Zakia Sultana Cornia, widely known as Cornia, is balancing her own musical projects with a new responsibility as a judge on the second season of RTV Little Star. Alongside nurturing her career through new releases and live performances, the singer is drawing on her experience in the music industry to assess and encourage young contestants.

For Cornia, music is more than a profession. It is a passion that continues to shape her ambitions and artistic identity. Although she has occasionally worked as a model for fashion features in newspapers and magazines, she has no particular plans to pursue acting or modelling as a career. Instead, she wants to continue developing as a vocalist and exploring different musical styles.

In a conversation with journalist Emdadul Haque Milton, Cornia discussed her experience as a reality show judge, the potential of young performers, the challenges facing contestants after television competitions, and her plans for the future.

A New Experience as a Reality Show Judge

Taking her place on the judging panel of RTV Little Star Season 2 has been a distinctive experience for Cornia. She regards the opportunity to judge such a major competition for the first time as both exciting and a significant professional responsibility.

She explained that when organisers place their trust in an artist, it is important to fulfil that responsibility sincerely. Her priority is to evaluate contestants on the merits of their singing, without allowing personal emotions or other considerations to influence her judgement.

Cornia shares the panel with veteran pop singer Ferdous Wahid and singer Liza. She has also enjoyed the camaraderie behind the scenes, particularly Ferdous Wahid’s ability to keep the atmosphere lively during filming. Despite the difference in their ages and experience, she said, his cheerful presence helped everyone feel comfortable.

The programme has given Cornia an opportunity to see the competition process from a different perspective. Rather than concentrating solely on her own performance, she must now consider the strengths and weaknesses of aspiring singers and offer feedback that can help them improve.

The final of RTV Little Star Season 2 is scheduled for 18 October. Cornia expressed her gratitude to RTV for giving her the opportunity to be part of the programme.

Remembering Her Own Journey as a Contestant

Cornia’s experience as a reality show judge has also brought back memories of her own early career. Having once participated in competitions to establish herself as a singer, she understands the pressure contestants face while trying to demonstrate their abilities.

She believes that a judge’s comments can have a lasting effect on a contestant’s confidence. Constructive criticism is necessary, but it should be delivered in a way that helps performers recognise their mistakes without losing their motivation.

For Cornia, effective feedback involves more than pointing out weaknesses. Judges should also acknowledge what contestants do well and explain how they can build on their existing strengths.

This approach is particularly important when working with children. At a young age, contestants are developing not only their musical abilities but also their confidence and willingness to perform in front of others. Harsh or discouraging feedback can affect their enthusiasm, whereas thoughtful guidance can help them understand where they need to improve.

Cornia hopes to encourage contestants to view criticism as an opportunity to learn. She believes that consistent practice, appropriate guidance and a positive attitude can help many of them develop into capable performers.

Young Singers Show Considerable Promise

Cornia has been encouraged by the talent she has encountered among the child contestants on the programme. Some possess naturally sweet voices, while others demonstrate an ability to grasp melodies quickly. She sees considerable promise in their performances.

However, she cautions against assuming that natural talent alone is enough to sustain a career in music. An interest in learning, regular practice and a genuine appreciation of music are equally important.

In her view, children should be encouraged to take their musical development seriously from the beginning. Performing well in a competition may be a valuable achievement, but it should not become their sole objective. Learning to appreciate music and continually improving their skills are just as important.

Cornia hopes that the young participants will continue practising even after the competition ends. With consistent effort and the right direction, she believes many could develop their abilities further and pursue music more seriously in the years ahead.

Her comments reflect a broader challenge for young performers emerging from televised competitions: translating early recognition into sustained artistic growth requires commitment long after the cameras stop rolling.

Why Some Reality Show Singers Struggle to Progress

Reality television competitions can introduce talented singers to large audiences, but not everyone manages to build a lasting career afterwards. Cornia agrees that some artists who emerge from these programmes struggle to establish themselves in the music industry.

She points out that many contestants come from middle-income families whose members invest considerable hope in their success. During a competition, participants often work hard to prove themselves. Once the programme ends, however, some find it difficult to maintain the same level of practice and dedication.

