Nancy Jewel McDonie (born April 13, 2000), known professionally as Nancy (Korean: 낸시), is a South Korean and American singer, actress, and host. She is a former member of the South Korean girl groupMomoland, which was formed on November 10, 2016, through the Mnet's reality survival show Finding Momoland. In 2023, she also began performing in live musical theater.
Early life
Nancy was born on April 13, 2000 in Nam-gu, Daegu, South Korea.[1][2] In 2001, the family moved to the father's hometown of Columbus, Ohio, where Nancy spent her early years and attended school.[3][4] In an interview about her being of mixed origin and the product of two cultures Nancy said, "I have always been told by my parents that there are two cultures that I am in contact with ever since I was a child."[5][6][2]
On March 20, 2019, it was reported that Nancy changed her Korean legal name to Lee Geu-roo from Lee Seung-ri.[7]
Education
She graduated from Hanlim Multi Art School on February 9, 2018, where she was a student in the Musical Department.[8][9]
Career
Pre-debut
Nancy auditioned in Korea's Got Talent as part of a hip-hop group called "Cutie Pies" in 2011. The group reached the semi-finals.[10][11]
As a teenager, she appeared in several TV programs, including The Unlimited, and also participated in Mak Ee Rae Show: Just Do It Expedition in 2012, in which she traveled to the Philippines and Saipan with South Korean actress Kim Yoo-jung.[12][unreliable source]
2016: Finding Momoland, debut with Momoland, and Sunny Girls
Main article: Momoland
In 2016, Nancy became a contestant on Mnet's reality survival show Finding Momoland to select the members of MLD Entertainment's new girl group Momoland.[13] She finished the competition in first place,[14] and had her debut with the group[15] on November 10, 2016, with the mini-albumWelcome to Momoland.[16] Momoland made their debut stage performing at M Countdown.[17][18]
On November 19, it was announced that she would join Inkigayo's project girl group Sunny Girls[19] along with GFriend's Eunha, WJSN's Cheng Xiao, Oh My Girl's YooA and Gugudan's Nayoung.[20][21] They made their official debut at SBS's Inkigayo stage, on November 27, with the title track "Taxi".[22] The group also performed at the 2016 SBS Gayo Daejeon on December 26.[23][unreliable source][24]
2017–present: Acting activities and recognition
In 2017, Nancy was cast in the lead role with boy band ZE:A member Ha Min-woo in Naver TV's web music drama seriesSome Light.[25][26] Nancy and Ha Min-woo also collaborated for the theme song of the drama series.[27]
Nancy was selected to host the music show The Power of K alongside U-Kwon and Shownu. The show began airing in Japan and Korea in January 2018.[28]
On January 3, 2018, Momoland released their third mini-album, Great!. As a result, the lead single, "Bboom Bboom", was a huge commercial success, reaching number two on the Gaon Digital Chart.[29] On June 26, 2018, Momoland released their fourth mini-album Fun to the World with the lead single "Baam" becoming the 15th best-selling song of July 2018 on Gaon Music Chart.[29]
In October 2018, Nancy appeared in episode 11 of MBC's Dae Jang Geum is Watching, alongside her fellow-members JooE, Hyebin and Daisy as idol trainees.[30]
On January 27, 2023, it was announced that Nancy, along with the Momoland members, departed from MLD Entertainment following expiration of the contracts.[31] Momoland officially announced their disbandment on February 14.[32] On March 4, Nancy announced that she signed a contract with Aria Diamond, a newly established talent agency affiliated with Aria Group, through her personal Instagram account.[33][34] On September 17, Nancy revealed via Instagram that she is no longer an artist under Aria Group.[35] On September 21, it was confirmed that Nancy has signed an exclusive contract with ATOC.[36]
On April 1, 2024, Nancy signed with GMA Network's talent agency Sparkle.[37]
Other ventures
Musical
In September 2023, Nancy announced on her Instagram account that she would be appearing in the live musical "The Show! ShillaHada", which depicts the story of Cheoyoung who unites the ancient Korean kingdom of Shillia. Nancy plays two characters: Lee Chae Rin of the present time, and also the role of Princess Seungman in the Silla period.[38][unreliable source?]
Endorsements
In January 2020, Nancy was chosen as the new endorsement model for the popular skincare brand Some By Mi.[39][unreliable source?]
