[3] Pandelela was born in (Kampung) Kupuo Jugan, a Bidayuh village in Bau, Sarawak to Hartini Lamim and Pamg Joheng.

[8][9] Pandelela speaks Mandarin; which she learned from attending SJK(C) Stampin - a Chinese national-type primary school, as well as her Bidayuh mother tongue, Malay and English.

[citation needed] At the 2007 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, she won the gold medal in 10m synchronized platform with Cheong Jun Hoong.

[12] To commemorate her success, she was presented with the Johan Bintang Kenyalang (Companion of the Order of the Star of Hornbill) by the Sarawak State Government, in a special investiture ceremony held at the Astana shortly after her triumphant return to her homeland.

[14] At the 2013 World Aquatics Championships in Barcelona, Pandelela and Mun Yee clinch the bronze medal in 10m synchronized platform with 331.14 points.

In July 2015, Pandelela made history when she became the first Malaysian to finish on the podium in an individual event at the World Aquatics Championships.

[16] She clinched a bronze medal in the individual 10 m platform in Kazan and qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics in Brazil.

At the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, she won the gold medal in newly introduced team event with Gabriel Gilbert Daim.

At the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Pandelela and diving partner Leong Mun Yee finished eighth in the women's 10m synchronized platform.

[23] In June 2018, Pandelela and six other divers were caught in controversy after a video showed them partying and drinking alcohol during a training camp in Guangzhou, China.