Profile of MEOVV’s Ella Gross: From “BLACKPINK’s Little Sister” to Captivating Kpop Idol

Ella is the first member introduced by THE BLACK LABEL as part of MEOVV’s lineup. With high recognition and a strong following in South Korea thanks to her background as a model, Ella’s debut as an idol is highly anticipated and expected to make a significant impact. Here are some interesting facts about Ella!

Biography

• Full name: Ella McKenzie Gross
• Native name: 엘라 맥켄지 그로스
• Birthday: Dec 1, 2008
• Height: 168 cm
• Group (2024-present): MEOVV
• Instagram: @Ellagross

Ella Gross, born in 2008, has an American father and a Korean-German mother. Currently, her family resides in Los Angeles, California. With a mixed heritage of American, Korean, and German blood, and inheriting the best traits from her parents, Ella is fortunate to possess an incredibly attractive beauty.

From the first glance at Ella’s photos, you’ll be impressed not only by her beauty but also by her special aura and charm. Her heart-shaped face, harmonious features blending Eastern and Western traits, with dark eyes, extended eye corners, and a high, straight nose, gives Ella an elegant appearance whether viewed head-on or in profile.

Ella avoids confining herself to a specific style. She retains a youthful, baby-like charm while gradually showcasing the gentle, refined quality of a young lady. This might explain why every photo she posts receives hundreds of thousands of likes and praise, with comments like: “This is what an angel looks like,” “Such a strong presence even at such a young age; I wonder how much more potential she will have as she grows,” and “Her eyes are so captivating.”

Starting as a model at the age of 2

At 16 years old, Ella has nearly 9 years of international modeling experience. However, she began familiarizing herself with the camera much earlier, at age 2. At that age, little Ella Gross was already showing interest in posing for the camera. Her beautiful, mixed-Asian face caught the eye of a major American magazine where her family lives, leading to her first magazine cover.

However, her “modeling career” had to be paused when she started kindergarten. To ensure her daughter had a peaceful childhood like other kids in preschool, her parents did not take on additional work for her. It wasn’t until first grade that she returned to her favorite job.

Despite her young age, Ella is passionate about modeling as it allows her to meet people, make friends, and interact with both children and adults. At age of 16, Ella’s thoughts are very mature. She is diligent in everything she does, from school to dance classes, guitar lessons, and acting. Her idol is actress Emma Watson, and she has always dreamed of becoming an actress one day.

“My husband and I met at law school over 10 years ago. We fell in love and got married. We are both lawyers. Like all parents, our only goal is to support our children’s dreams, no matter what they want to do. Ella’s passions are acting and modeling. She is very hardworking and dedicated to everything she does. Even when reading Harry Potter, Ella was so absorbed that she read 150 pages of the third book in one day… So, my husband and I will support her unconditionally,” said Wynne Gross, Ella’s mother, addressing concerns about the family imposing and profiting from their daughter.

Ella’s freedom to pursue her passions at an age when other children are only focused on school is perhaps one of the most admirable aspects of her story. Being famous from an early age, having opportunities to meet many idols and celebrities, and participating in major projects from films to magazines are achievements that not only her peers but even adults must envy. Yet, not everyone can achieve what Ella has.

Her 9 years of experience in child modeling have made Ella the face of several major fashion brands such as Zara, Levi’s, Lacoste, GAP, and H&M. She has also appeared on the covers of numerous prestigious magazines like VOGUE and YOHO! In real life, Ella impresses with her versatile “chameleon” fashion style, shifting from elegant and cute to edgy and “cool.”

Currently, Ella’s Instagram is managed by her mother. Instead of posting only high-end modeling photos, her mother diligently updates daily images of Ella, showing that beyond her work, she is just like any other normal girl—except she is more talented, more beautiful, and growing up.

Debut as Kpop idol

In February of 2024, there were speculations that Ella would be part of the first girl group produced by Teddy and THE BLACK LABEL. On August 21, MEOVV’s official page revealed a trailer introducing her as the first member of the group. Upon joining the company, Teddy praised Ella’s unique vocal abilities.

Ella quickly became a hot topic on various forums in South Korea. Her presence at age 16 in the trailer impressed Knet with her captivating and sophisticated aura combined with the freshness of her teenage years. Ella possesses all the traits to become a versatile “fan magnet” for MEOVV—she is beautiful, charismatic, adaptable to various concepts, and skilled in singing and rapping. Her background as a child model not only provides a strong foundation for securing additional contracts post-debut but also enhances her relationships with brands.

Moreover, Ella’s existing fame not only ensures a stable fan base before her debut but also brings significant attention and a positive reception to MEOVV.