Ella

Who Is Ella From MEOVV?

Ella is the maknae, vocalist, and visual of MEOVV, the five-member K-pop girl group under THEBLACKLABEL. Born Ella McKenzie Gross on December 1, 2008, in Los Angeles, California, she carries the Korean name Nabi, meaning “butterfly.” Long before she was an idol, Ella was already a familiar face in international fashion — which makes her one of the more unusual origin stories among current MEOVV members.

Early Life and Modeling Career

Ella is of South Korean and German-American descent, born to a Korean mother and an American father. She began modeling at just two years old and went on to work with global brands including Zara, H&M, Levi’s, and GAP. At nine, she debuted on the runway at the Tokyo Girls Collection Autumn/Winter 2018 show in front of tens of thousands of spectators, and later walked in Tokyo Girls Collection Spring/Summer 2019 and New York Fashion Week. In July 2018, THEBLACKLABEL signed her to manage her modeling career, with co-founder Teddy Park noting early on that she had a voice suited for singing as well as a face suited for the camera.

From Model to Idol

On August 21, 2024, Ella was revealed as MEOVV’s very first member, kicking off the group’s pre-debut rollout. The group debuted on September 6, 2024, with the single “Meow.” As the group’s youngest member, Ella settled into the maknae role while also carrying visual duties, her striking runway-honed presence translating naturally to MEOVV’s stage concepts.

Growth With MEOVV

Since debut, Ella has promoted through era after era — “Toxic,” “Hands Up,” the My Eyes Open VVide EP, the Japanese debut single “ME ME ME,” “Burning Up,” and the 2026 EP Bite Now. Fans and press alike have noted how she’s grown from a model stepping into music to a fully-fledged vocalist carrying real stage weight in MEOVV’s line distribution.

Personality and Off-Stage Life

Ella is fluent in both English and Korean, and she has a younger brother named Roman. She grew up practicing ballet and martial arts, and she has spoken about her close bond with her mother, who she describes as the most influential person in her life. She’s also known as a devoted fan of BLACKPINK and has spoken about her closeness with the group’s members.