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Lea Navvab (정리아; also known as Jung Lea) is a South Korean-American[1] singer, influencer, MC, model and actress under PI Corporation. She placed fifth on the reality survival show Time Turner, making her a member of the debut lineup of the upcoming girl group I.MET.U. She is a former member of the girl group VIVA.
Under the moniker J'LEA, she debuted as a soloist on November 11, 2022, with the digital single "A Good Day To Love".
Career[]
2017–2019: VIVA[]
In 2017, Lea became a member and the maknae of the girl group VIVA under Shine E&M. The girl group debuted on October 13, 2017 with the release of their self-titled single album "VIVA".
At the beginning of 2018, along with the rest of VIVA, she signed a modeling contract to a Chinese cosmetic brand[2] and became an MC to the mixed martials event, TFC 17[3]. The group presumably disbanded in late 2018 due to inactivity and their SNS profiles disappeared. However, fans speculated the return of the group as Shine E&M uploaded a performance video of VIVA on YouTube on March 15, 2019.[4] Though, this ended up being futile as the group never released further music and their SNS remained gone.
With the members leaving the agency, it only solidified their unofficial disbandment.
2020–2021: Influencer beginnings, PIETA, Model Directors[]
On January 9, 2020, Lea became a YouTuber after opening her own channel. This helped push her influencing and content making career.[5] She also is an active TikToker. On there, she frequents going on live at the platform aside from posting challenges and clips. Currently, on her page, the oldest TikTok video of Lea is published on May 14, 2020.[6]
On July 6-11, 2021, the musical play "We Don't Cry at Mcdonald's" was performed at the Yeonhee Art Theater. This play is pieced together by the art organization, Pieta, which they credited Lea as a co-creator and performer of the show.[7]
On July 19, it was announced that she signed a contract with Model Directors as a model in Seoul, South Korea.[8][9] By this time, Lea's modeling and MC gigs rose. She became a main host of two variety programs, TCKs (Third Culture Kids)[10] and M View[11].
2022-2023: Model Directors Ent., solo debut with "A Good Day To Love", PI House, Seoul Fashion Week, Korea Multicultural Festa Awards[]
On September 13, 2022, it was announced that Lea is also in contract with Model Directors Ent. and she will be promoting as an actress under her birth name Jung Lea.[12]
On November 6, Model Directors Ent. announced that Lea, now under the stage name J'LEA, would be making her solo debut on November 11 of the same year with her first single, "A Good Day To Love".[13]
On December 9, she was announced as new member of PI House, a collaborative content creation house.[14]
On December 12, it was announced that J'LEA will be releasing a carol remake song, "O Little Town of Bethlehem", on December 15.[15]
On March 19, 2023, she debuted as a runway model on 23F/W Seoul Fashion Week for the Kwak Hyun-joo Collection.[16] Later in the year, on September 7, Lea appeared at Seoul Fashion Week twice as she was invited by D-Antidote[17] and Kwak Hyun-joo[18] to walk for their 24S/S fashion showcases.
On October 14, she was the MC for the 2023 Korea Multicultural Festa awards ceremony.[19][20]
2024–present: Return to Seoul Fashion Week, Departure from Model Directors, PI Corporation, Time Turner, Kansai Collection[]
Lea returned as a model at Seoul Fashion Week for the third consecutive time. On February 4, 2024, she appeared on the runway after being invited once more by Kwak Hyun-joo for her 24F/W collection.[21]
On April 2, Model Directors removed Lea's profile board from their website. Via her Instagram stories, she revealed that her 3 year contract with Model Directors had expired.[22] It is also presumed she didn't renew her contract with Model Directors Ent. as well due to the disappearance of her name on their SNS account.
A few days later, it has been reported that PI Corporation has welcomed Lea to their roster of talents. It was revealed on April 12 that with the goal of working on music within the first year, Lea has signed an exclusive contract with PI Corporation.[23]
She continued her Seoul Fashion Week participation[24] as she walked for DUCKDIVE on September 6[25] and for Kwak Hyun-joo on September 7 for their 25S/S collections[26].
