Biography of Minnie

Nicha Yontararak, famous by her nickname and stage name, Minnie, is a Thai singer, songwriter and actress based in South Korea. She was a South Korean girl group (G) I-DLE member under Cube Entertainment which debuted on 2 May 2018.

Early Life and Education

Minnie was born on 23 October 1997 in Bangkok, Thailand. She has older twin brothers named Mic and Mac and was born into a musical family. She started playing piano at the age of five and took vocal lessons at the age of seven. Her mom was her inspiration and mentor to pursue her love for music. She completed her education at Wattana Wittaya Academy and studied music at Grammy Vocal Studio in Thailand.

As an all-rounder, she participated in various school activities and was a cheerleader, drummer and actress in a stage play. She also learned Chinese for four years. In 2014, she participated in the Cube Star World Audition in Thailand and moved to South Korea in 2015.

Nicha Yontararak was officially introduced to the public through Cube Entertainment’s official Instagram on 23 March 2016. She was featured in Jeon So-yeon‘s performance which was staged at the ‘Unpretty Rapstar 3′ concert. Along with Song Yuqi and Shuhua, she participated in the promotional video for Rising Star Cosmetics in 2017. Minnie featured in Line Friends’ ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ and six songs in Dance Party! – Children’s English Songs.

Career

Minnie debuted with (G)I-DLE with their mini-album ‘I Am’ on 2 May 2018 and the title song ‘Latata’. She collaborated in the composition and songwriting of the second album ‘I Made’. She composes songs on the piano and is also taking MIDI classes to enhance her composing skills. She was given credit for her composing skills for (G)I-DLE’s Japanese debut album ‘Latata’. (G)I-dle took part in ‘Queendom’ by Mnet in 2019.

Nicha Yontararak represented (G)I-DLE’s vocal member in the third pre-contest unit stage. She shared the stage with AOA’s Hyejeong performing ‘Instagram’ by Dean. The song re-entered the music charts and gained popularity among the general public. For the collaborative song ‘Empire’, she teamed up with Wengie, a Chinese Australian YouTuber. Empire ranked number 22 on the Billboard World Digital Songs.

She participated in the writing and composition of ‘I’m the Trend’ and ‘Tung-Tung (Empty)’ along with FCM Houdini in 2020. In the group’s first online concert ‘I-Land: Who Am I’, the song ‘I’m the Trend’ was unveiled on 5 July 2020 which was dedicated to Neverland. The Song ‘Tung-Tung’ unravels the feeling of loneliness and the emptiness of a tired heart. The song was released for (G)I-dle’s Japanese second extended play ‘Oh My God’.

She made her acting debut through Netflix’s first Korean sitcom ‘So Not Worth It’ starring Park Se-wan, Shin Hyun Seung, Youngjae and Han Hyun-min. The series narrates the lives of multicultural students living together in a dorm in Seoul. Nicha Yontararak plays the role of a fictionalized version of herself, a Thai girl who loves Korean dramas and good-looking guys.

Nicha Yontararak sang ‘Getaway’, the soundtrack of ‘My Dangerous Wife’. She also sang ‘We Already Fell In Love’ with Miyeon as part of the ‘Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol’ soundtrack. The Glance TV introduced their New fashion show Minnie Soojin’s i’M THE TREND. They paired Minnie with Soojin for the show. They had a styling battle for the title ‘Trend Center’, which signifies a combination of a trendsetter and an idol centre. The duo revealed their styling secrets, fashion outfits, vogue tips and video pictorial ‘Fashion Film’. It premiered on Naver Style TV.

She was featured on ‘Play Seoul’, a program produced by the Seoul Tourism Foundation and KBS. The program was an open space for influential K-stars to share with global fans their experiences in Seoul. The show wanted to promote post-COVID-19 tourism in Seoul. Minnie and Yuqi introduced the hip alleyways in Seoul. They visited Euljiro and Itaewon to introduce the cafes and restaurants. 

