Jahnay Tunkara, known as Chef Jae , grew up in Cleveland, Ohio alongside her four siblings. Her passion for cooking originated through childhood, during the holidays when her Great Grandmother prepared dishes from scratch. She always loved  her Great Grandmother's Southern cuisine. Her Great Grandmother had a unique talent for bringing people together; creating cherished memories with the love of her culinary skills. This sparked Chef Jae's imagination and creativity.

At the age of 14, Chef Jae secured an internship as a Pastry Assistant. at the Intercontinental Hotel.

A year later, following the  tragic death of her older brother, Johnteze Tunkara. she remained focused on graduating from an online homeschooling program which instilled a strong sense of  self-discipline. This ignited her passion to embrace her natural talent for cooking. Chef Jae attended a Community College for Culinary Arts while gaining hands-on experience working in various restaurants.

 Additionally, she completed a Push for Purpose Entrepreneurship Course which enhanced her skills to operate a business. This motivated Chef Jae to launch Fuzhen16 in April of 2020. Chef Jae's mission is to continue building the Fuzhen16 Empire and fulfilling her purpose as a chef.