Who is Danielle?
Danielle Marsh, known professionally as Danielle, stands as a defining figure of the new generation of K-pop. Born to an Australian father and a South Korean mother, she embodies a unique dual heritage that has significantly shaped her journey. Her career, which began as a child star in Korea and has blossomed into a global phenomenon as a core member of the acclaimed girl group NewJeans, is a testament to her multifaceted talents. Celebrated for her bright and lively personality, her artistic contributions as a songwriter, and her prominent role as a brand ambassador for some of the world’s most prestigious luxury labels, Danielle has quickly cemented her status as a global icon.
Biography
Real Name: Danielle Marsh (다니엘 마쉬), Mo Jihye (모지혜)
Stage Name: Danielle (다니엘)
Date of Birth: April 11, 2005
Zodiac Sign: Aries
Nationality: Korean, Australian
Hometown: Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Position in the group: Main Vocalist, Dancer
Height: 1m65
Blood Type: AB
MBTI: ENFP
Trivia
She was born in Australia and therefore holds dual nationality of South Korea and Australia. Because of her exotic looks and the fact that she uses her English name as her stage name, many people mistake her for a foreigner.
She is fluent in both Korean and English.
Her special skills include hugging, composing, and drawing. She has said that within NewJeans, she plays the role of “Vitamin D.”
She is the only member born in an odd-numbered year.
She also differs from the other members by using a three-syllable stage name, while the others go by two-syllable names.
She always sleeps with socks on.
She also has a habit of making sound effects with her mouth when doing certain actions—for example, when going down the stairs, members say she makes noises like “Hoi!” or “Yah!”
Despite her elegant visuals, she often shows a comedic side on variety shows.
She is said to be the member most dedicated to skincare.
She enjoys singing and often hums tunes, sometimes adding her own lyrics to fit the situation.
She is very good at expressing emojis with her body—once perfectly acting out both broccoli and a banana at the same time.
She is considered the most skillful (“golden hands”) among the members, being good at drawing, makeup, and cooking.
She is very flexible. On January 13, 2023, during her appearance on Idol Star Dream Team, she recorded 33cm in the sit-and-reach test, ranking first in the group.
Her first trainee practice song was Daniel Caesar’s Best Part. She revealed this on a January 4, 2023 NewJeans Weverse video call fansign, where she also sang a short snippet.
She is known for having big, expressive reactions even to small things. She said that when she watches her own fancams, she relives the excitement and nervousness she felt at the time, and replays them multiple times to reflect on how she can improve for her next stage.
She is very serious about health and wellness, often recommending good habits and products to her members.
She once said that if she hadn’t become an idol, she would have become a veterinarian.
She has mentioned that when she talks in her sleep, she unconsciously mixes Korean and English.
Career
Pre-debut
As a toddler, her family moved to Korea, where she began her career as a child actor and model, appearing on various television shows under her Korean name, Mo Ji-hye. She appeared in various variety shows such as “Rainbow Kindergarten”, “Shinhwa Broadcasting”, and “Popopo”. This early exposure to the spotlight provided her with invaluable experience that would later serve as a strong foundation for her career.
At the age of seven, she returned to Australia to attend primary school, later returning to South Korea in 2020 to begin her intensive K-pop trainee period.
NewJeans Debut
After returning to Korea, Danielle joined her agency as a trainee in early 2020, preparing for her debut in the competitive K-pop landscape. Her official debut came on July 22, 2022, as a member of NewJeans. The group’s launch was marked by the surprise release of their debut single “Attention” and their album New Jeans, a strategy that quickly garnered massive public interest and critical acclaim.
Musical Contributions as a Songwriter
Danielle is not only a performer but also a creative force within her group. She has songwriting credits for some of NewJeans’ most popular tracks, showcasing her artistic depth and influence on the group’s sound. Her contributions include co-writing the lyrics for “Attention” from the group’s debut album New Jeans and “ASAP” from their EP Get Up. She is also credited as a songwriter on “Super Shy” and “Cool with You”.
Solo Music Endeavors
While her primary focus remains on group activities, Danielle has also engaged in solo musical projects. She performed her own solo song, “Butterflies (With You),” live during a concert. She also showcased her vocal talent in a cover of “July” by Noah Cyrus, with fellow member Hanni accompanying her on guitar.
In 2024, rumors of a solo collaboration with American R&B duo Emotional Oranges surfaced after a photo of them together was posted and then quickly deleted. An industry source later indicated that this was not a project that had been approved by her agency, ADOR, highlighting the complexities of artists’ solo activities amidst ongoing legal and contractual disputes.
She also embarked on a significant acting project by voicing the character of Ariel in the Korean dub of the 2023 film The Little Mermaid. Her performance received praise after the initial screening, and she recorded several songs for the film’s soundtrack, including the single “Part of Your World”.
Brand Influence and Endorsements
Danielle’s global appeal and distinctive image have made her a highly sought-after brand ambassador for a variety of major companies.
Burberry: She was announced as a global ambassador for the British luxury fashion brand Burberry in January 2023. She joined a prestigious roster that includes Son Heung-min and Jun Ji-hyun.
Celine: In March 2024, she was named a global ambassador for the French luxury fashion house Celine.
YSL Beauty: She also serves as a brand face for the luxury beauty brand Yves Saint Laurent Beauty.
Omega Watches: She was announced as the global brand ambassador for Omega watches in December 2024.
Her ability to secure these high-profile endorsements so early in her career underscores her significant influence and marketability, positioning her as a global fashion and beauty icon.
Controversies and Incidents
Conflict with ADOR and Rebrand to NJZ
On November 28, 2024, NewJeans member held a press conference to announce a unilateral contract termination with their agency, ADOR, citing breach of trust and mistreatment. However, ADOR insisted that their contract with NewJeans is still in effect, and filed a lawsuit to confirm the validity of the contract.
Despite ADOR’s attempts, NewJeans members still carry out their activities independently, even announcing a rebrand into “NJZ” in February 2025. On the other hand, the contract lawsuit between NewJeans and ADOR is set to commence in April 2025.
Lunar New Year
On January 21, 2023, an article titled “Danielle (NewJeans) and Lunar New Year” was posted on various online forums in South Korea, quickly attracting significant attention from the public.
According to the article, on January 19, Danielle interacted with fans on the Phoning chat application and said, “What are you Bunnies (NewJeans fans) doing for Chinese New Year?”. Immediately, her statement received a lot of criticism from netizens. The opinions all pointed out that the idol lacked respect by referring to the traditional holiday as Chinese New Year instead of Lunar New Year. This is not only a cultural feature of China but also the traditional New Year’s Day celebration in many Asian countries and territories such as Vietnam, South Korea, Mongolia, North Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia…
It is worth noting that Danielle is not a citizen of China; she holds dual citizenship of South Korea and Australia. Therefore, the statement made by the Attention singer received even stronger criticism.
As a result, she has since admitted to her mistake and released an official apology, stating that she will not forget the incident and will try to be more careful in the future.