For the group’s fourth extended play ‘I Burn’, Minnie co-composed ‘Moon’ and ‘Dahlia’ which was released on 11 January 2021. The same year she featured in ‘Money Honey’, a collaboration song with Thai rappers F. Hero and UrboyTJ. The lyrics feature the universal nature of love which can not be bought with money or any other material possessions. It was released as a digital single on Joox, a music streaming app.

Minnie collaborated with Anne-Marie and released a new single ‘Expectations’ in 2023. The song is Minnie’s first official solo work with a retro-looking music video.

Achievements

Besides being a singer, Minnie is also a songwriter, composer, record producer and OST singer. She is a top-rated and in-demand CR model and muse of several fashion and beauty brands. Here are some of her notable achievements:

• Along with bandmates Yuqi and Shuhua, Minnie was a model for the local skincare line ‘Celeb’s Secret’.
• She was selected by Webtoon Thailand in 2022 as their model to promote their new campaign.
• In 2022, Minnie was announced as ‘MAC’s’ new muse.
• Nicha Yontararak was the muse for the South Korean clothing brand ‘Laura Laura’ (2022).
• Minnie and Yuqi were the models for the Italian brand ‘Duvetica’ (2022).
• Nicha Yontararak along with partner Melon, advertised for the South Korean travelling platform ‘How About Here’.
• She also advertised for the South Korean cosmetics brand ‘3CE’.
• In 2023, Minnie along with Miyeon became the muse for the South Korean brand ‘J.Estina’ handbag.
• Nicha Yontararak’s first solo magazine cover was for the L’Officials Thailand 2021 edition. From then on, she became the cover of ‘Sudsapda’, ‘Vogue’, ‘Harper’s Bazaar’ and ‘Elle’.
• She was featured in the advertisement for ‘Nespresso’ and ‘Chiara Ferragni’s’ limited edition coffee drink.

Personal Life

As a rising star in cosmetic modelling and a popular artist in the music industry, Minnie was caught in an unexpected dating rumour. In 2022, the singer held a live broadcast with the title ‘Long time no see’ on Naver V Live. During the broadcast, the viewer’s interest was directed towards her ring. The speculation then strengthened that she was dating someone. The rumours were never confirmed by her or her agency.

In 2019, she was also caught up in the controversy of the romantic relationship as she was linked to Stray Kids’ Hyunjin. The rumour flared up after they were caught exchanging glances with each other. The rumours were never officially confirmed. She is currently single and is not dating anyone as of the latest update.

Net Worth and Lifestyle

Minnie’s net worth is estimated at around $ 3-5 million US dollars.

The major source of her income comes from (G)I-DLE’s net income. Apart from being a singer, she is also a songwriter, composer, record producer and OST singer. She is a high-demand CF model and muse for numerous fashion and beauty brands like ‘MAC’, ‘3CE’, ‘Gucci’, ‘Miu Miu’, ‘Louis Vuitton’, ‘Adidas’ and more. She also has huge followers on Instagram and continues to expand her career as an actress, idol, songwriter and much more.

She was born to an affluent family and left her high status in Thailand to pursue her dream of becoming a K-pop idol.

Interesting Facts about Minnie

1. She can speak various languages including Thai, Korean, Chinese and English.
2. She is friends with CLC’s Sorn and Blackpink’s Lisa.
3. She loves green tea.
4. Her main hobby is shopping.
5. She is left-handed.
6. Her favourite colour is pink.
7. She shares a room with Yuqi.
8. She is a fan of SCRUBB and STAMP.
9. She used to travel a lot.
10. She loves Japanese food.

FAQs 

1. Is Minnie a KPOP Idol?
   She is the main vocalist of the South Korean girl group (G)I-DLE.
2. How old is Minnie Gidle?
   As of 2023, she is 26 years old.
3. What do you call Gidle fans?
   Neverland is the official fandom name for the South Korean girl group (G)I-DLE.
4. Are Minnie and Lisa friends?
   Yes, she is friends with Blackpink’s Lisa.
5. What is Minnie’s Instagram ID?

   min.nicha, has around 6.8 million followers.