On October 24, Lea was confirmed as a contestant on PI Corporation and Makestar's reality show Time Turner.[27] During the show's finale, she was revealed to have ranked 5th overall, thus making her a part of the debut lineup of I.MET.U.
On January 10, 2025, it was announced that Kansai Collection, Japan's largest fashion entertainment event, has invited her as their global guest on March 2.[28]
On February 6, Lea modeled for Kwak Hyun-joo Collection during the 25F/W Seoul Fashion Week.[29]
Filmography[]
- Web dramas
- MUTE: Music Telling (Model Directors Ent., 2022) - as Lea (fictionalized version)
- Survival shows
- Time Turner (TikTok, 2024) - contestant
- Reality shows
- Shibo Quanjia Dou Lai Sai (世博全家都來賽) (Dragon TV, 2009) - contestant
- Variety shows
- X-Change Season 1 (变形计 第一季) (CCTV, 2006) - guest
- All Over the Place (Season 8) (BBC, 2018) - backup dancer
- TCKs (Model Directors Ent., 2021) - host
- M View (Model Director Ent., 2021) - host
- All Review Show (Donga TV, 2022–2023) - cast member
- ZZINSAI (Jamsegwon, 2025) - guest[30]
- Feature films
- A Year-End Medley (2021) - extra [Jingle Bells Choir Member]
- Short films
- Whitney's Love Life (2022) (unreleased)
- Musical theatre
- We Don't Cry at McDonald's (2021)
- Podcasts
- HAYIK Show (2023) - host
- Music video appearances
- Jeong Hong Il - "그늘" (2022)
- Youngjae - "Sugar" (2022)
- Park Jihoon - "Blank Effect (무표정)" (2023)
- MIRAE - "JUMP!" (2023)
References[]
- ↑ YouTube: 💛드디어 첫 Q&A💛
- ↑ (KR) DSP Daily: 4인조 신인 걸그룹 ‘비바’(VIVA), 중국 화장품 모델 발탁 화제
- ↑ (KR) ArtKoreaTV: 걸그룹 비바 , TFC 17 메인 호스트로 깜짝 활약 예고
- ↑ Allkpop: Girl group VIVA suddenly return after having gone MIA
- ↑ YouTube: New York 🗽 Here we go !! [뉴욕 브이로그 1부]
- ↑ @lea_navvab on TikTok (May 14, 2020)
- ↑ @jleanavvab on Twitter (April 7, 2022)
- ↑ @modeldirectors_ma on Instagram (July 19, 2021)
- ↑ Lea's Model Directors Profile Board
- ↑ TVDb: TCKs (2021)
- ↑ TMDb: M View (2021)
- ↑ @modeldirectors_ent on Instagram (September 13, 2022)
- ↑ @modeldirectors_ent on Instagram (November 6, 2022)
- ↑ @pihouse_kr on Instagram (December 9, 2022)
- ↑ @modeldirectors_ent on Instagram (December 12, 2022)
- ↑ (KR) Single List: 곽현주 컬렉션, 서울패션위크서 다크&걸리 컬렉션 공개
- ↑ @d_antidote on Instagram (September 20, 2023)
- ↑ (KR) Herald Pop: [포토]정리아, 완벽한 워킹
- ↑ @leanavvab on Instagram (October 14, 2023)
- ↑ (KR) Yonhap News: "다문화가족은 함께 성장할 파트너"…코엑스서 다문화 축제(종합)
- ↑ (KR) Herald Pop: [포토]정리아, 시선 사로잡는 워킹
- ↑ @jungleanavvab on Twitter (April 2, 2024)
- ↑ (KR) bnt: 모델 겸 배우 정리아, 피아이코퍼레이션과 전속계약 체결
- ↑ (KR) ONSEN: 정리아, 해맑게
- ↑ @JLeaNavvab on Twitter (September 6, 2024)
- ↑ @JLeaNavvab on Twitter (September 7, 2024)
- ↑ @timeturner_official on Instagram (October 24, 2024)
- ↑ @kan_kore on Twitter (January 10, 2025)
- ↑ (KR) Newsen: 정리아, 우월한 유전자 [포토엔HD]
- ↑ @jamsegwon on X (February 20, 2025)