Unfortunately, her dream of becoming ``the next Madonna'' and taking the musical world by storm never panned out.
It was while taking some papers at polytechnic that her interest in helping people with ``real world issues'' was sparked.
Mrs Jensen-McCloy (40) has been made a partner at Webb Farry after 12½ years with the Dunedin law firm.
Dunedin born and bred, she was from a family of six children including identical twin sister Alissa, who also lives in the city.
She left school at 16 to head to Bristol in England where she was intent on pursuing her Madonna dream. She also spent time in Edinburgh and Australia and was a very keen traveller.
Mrs Jensen-McCloy has been involved in theatre restaurant and seven Gilbert and Sullivan shows.
A highlight was performing on stage as a concubine in the Royal New Zealand Ballet's production of Swan Lake.
While only an extra, it was a ``thoroughly cool'' experience, particularly being across the stage from legendary ballet dancer Sir Jon Trimmer, who was ``so lovely'' to her.
Married with two young daughters, Mrs Jensen-McCloy no longer had time for theatre - ``I love vicariously through others now for my musical interests'' - but she maintained a wide, eclectic taste in music.
She found her love of law at Otago Polytechnic and, returning to New Zealand when she was 21, she embarked on a law degree at the University of Otago, which proved a positive experience.
After graduating, she spent her first two years at AWS Legal in Invercargill where partner Anne Henderson was ``brilliant'' to work for and gave her a great start. She moved to Webb Farry in Dunedin and had remained there.
Becoming a partner was ``hugely exciting'' for Mrs Jensen-McCloy who specialised in complex relationship property issues.
She did everyday relationship property through to complex farm partnerships, companies and trusts.
What she loved was how it was quite technical, particularly at the complex end, and she really enjoyed the technical challenges. She worked in other areas, including estate and civil litigation.
She enjoyed the opportunity to help people through a very significant period of their lives, which often came with huge stress and emotion.
She enjoyed the ``talented'' team of people and culture at Webb Farry.
It had also been a very good place for her career development and now her focus was on mentoring and supervising. Helping others progress in their careers was very satisfying, she said.
Mrs Jensen-McCloy had no regrets about her chosen career, and it was through sheer disciplined determination and a love of what she did, as to why she was there.
She loved Dunedin - ``on a beautiful day, I think there's nowhere better to be - and she was in the city for the long term.
It had so much to offer in terms of people, talent and experiences and it was also a great place to bring up children.
