has publicly shared her experiences of what she describes as years of censorship, discrimination, and institutional mistreatment after she identified herself as an artist in 2013. She states that she was prevented from freely pursuing her artistic career and was separated from her daughter for several years. The loss of her daughter Tanisha in 2021 remains a defining moment in her life and has strengthened her determination to speak publicly about her experiences through music and advocacy. Sharmila wrote the song Golden Heart for her daughter Tanisha, a tribute to who she was and the lasting impact she left on her mother.
Sharmila released four new singles on August 28, 2026, including Golden Heart, Right And Wrong, Human Race, and No Music On Mars. The collection moves from private grief to a public call for honesty, kindness, and unity. Right And Wrong takes a socially conscious direction, exploring ideas surrounding ethics and the responsibilities of people and organizations working in social fields, while also reflecting Sharmila’s personal experiences and her perspective on what she describes as censorship of her voice as a woman artist in the Netherlands. Human Race delivers a direct call to action through the recurring message, Stand up for the human race, encouraging listeners to consider their shared responsibility toward one another.
What distinguishes Sharmila Joghi is her unwavering commitment to using her creative platform to share personal experiences and encourage dialogue on issues affecting women, families, and human rights. She has submitted information and correspondence to several national and international institutions, including authorities within the Netherlands and European organizations, seeking review of her experiences. Despite the challenges she describes, she remains focused on creating music and sharing her story with audiences worldwide, hoping her journey will inspire conversations about equality, freedom of expression, and support for vulnerable individuals. Her nomination for the International Recognition Award at IMA 2026 celebrates her resilience as an artist who continues to create and advocate in the face of profound personal adversity.