Filmography
For Nancy's filmography with Momoland, see Momoland § Filmography.
Television series
Web series
Television shows
Hosting
Discography
For Nancy's discography with Momoland, see Momoland discography.
Soundtrack appearances
References
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^ ab[팅글인터뷰] (ENG SUB) ASMR로 듣는 '주이&낸시의 가방 속 잇템은?' | 모모랜드 주이 & 낸시 편 (MOMOLAND JOOE & NANCY), January 3, 2020, archived from the original on April 16, 2021, retrieved April 16, 2021
^"Catching Up: Ahin, Nancy, and Hyebin of Momoland". Luminary Podcasts (Podcast). Dive Studios and Studio 7. December 14, 2020. Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
^ [[ON+Self-written letter] 'Guide to becoming a fan of virtue' written by the final 7 members of Momoland] (in Korean). September 21, 2016. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020.
^ [Momoland Nancy "There are only comments related to my body... Why is that important?"]. Donga (in Korean). June 25, 2020. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
^Kang, Sun-ae (June 25, 2020). [Momoland Nancy "There were only comments about my body... Why do I only care about my body?"]. SBS Entertainment News (in Korean). Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
^Cho, Hyo-jeong (March 20, 2019). ['Lee Seung-ri → Lee Geu-roo' Momoland's Nancy reveals a new name with a fresh selfie [SNS]] (in Korean). Sports Seoul. Retrieved April 13, 2022 – via Naver.
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^ [Momoland's Nancy-JooE, 'Draw Hearts Together' (Hanlim Arts High School Graduation Ceremony)]. Seoul Economic Daily (in Korean). February 9, 2018. Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2020.
^"NANCY OF MOMOLAND FIRST AUDITION at KOREA GOT TALENT". YouTube. May 4, 2018. Archived from the original on August 31, 2020.
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^Lee, J. (March 2, 2012). "Kim Yoo Jung's First Scuba Diving Experience". Soompi. Archived from the original on July 15, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2020.
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^"MOMOLAND - Welcome to momoland Debut Stage". YouTube. Mnet K-POP. November 10, 2016. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020.
^ [Eunha X Cheng Xiao X YooA X Nayoung X Nancy 'TAXI' by 'Sunny Girls']. kakao (in Korean). May 15, 1976. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
^ ['Sunny Girls' Cheng Xiao-Eunha-Yooa-Nayoung-Nancy, the first release of 'TAXI' with intense charm]. 서울경제 (in Korean). November 27, 2016. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
^ [Sunny Girls | Ten Asia]. TenAsia (in Korean). Archived from the original on August 24, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2020.
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^"T-HE SUNNY GIRLS, 청순 소녀들의 깜짝 변신 'Taxi' @2016 SAF 가요대전 1부 20161226". m.youtube.com. December 26, 2016. Archived from the original on December 27, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
^ abChoi, Yoon-na (October 24, 2017). [Momoland's Nancy, the female lead in the web music drama 'Somelight' [Official]]. Sports Donga (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
^"Some Light (Korean Drama - 2017) - 썸라이트". HanCinema. Archived from the original on August 30, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
^ ab"'Some Light' OST". YouTube. NEMO STUDIO 네모 스튜디오. Archived from the original on December 27, 2020.
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^ ab"국내 대표 음악 차트 가온차트!". Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on April 30, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2020.
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^Yap, Jade Veronique (April 1, 2024). "Nancy McDonie, former member of Momoland, joins Sparkle". GMA Integrated News. Archived from the original on April 1, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
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^Lee, Seung-hoon (December 20, 2020). ['King of Mask Singer' Cat Cat, Memories of 'The Late Jonghyun' → Success in 7 Winnings... Nancy∙Kyuyoung Hwang∙Samuel Seo∙Taru Revealed [Comprehensive]]. Osen (in Korean). Archived from the original on June 29, 2021. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
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^ [[Official Position] Kim Jong-kook X Momoland Nancy Confirmed MC for 'Gaon Chart Music Awards'] (in Korean). Naver. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
^Son, Jin-ah (January 20, 2022). [Momoland's Ain and Nancy to appear as special MCs for 'Fly High K-Pop Concert] (in Korean). MK Sports. Archived from the original on January 20, 2022. Retrieved January 20, 2022 – via Naver.