The Rookie Female Idol Who Went Viral In China Before Even Debuting

Aria, a member of the rookie girl group X:IN, found surging fame in China even before she officially debuted as an idol!

Aria | @x.in_official/Instagram

X:IN is a five-member girl group that debuted on April 11, 2023. The group’s maknae, Aria, has been drawing attention since the beginning for her outstanding visuals and is arguably the group’s most popular member currently.

X:IN | @x.in_official/Instagram

But even before the group started its journey, Aria had drawn particular attention in China. In April, shortly before her debut, she took over the Chinese social media platform Weibo as more and more netizens were intrigued by her identity as an Indian K-Pop idol. The interest in the idol skyrocketed, earning her the fourth spot on the platform’s hot search trends. The tag with her name accumulated over 100 million views!

| Weibo | Weibo

When she debuted, Aria was the only Indian K-Pop idol active in the industry. Though Sriya from BLACKSWAN was already announced to debut soon, she wasn’t active as an idol until May 2023, when the group’s new lineup released their first single, “Karma.” So, during X:IN’s debut, Aria had special attention for her unique position as an Indian K-Pop singer.

Aria’s debut concept photo | @x.in_official/Instagram

Her breathtaking visuals, strong stage presence, and charming personality have earned her fans both in South Korea and internationally. The fancam of her performing X:IN’s title song, “Keeping The Fire,” on Inkigayo became a viral sensation, amassing 1 million views within just a few weeks of its release.

While Aria might be the catalyst for many non-fans to be introduced to the group, X:IN collectively has managed to amass a significant following with their music and fresh energy. They recently won the Rookie of the Year award at the Korea Best Awards, marking a promising start in the industry.

| @x.in_official/Instagram