Lea Navvab, also known as Jung Lea (정리아), 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]
Personal life[]
Family[]
Lea Navvab is the eldest child of Brazilian-American[30] China-based singer and TV personality, Nabil David Huening and his Korean ex-wife Jung Yeonju. Her younger brother, Hueningkai, is a member of the boy group TXT, while her younger sister, Huening Bahiyyih, is a member of the project girl group Kep1er.
Education[]
Lea Navvab graduated at Lila Art High School. After finishing her barista training in 2020, she obtained her level 2 barista license from Global Coffee School on July 7th of that year.[31] She also studied at Induk University. On December 23, 2021, she completed her graduation performance as an acting major in the university's Broadcasting Entertainment Department.[32] Along side her siblings, Lea was a scholarship student under Woori Multicultural Scholarship Foundation[20][33].
Discography[]
Korean[]Digital singles[]
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English[]Digital singles[]
Collaborations[]
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Participation releases[]
- "Find Me Now" (with contestants of Time Turner) (2024)
Filmography[]
Films[]
- A Year-End Medley (2021) - extra [Jingle Bells Choir Member]
Reality shows[]
- Shibo Quanjia Dou Lai Sai (世博全家都來賽) (Dragon TV, 2009) - contestant
- Time Turner (TikTok, 2024) - 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[34]
Podcasts[]
- HAYIK Show (2023) - host
Web dramas[]
- MUTE: Music Telling (Model Directors Ent., 2022) - as Lea (fictionalized version)
Music video appearances[]
- Jeong Hong Il - "그늘" (2022)
- Youngjae - "Sugar" (2022)
- Park Jihoon - "Blank Effect (무표정)" (2023)
- MIRAE - "JUMP!" (2023)
Endorsements[]
The clothing brand, Commadonna, has had Lea Navvab as their model since 2016.[35] On March 27, 2023, Celltweet, a skincare brand, revealed that they picked Lea as their new model. [36] After reviewing the mascara of Glambux Korea on the All Review Show, the beauty company reached out to her to be the model of the product.[37] On June 20, 2024, Lea released a TikTok video partnering with the alcholic drink brand, Jim Beam.[38]
Trivia[]
- She can speak Korean, English and a little bit of Chinese.[1] She is also learning Japanese.[39]
- Her MBTI personality type is ESFP.[40]
- Her favorite color is yellow.[1]
- She is a fan of TXT, Stray Kids and HyunA.[1]
- She lived seven years in China.[1]
- She used to work as a barista at Café Parnell.[41] She is a licensed level 2 techno barista.[31]
- She has two cats, Aqua and Ruby.[42] Both are named after the characters from the anime, Oshi no Ko.
- She had a photo booth frame done by PHOTOISM, a promo event in which fans could "take photos with her".[43]
- She auditioned for Produce 101 but didn't make it to the list of contestants.[44]
- She is the ending fairy of Time Turner's signal song "Find Me Now".[45]
- She still keeps in touch with her former VIVA members, especially with Gayeon (now known as JJooya), whom she has collaborated and made song covers with.[46]
- She is friends with Fromis_9 member Lee Saerom and soloist & S.E.S. member Bada.[49][50]
- She volunteered and donated at the 12th Green Heart Bazaar where the proceeds have been donated to the UNICEF Gaza Emergency Relief Campaign for the drinking water, health, nutrition and sanitation of the children in Gaza, Palestine.[51][52][53]
Gallery[]
- Main article: Lea Navvab/Gallery
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 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)
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 (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]
- ↑ The Stinger: Nabil Huening: The Man of Many Languages
- ↑ 31.0 31.1 @jleanavvab on Twitter (August 3, 2020)
- ↑ @jleanavvab on Twitter (December 24, 2021)
- ↑ Bilingual skills and best practices of children from multicultural families (Interview with foundation scholarship students/Jung Lea, Huening Kai, Huening Bahiyyih)
- ↑ @jamsegwon on X (February 20, 2025)
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 @commadonna on Instagram (August 24, 2016)
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 @celltweet on Instagram (March 27, 2023)
- ↑ 37.0 37.1 @glambux_korea on Instagram (August 27, 2023)
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 @lea_navvab on TikTok (June 20, 2024)
- ↑ @jungleasource on Twitter (November 29, 2024)
- ↑ @pihouse_kr on TikTok (February 27, 2023)
- ↑ Youtube: 카페 알바생의 하루☕️ (랴밥편) [Cafe Vlog ☕️]
- ↑ @aqua.ruby_chung on Instagram (March 5, 2024)
- ↑ @pi_liveteam on Instagram (September 5, 2024)
- ↑ @HiyyihlightLiya on Twitter (November 10, 2024)
- ↑ @LeaNavvabBrasil on Twitter (October 30, 2024)
- ↑ YouTube: Cover-All I want & Wondering [by JJOOYA& LEANAVVAB]
- ↑ YouTube: [ENG]싹쓰리(SSAK 3) - 다시 여기 바닷가 & 그 여름을 틀어줘(cover by 랴미쮸)
- ↑ YouTube: ✏️랴미쮸의 당일치기 대부도 여행 VLOG✏️
- ↑ @jungleasource on Twitter (June 7, 2024)
- ↑ (KR) Newsen: 바다-정리아, 상큼한 자매케미 [포토엔HD]
- ↑ @jungleasource on Twitter (June 8, 2024)
- ↑ Asian Junkie: Bada’s ‘Green Heart Bazaar’ will benefit children in Gaza
- ↑ (KR) Job Post: TWO 유진과 바다와 함께 하는 마음 따뜻한 그린하트 바자회
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