Artist · part of MOMOLAND

nancy

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Nancy Jewel McDonie (Korean name: Lee Seung-ri) was born on April 13, 2000, in Daegu, South Korea. She comes from a multicultural family—her mother is Korean, and her father is American—making her Korean-American. During her childhood, she spent part of her life in the United States before returning to South Korea. Growing up in two different cultures helped her become fluent in both Korean and English and gave her a unique personality that fans admire today From a very young age, Nancy showed a strong passion for singing, dancing, and performing. In 2011, she appeared on the TV talent show Korea's Got Talent as a member of the dance group Cutie Pies. Although she was still a child, her confidence and stage presence impressed many viewers. Around the same time, she also appeared on children's television programs and worked as a young host, gradually gaining experience in the entertainment industry After years of training, Nancy joined MLD Entertainment as a trainee. She spent several years improving her vocals, dance skills, and stage performance. In 2016, she competed in the survival reality show Finding Momoland, where trainees fought for a chance to debut in a new girl group. Nancy ranked 1st, proving her talent and popularity among viewers On November 10, 2016, Nancy officially debuted as a member of MOMOLAND with the mini album Welcome to Momoland. At first, the group received moderate attention, but they continued working hard and improving with each comeback Everything changed in 2018 when MOMOLAND released Bboom Bboom. The song became a massive international hit, topping charts and going viral across Asia and many other countries. Nancy quickly became one of the most recognized members thanks to her visuals, bright personality, and energetic performances. Following the success of Bboom Bboom, MOMOLAND released more popular songs such as BAAM, I'm So Hot, Thumbs Up, Wonderful Love, Freeze, and later Yummy Yummy Love with Natti Natasha. During these years, Nancy performed on world tours, attended international events, appeared on television programs, and gained millions of fans around the globe Besides music, Nancy also explored acting and hosting. She worked as an MC for several music programs and appeared in commercials for different brands. She also starred in the web drama Some Light, showing that she had potential as an actress in addition to being an idol Despite MOMOLAND's success, the group experienced several challenges, including lineup changes and changes in management. In 2023, the members left MLD Entertainment, bringing MOMOLAND's activities to an end. Although this marked the end of an important chapter, Nancy decided to continue pursuing her dreams rather than leaving the entertainment industry After leaving her former agency, Nancy shifted her main focus toward acting. She signed with the Philippine talent agency Sparkle and began preparing for international projects. She was cast in her first feature film, Perfect Girl, marking an important milestone in her acting career. This project introduced her to a new audience and demonstrated her ambition to grow beyond the K-pop industry In 2026, Nancy continues building her career as an actress. Her upcoming film Perfect Girl is awaiting its official release, and she has also joined the sitcom Palace Land, her first sitcom project. Fans are excited to see her in a completely new type of role, where she can showcase both her acting and comedic abilities. Alongside these projects, she remains active on social media, connecting with fans and sharing updates about her work and daily life Today, Nancy is recognized not only as one of the most popular former members of MOMOLAND but also as a talented actress with a promising future. From a young girl performing on talent shows to becoming a globally recognized K-pop idol and now pursuing acting internationally, her journey reflects years of hard work, determination, and continuous growth. Fans continue to support her as she begins this exciting new chapter of her career, and many look forward to seeing what projects she takes on next

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Achievements

★ {'title': 'Lead vocalist and visual of MOMOLAND'}
★ {'title': "Starred in the web drama 'Some Light' (2017)"}
★ {'title': 'Won popularity awards at various K-pop award shows'}
★ {'title': "Featured in Manila Bulletin's list of most beautiful faces"}
★ {'title': 'Successfully transitioned to acting with multiple drama appearances'}
★ {'title': 'Nancy is first in Maknae vote 2025🥰🥰🥰🥰and won the award'}

Fun facts

✦ She's fluent in English and Korean, having grown up in Ohio before moving to Korea
✦ She was discovered through the Korean survival show 'Finding Momoland' where she placed 2nd
✦ She's known for her viral 'Nancy Momoland cute moments' compilations that have millions of views