Ning Yizhuo (Chinese: 宁艺卓; pinyin: Níng Yìzhuó; born October 23, 2002), known professionally as Ningning (Korean닝닝), is a Chinese singer based in South Korea. She is a member of the South Korean girl group Aespa.

Ningning
Ningning in 2023
Born
Níng Yìzhuó

(2002-10-23) October 23, 2002 (age 22)
EducationBeijing Contemporary Music Academy
OccupationSinger
Musical career
OriginSeoul, South Korea
Genres
InstrumentVocals
Years active2020–present
Labels
Member ofAespa
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese
Traditional Chinese
Hanyu PinyinNíng Yìzhuó
Wade–GilesNing Icho
Korean name
Hangul
닝이줘
Revised RomanizationNing Ijwo
McCune–ReischauerNing Ijwŏ
Stage name
Hangul
닝닝
Revised RomanizationNingning
McCune–ReischauerNingning
Signature

Early life

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Ningning was born as Ning Yizhuo on October 23, 2002, in Harbin, China. She graduated from Harbin Normal University Middle School (哈尔滨师范大学附属中学) and Beijing Contemporary Music Academy (北京市现代音乐学校).[1] During her early years, she was nicknamed "Ningning", which she would later use as her stage name in her career.[2]

Career

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Pre-debut

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Ningning was scouted by SM Entertainment following her appearance on the Chinese singing TV show Let's Sing Kids. She was later introduced as a member of the pre-debut training team SM Rookies on September 19, 2016.[3] As part of the team, she appeared on the Rookies Princess: Who's the Best? segment of the program My SMT that year, and recorded several covers for the Korean animated TV program Shining Star in 2017.[4]

2020–present: Debut and solo activities

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After training for 4 years, Ningning was revealed as the third member of Aespa on October 28, 2020, introduced by SM as an "18-year-old Chinese member with an outstanding voice" through the company's official socials.[5] The group debuted on November 17, 2020, with the release of the digital single "Black Mamba".[6] In 2022, Ningning released an OST with fellow member Winter called "Once Again" as part of the official soundtrack of the South Korean drama Our Blues.[7] The song charted at 119 on the Circle Digital Chart.[8] In December, she participated in 2 tracks for SM's annual end-of-year compilation album 2022 Winter SM Town: SMCU Palace, "Time After Time" and "Good To Be Alive", with fellow SM label mates.[9]

On July 30, 2023, Ningning released the single "WYA" with Jay Park. The song was a surprise collaboration for the WeTV show The Next 2023, where Jay Park appeared as a regular mentor.[10] A remix of the single was subsequently released on August 13, featuring PH-1, Lexie Liu, ØZI, and Masiwei.[11]

On March 12, 2024, Ningning released the OST "Count on Me" for drama The Midnight Studio.[12] On March 15, she was announced as the MC for the first day of KCON 2024 in Hong Kong alongside Myung Jae-hyun of boy group BoyNextDoor.[13]

Endorsements

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On February 8, 2024, the Italian luxury fashion house Versace appointed Ningning as their global brand ambassador.[14][15] In August of 2024, she became the global face of the Versace's Kleio Bag campaign.[16] In November of 2024, she kicked off Versace's holiday campaign and starred in a campaign video.[17]

Discography

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Singles

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As lead artist

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List of singles as lead artist, showing year released, selected chart positions and album name
Title Year Peak chart
positions
Album
CHN
[18]
"WYA" (妳在哪裡)
(with Jay Park or remix featuring PH-1, Lexie Liu, ØZI and Masiwei)
2023 63 Non-album single

Soundtrack appearances

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List of soundtrack appearances, showing year released, selected chart positions and album name
Title Year Peak chart
positions
Album
KOR
[19]
"Once Again"
(with Winter)
2022 119 Our Blues OST
"Count on Me" 2024 [A] The Midnight Studio OST
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory

Other charted songs

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List of other charted songs, showing year released, selected chart positions and album name
Title Year Peak chart
positions
Album
KOR
[21]
"Snow Dream 2021"
(with Yeri, Haechan, Chenle and Jisung)
2021 [B] 2021 Winter SM Town: SMCU Express
"Time After Time" ()
(with BoA and Wendy)
2022 [C] 2022 Winter SM Town: SMCU Palace
"Bored!"[D] 2024 178 Synk: Parallel Line
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that region.

Guest appearances

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List of other appearances, showing year released, other artist(s) credited and album name
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Good to Be Alive" 2022 Hyo, Key, Chen, Johnny, Ginjo, Raiden, Imlay and Mar Vista 2022 Winter SM Town: SMCU Palace
"Melody" 2023 The Next EP. 4 (Live Version)
"Sip Ona Lil Sum'" 2024 Jay Park The One You Wanted

Composition credits

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All song credits are adapted from the Korea Music Copyright Association's database unless stated otherwise.[24]

List of songs, showing year released, artist name and album name
Title Year Artist Album Lyricist Composer
"Bored!" 2024 Herself Synk: Parallel Line    

Filmography

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Television shows

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2011 China Got Talent Contestant Season 2 [14]
2015 Let's Sing Kids Season 3

Hosting

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Year Title Notes Ref.
2024 2024 KCON Hong Kong Special MC (day 1) with Myung Jae-hyun [13]

Notes

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  1. ^ "Count on Me" didn't chart on the Circle Digital Chart but peaked at 51 on the component Download Chart.[20]
  2. ^ "Snow Dream 2021" didn't chart on the Circle Digital Chart but peaked at 83 on the component Download Chart.[22]
  3. ^ "Time After Time" (원) didn't chart on the Circle Digital Chart but peaked at 89 on the component Download Chart.[23]
  4. ^ Credited under Aespa but is a solo track performed by Ningning.

