Ella Gross

Ella McKenzie Gross (엘라 메켄지 그로스; born December 1, 2008) is an American child model and actress.

Life and career
Ella McKenzie Gross was born on December 1, 2008, in Los Angeles, California, to a Korean mother and German-American father, with the Korean birth name, Nabi (나비). She also has a younger brother, born two years apart.

Cited as a "prodigy" in both modelling and acting, Gross first featured on the cover of a magazine at age two. She was offered to model for the magazine while Gross was playing at a park in South Korea; around this time her father, a prosecutor in the military at the time, was dispatched to the country from Los Angeles, leading the whole family to visit together. Her mother, who also modelled for children's clothing, viewed the offer as fun. With the start of kindergarten, her modelling advancements were paused for about a year before her request to resume; her mother, who worked as a lawyer, had since fully assisted her daughter's work along her side. Gross modelled for brands Zara, H&M, GAP, Fendi, Lacoste, Levi's, Tommy Hilfiger, and Adidas, and debuted on the runway at age nine at the Tokyo Girls Collection A/W 2018 fashion show held at Saitama Super Arena, Tokyo, Japan, with 30,000 viewers. Gross thereafter walked the runways of Tokyo Girls Collection S/S 2019 and 2019 New York Fashion Week.

In July 2018, Gross signed with The Black Label. Its founder, Teddy Park, stated: "She has a special voice that is completely capable for being a singer as well". Rosé of Blackpink was also said to have wanted to take a demo song recorded by Gross after a listen. In the midst of her business trips to South Korea from Los Angeles, she often learned dance routines from choreographers.

Public image
Gross attained interest in the United States and abroad for her biracial genes and looks, reminiscent of a young Miranda Kerr. Korean media outlets cited her as a young Song Hye-kyo, or was nicknamed as "little Jennie" by Blackpink fans following a picture posted with the singer. Her virality on social media platforms led her Instagram account, handled by her mother at the time, to gain a large following.

Philanthropy
Gross served amidst a jury of judges for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) X Uniqlo: Youth with Refugees Art Contest (2023).