Given K-pop’s undeniable influence on the world beyond music, ambassadorships with the genre’s stars have become crucial for luxury brands. In February, Versace added Ningning, a Chinese member of SM Entertainment girl band Aespa, to their line-up of global ambassadors.
“Ningning is not only a brilliantly talented star, she is also a wonderful person,” Donatella Versace, the creative director of the Italian house, said at the time. “She has a strong, confident vision, incredible energy and talent and she looks amazing wearing our clothes.”
Ningning says, “What stands out the most is meeting Donatella backstage at the Versace fall-winter 2024 show last February. Despite the impending big show, my conversation with Donatella backstage was very natural and warm. I was impressed by her open-mindedness and kindness. I was a bit nervous at first, but her genuine interest and attentiveness during our conversation put me at ease. This allowed me to relax, enjoy our chat and later fully enjoy the show.”
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Aespa’s Ningning with Versace Kleio bag (Photo: courtesy of Versace)
Aespa’s Ningning with Versace Kleio bag (Photo: courtesy of Versace)
The 23-year-old models the new Kleio bag in Versace’s autumn- winter 2024 campaign. “The campaign shoot was a challenging yet rewarding process. Everyone worked together to achieve the best results, and it was truly a team effort,” she tells Tatler by email. “I felt a lot of support and encouragement on set, which gave me a lot of strength. It was such a precious experience.”
The bag is named after one of the nine mythological Greek muses and is the latest addition to the Medusa ’95 bag family that is defined by the golden Medusa on the front. The tactile contrast between the warm nappa plongé leather and the bold metal hardware gives a sense of cool ease.
We ask Ningning, whose full name is Ning Yi Zhuo, what we might find in her Kleio on a day off. “First, sunglasses. I usually don’t wear much make-up, so I always carry them to protect my bare face. And I rarely carry cash, so I usually just have my card wallet with me. I can’t go out without my cards.”
Hailing from the northern Chinese city of Harbin, Ningning was born into an artistic family—her father is an architect and her mother is a musician. The singer discovered her passion for music at age five and began appearing in singing shows, captivating audiences with her angelic vocals and magnetic stage presence.
Donatella Versace and Aespa’s Ningning in Shanghai (Photo: courtesy of Versace)
It was this unwavering dedication and innate talent that caught the attention of the SM Entertainment recruitment team, who realised she would be the perfect fit for their next girl group. “I want to be an artist who makes people feel happy when they see me on stage,” Ningning says. “I hope that what I express on stage can give people strength. I also want to be an artist who can offer something for others to learn from.”
Aespa were touring the globe on their second world tour when Ningning spoke to Tatler, and she shared some of her favourite experiences. “Everything was great, but I especially enjoyed eating a lot of delicious food in Hong Kong, which made me feel really good,” she says. The band was due to perform in Australia, which was a particularly noteworthy moment: “It’s our first time performing there, so we are both excited and nervous.”
The band members are known for blending futuristic, virtual elements and nods to Korean culture in their on-stage styles. For Ningning, fashion and music are inextricably linked, each serving as a medium for self-expression and the exploration of identity.
“We see our songs as a means of expressing what we want to convey, and this, in turn, shows our identity,” she explains. “Connecting this to Versace, the brand’s unique, bold, glamorous designs provide immense inspiration to musicians. This influence goes beyond just wearing clothes; it affects stage production and musical expression, making Versace a crucial medium for showcasing music and art itself.”
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