References

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  1. ^ 1theK Originals (May 22, 2021). 에스파 세계관 흑막은 누구? 원더케이는 윈터 흑막설에 치킨 걸었음 | 에스파(aespa)_Next Level | 아이돌등판 | IDDP (Video) (in Korean). Event occurs at 11 minutes 5 seconds. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ `정희` 에스파, SM 신인 걸그룹 부담 딛고 "음료 CF" 노리는 발랄함(종합) (in Korean). Star Today. December 7, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2024 – via Naver.
  3. ^ Jeong, Lucy (August 27, 2021). "5 K-pop idols from China: from Exo's Lay and Aespa's Ningning to (G)I-dle's Yuqi and NCT's Winwin and Chenle – what cities do they come from and how did they find fame?". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  4. ^ Lee Yoo-min (September 20, 2016). "SM루키즈, 중국 출신 새 멤버 2인 공개 '기대'" [SM Rookies unveils two new Chinese members 'Expectation']. TV Daily (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  5. ^ Lee, Jae-lim (October 29, 2020). "aespa's third member, Ningning, is introduced by SM". Korea JoongAng Daily. Archived from the original on February 29, 2024. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  6. ^ Phillips, Demi (June 29, 2022). "All Aespa members' ages, birthdays, and heights". We Got This Covered. Archived from the original on November 27, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  7. ^ Chin, Carmen (March 25, 2022). "aespa's Winter and NingNing to contribute song to the soundtrack of 'Our Blues'". NME. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023.
  8. ^ "Digital Chart - 2022 Weeks 22" (in Korean). Circle Chart. May 2022. Archived from the original on July 7, 2022. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  9. ^ Daly, Rhian (December 26, 2022). "SM Entertainment shares 2022 edition of annual compilation, '2022 Winter SMTOWN: SMCU Palace'". NME. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  10. ^ Behera, Snigdha (July 29, 2024). "Jay Park & Aespa's NingNing live performance makes netizens excited | Watch". India TV News. Archived from the original on August 1, 2023. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  11. ^ "앨범 정보; [싱글] 妳在哪裡 (WYA) Remix 박재범, 닝닝 (NINGNING)" [Album info; [Single] 妳在哪裡 (WYA) Remix Park Jae-beom, NINGNING (NINGNING)]. Melon (in Korean). August 13, 2023. Archived from the original on March 23, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  12. ^ "The Midnight Studio OST Part 1 Ningning- Count on Me". YouTube. Stone Music Entertainment. Archived from the original on March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Park, Dong-sun (March 15, 2024). 닝닝·명재현·성한빈·장하오, KCON 홍콩 2024 MC 발탁 [NingNing, Myung Jae-Hyun, Sung Han-bin, Zhang Hao named KCON Hong Kong 2024 MCs]. Et News. Archived from the original on April 8, 2024. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
  14. ^ a b Zargani, Luisa; Feitelberg, Rosemary; Mohammed, Hikmat; Stark, Ari (February 8, 2024). "Versace's New Face, The Met's Longer Show, Cavalli at the Super Bowl". WWD. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  15. ^ Ziwei, Puah (February 8, 2024). "aespa's NingNing is Versace's newest global brand ambassador". NME. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  16. ^ Julia Teti (August 27, 2024). "K-pop Star Ningning Models Versace's Kleio Bag in New Campaign Featuring Intimate Portraits as Latest Global Brand Ambassador". WWD. Archived from the original on November 1, 2024. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  17. ^ Muhammad, Latifah (November 7, 2024). "Aespa's Ningning Kicks Off Versace Holiday 2024 Campaign: 'Fashion & Music Are Interconnected'". Billboard. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
  18. ^ "你在哪里 (WYA) – 朴宰范/Ningning" (in Chinese). Tencent Music. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  19. ^ Peak chart positions for soundtrack appearances on the Circle Chart (formerly Gaon Digital Chart):
    • "Once again". Gaon Music Chart (in Korean). May 22–28, 2022. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved June 10, 2022.
  20. ^ "Download Chart — Week 11, 2024". Circle Chart. March 10–16, 2024. Archived from the original on March 22, 2024. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
  21. ^ Peaks on the Circle Digital Chart:
  22. ^ "Download Chart — Week 1, 2022". Circle Chart. January 1, 2022. Archived from the original on December 28, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  23. ^ "Download Chart — Week 53, 2022". Circle Chart. December 25–31, 2022. Archived from the original on January 5, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  24. ^ "Songs Registered Under NINGNING (10044079)". Korea Music Copyright Association (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved August 19, 2024.
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