Singer Jona has bravely shared for the first time her painful experience of childhood abuse, opening up about years of trauma, silence, and eventual healing through faith and forgiveness.
In a recent emotional interview, Jona recalled being abused by her father when she was young — an ordeal she could barely process at the time. "As I recall, it happened during the daytime. They would take me to the room, and that's where the horrific things began," she said.
Jona admitted she kept the secret from everyone, even her siblings: "My siblings didn't know." She also didn't know how they would receive it: "I didn't say anything because I didn't know how they would receive it," Jona said, adding that even as she matured, the trauma continued to affect how she viewed herself and her relationships. "When I became a young woman, you start seeking validation... you just want to feel loved, secure, to be worthy and adored because that was taken away from you when you were a child," she reflected.
She admitted she became fearful of entering relationships: "For how many years, I was single because I was too afraid to trust again... I don't want the broken family story or for me to be abused to happen again."
Despite the pain, Jona said her healing began through prayer and forgiveness, particularly after her father fell ill. "I prayed about everything. I said, 'Lord, I surrender it all to you.'"
Instead of anger, she chose forgiveness and faith as the path to healing. "I was frozen because I didn't know if it was right," she said about the moments of abuse.
Before her father passed away, he sent her a message: "My child, forgive me for all my mistakes." "Simple words like that contributed to my healing... I felt like the thorn in my soul was plucked out," she said. "It's probably only by the grace of God that I was able to forgive," she said softly.
Now, Jona said she finally understands why she was once called the "Fearless Diva." "Now, I know that it had a purpose. I feel fearless and strong enough to share my journey — something I hid even from myself for so long."
