On September 28, the Greater Bay Rising Moon Music & Film Festival opened in Macau, China, featuring a star-studded lineup including Jackie Chan, Xiao Zhan, Bobby Au-Yeung, Zhou Bichang, Zhou Shen, Kyulkyung, and Joey Yung. Amid these established celebrities, a new face unexpectedly stole the spotlight—Shen Jiarun, known as NINA during her activities in South Korea. This marked her first-ever music performance on such a massive stage in her home country.
The performance began with her father, well-known performer Xiao Shenyang, singing The Sea. Known for his stage charisma, Xiao earned loud applause even without backup dancers or elaborate sets. But soon, his daughter joined in with a playful twist—interrupting him and taking over the stage with Beautiful Sunday. In a humorous moment, four dancers carried Xiao offstage as the audience burst into laughter.
Dressed in a soft pink dress, Shen Jiarun charmed viewers with her sweet visuals. What truly set the internet ablaze, however, was her 100% live singing. While dancing energetically and moving across the stage, her vocals remained stable, proving impressive breath control and raw talent. Born in 2006, and without formal idol training, her live performance earned widespread praise for both skill and stage presence.
Within two days, related hashtags about the father-daughter performance racked up hundreds of millions of views on Chinese social platforms. Netizens expressed surprise at her vocal ability and stage confidence, with many remarking how much she had matured.
This moment stands in stark contrast to her rocky past. Back in 2014, at just eight years old, Shen appeared on the reality show The Firsts in Life. At the time, her looks drew harsh criticism online, with some cruel comments targeting her resemblance to her father. Over the years, however, she has undergone a striking transformation, leading some to speculate about cosmetic enhancements. The nickname once pinned on her—“the least attractive second-gen star in C-ent”—has long since faded.
Earlier this year, on June 19, Shen Jiarun officially debuted in K-pop as NINA, releasing the MV Freeze! and the mini album Never Afraid. Despite her influential family background, her solo career has struggled. Shockingly, reports revealed that her debut album sold zero copies on its fifth day of release, and at times, only a single unit per day. To date, only a few hundred copies have been sold in total.
Yet with one powerful live stage back in her homeland, Shen Jiarun has turned public perception around. From once being dismissed as a failed “gold-spoon idol,” she is now being celebrated as a rising talent who just needed the right moment to prove herself.
Sources: kenh14
You must be logged in to post a comment.