Jinek was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and grew up in Washington, D.C., where she attended Sheridan School.

"[1] After studying American history at the University of Leiden in 2004, she became foreign editor of the Dutch public news network NOS Journaal, where she covered the United States.

In May of that year she joined with fellow editor Monique van Hoogstraten, the editor of "Het maakbare nieuws," a collection of eighteen stories with foreign journalists, provided in response to the book "Het zijn net mensen" (They are almost Human) of journalist-writer Joris Luyendijk.

She is well known for her coverage of the USA, since her work as a co-host of the show 'Amerika Kiest' (America Votes) of the NOS on the U.S. presidential elections, seen from the Netherlands on November 4 and 5, 2008.

"[citation needed] On January 20, 2009, she was the host of the live broadcast on Nederland 1 of the inauguration of Barack Obama as 44th President of the United States.

At this commercial tv-station, the talkshowhost alternates with Beau van Erven Dorens with her late night talkshow with the same name.

In July 2023, Jinek announced that she had signed a four-year contract with AVROTROS, where she would start work in early 2024 and develop her own programs.