Meet EVELLI: YG Entertainment’s First Latina K-Pop Idol Sparks Buzz with Multilingual Skills and Global Roots
A viral thread on platform X has sent shockwaves through the K-pop world with the exciting reveal of EVELLI, the first confirmed member of YG Entertainment’s upcoming girl group. Introduced to the public on May 27, 2025, the 15-year-old trilingual prodigy is already shaping up to be a game-changer in the industry.
Born Evellia Woo Ruiz on March 29, 2010, EVELLI holds a truly global background, her mother is Korean, her father Nicaraguan, and she was raised in Australia. This unique blend of cultures and experiences has gifted her with fluency in English, Korean, and Spanish, making her one of the most internationally poised rookies to emerge in recent years.
Before training under YG, EVELLI honed her skills at IMI Dance Academy (2019–2023) and was part of FlameCrew Australia, a dance cover team known for energetic K-pop performances. Her early career also included a stint as a child model, even walking the runway at Kidz Fashion Week in 2019.
What sets EVELLI apart is her “all-rounder” profile, a rare triple threat who excels in vocals, rap, and dance. Pre-debut, she impressed with viral covers of Cardi B’s “UP”, Ariana Grande’s “7 Rings”, and LE SSERAFIM’s “Unforgiven”, in addition to a high-impact vocal and rap cover of Doechii’s “Nosebleeds” released earlier this year.
Now, with unseen childhood photos and rehearsal clips circulating online, fans are rallying behind EVELLI as a fresh icon of multicultural representation in K-pop. Her debut not only symbolizes a new chapter for YG Entertainment but also reflects the genre’s increasingly global reach.
As the first unveiled member of the anticipated group, EVELLI’s introduction sets high expectations for what’s to come. With her powerful presence and trailblazing identity, she’s not just entering the K-pop stage—she’s redefining it.