Cornia believes that this is one of the key challenges facing aspiring singers. Winning a competition or attracting attention on television should be regarded as a starting point rather than the ultimate goal.

Music demands sustained effort. Singers must continue refining their technique, expanding their understanding of different styles and developing the confidence to perform before different audiences. Recognition may come quickly, but building a durable career often takes much longer.

She also acknowledges that progress does not always follow a smooth path. Artists may face setbacks or fail to achieve the success they initially expected. Such disappointments, she argues, should not become reasons to abandon their ambitions.

Patience, perseverance and regular practice remain essential. Cornia believes that those who remain committed to their goals and continue working to improve their abilities have a better chance of finding their place in the industry.

‘Jamdani Shari’ Brings a Warm Response

Cornia is pleased with the response to her song Jamdani Shari. She said the affection shown by listeners has been encouraging and has strengthened her motivation to work on new music.

For a singer, releasing a song is only part of the process. Discovering how audiences respond to it can provide valuable encouragement and help sustain enthusiasm for future projects. Cornia enjoys hearing that listeners have connected with her work and hopes her songs bring them pleasure.

She also wants each new release to offer something distinctive. Rather than simply repeating an established formula, she hopes to give audiences fresh experiences while remaining faithful to her identity as a vocalist.

The response to Jamdani Shari has reinforced her desire to continue experimenting with her music and creating songs that connect with listeners.

Exploring Different Styles While Preserving Her Identity

From the beginning of her career, Cornia has been interested in exploring a range of musical styles. She does not want to limit herself to one particular sound or repeat the same approach throughout her career.

For her, experimenting with music offers a way to rediscover herself as an artist. Each new project provides an opportunity to explore different creative possibilities and broaden her experience.

Nevertheless, she believes experimentation must be approached thoughtfully. Producing something different simply for the sake of novelty is not enough. Singers must also understand the character of a song and deliver it in a way that does justice to the composition.

Maintaining her distinctive vocal identity is therefore a priority, regardless of the genre she chooses to explore. She wants to demonstrate versatility without losing the qualities that make her singing recognisable.

This balance between creative exploration and artistic consistency remains central to her approach. By working across different styles while preserving her individuality, she hopes to keep her music fresh and continue developing as a performer.

New Singles, Duets and Live Performances

Cornia’s current schedule includes plans to release several new solo and duet songs. She is optimistic about the forthcoming projects and hopes listeners will enjoy them.

Live performances are another important part of her professional life. She recently performed at a concert in Khagrachhari and had a performance scheduled in Cox’s Bazar on the day of the interview. She also has engagements in Dhaka.

For Cornia, performing live offers an experience that differs considerably from recording music in a studio. A concert allows her to interact directly with listeners and receive their reactions as she sings. That immediate connection, she believes, makes stage performances particularly rewarding.

Concerts also allow artists to present their music in a different atmosphere and engage with audiences beyond recorded releases. Cornia intends to maintain this connection through regular performances while continuing to work on new material.

Her current activities reflect a combination of recording, live performance and exploration of different musical forms. She hopes that this variety will allow her to continue reaching audiences while developing her own artistic abilities.

Acting and Modelling Are Not on Her Career Agenda

Despite her visibility as a singer, Cornia has little interest in pursuing a parallel career in acting or modelling.

She has appeared as a model in fashion sections of newspapers and magazines, but those opportunities came primarily at the publications’ request. She did not undertake the assignments with the intention of building a modelling career.

Acting is similarly absent from her immediate plans. Although she may consider other activities as a hobby, she wants her principal professional identity to remain firmly rooted in singing.

For Cornia, the distinction is straightforward: music is where her passion lies, and it is the field in which she wants to invest her time and energy.

Her immediate priorities remain clear—developing new songs, performing before live audiences, exploring different musical styles and continuing to grow as a vocalist. As she takes on responsibilities such as judging young performers, she is also gaining opportunities to reflect on her own journey and the dedication required to sustain a career in music.

Cornia’s ambitions are not centred on branching out into every corner of the entertainment industry. Instead, she wants to deepen her relationship with music and establish a lasting identity through her singing. For her, the way forward remains firmly tied to the art form that first inspired her.