Nana (Im Jin-Ah) After School

Who is After School Nana?

Im Jin-ah, known professionally as Nana, is a South Korean singer, dancer, actress, and model who gained prominence as a member of the girl group After School and its subunits Orange Caramel and A.S. RED. Born on September 14, 1991, in Cheongju, South Korea, she debuted in After School on November 25, 2009, alongside Raina as third-generation members with the release of the single album "Because of You". The group's unique graduation and admissions concept allowed new members to join after the initial debut, and Nana joined as the main dancer, lead rapper, vocalist, and visual.

Nana graduated from Ochang High School and earned an associate's degree in Beauty Arts from Seoul Arts College. Her educational background in beauty arts complemented her professional work, as she became a certified makeup artist and member of the Makeup Artists Association. Following her debut with After School, she expanded her activities by joining the group's first sub-unit Orange Caramel on June 17, 2010, performing alongside members Raina and Lizzy. The sub-unit presented a contrasting bubbly concept compared to After School's primary image.

In July 2011, Nana became part of another sub-unit, A.S. RED, which was formed based on fan voting and included members Kahi, Jungah, and Uee. After 2015, After School ceased group promotions, and Orange Caramel became inactive following a concert in April 2016. Nana remained the only member to renew her contract with Pledis Entertainment, effectively becoming the last active member of the group.

After 15 years with Pledis Entertainment, Nana departed the agency in September 2024 and signed with Sublime as an actress. She made her solo music debut on September 14, 2025, with the digital single "Seventh Heaven 16". She currently continues her career under Sublime representation, focusing on acting and modeling projects.

Nana's career before After School debut

Prior to her entertainment debut, Nana pursued opportunities in the modeling industry while completing her secondary education at Ochang High School in Cheongju.

Asia-Pacific Supermodel Contest 2009

Nana participated in the Asia-Pacific Supermodel Contest in 2009, marking her first significant entry into the entertainment and fashion industry. The competition served as a platform for aspiring models across the Asia-Pacific region and provided exposure to talent scouts from various entertainment agencies. Her involvement in this contest occurred during the same year she would later join Pledis Entertainment as a trainee. The modeling contest experience shaped her early understanding of the entertainment industry and contributed to her development as a performer with strong stage presence and visual appeal. This foundation in modeling proved beneficial for her subsequent career in both music and acting, where visual presentation plays a significant role in K-pop and Korean entertainment.

Training period at Pledis Entertainment

Following her participation in the modeling contest, Nana joined Pledis Entertainment and underwent a training period of one year. The agency's training program prepared her for debut as a member of After School, focusing on vocal performance, dance choreography, and stage presence. During this relatively brief training period compared to industry standards, she developed the skills necessary for the group's dynamic performance style. The training phase concluded when Pledis Entertainment selected her as a third-generation member to join the existing After School lineup. Her preparation at the agency equipped her with the technical abilities required for the group's concept, which emphasized powerful choreography and sophisticated musical arrangements. The company noted her growth during this period, with representatives later acknowledging her development from trainee to established artist over the years.

Nana's music career with After School

After School main group activities

After School's discography during Nana's tenure included multiple successful releases following her November 2009 debut with "Because of You". The group achieved commercial success with singles "Bang!" in March 2010, which reached number 2 on the Gaon Weekly Chart and accumulated 2,374,731 digital downloads by year-end. Subsequent releases included the first studio album "Virgin" with title track "Shampoo" in April 2011, followed by the fifth Korean single album "Flashback" in June 2012. The group's final Korean promotion occurred in 2014 with the track "One Week" as part of Brave Sound's 10th Year Anniversary Project.

Orange Caramel sub-unit

Orange Caramel debuted on June 16, 2010, with the single "Magic Girl," featuring Nana alongside Raina and Lizzy. The debut mini-album peaked at No. 2 on the Gaon Chart. The sub-unit released "A-ing" in November 2010, which peaked at No. 5. Their "One Asia" project produced "Bangkok City," which peaked at No. 3, becoming their most successful single. The group released their first studio album "Lipstick" in September 2012, followed by "Catallena" in March 2014, which peaked at No. 5 on the album chart and No. 6 on the digital chart. Their final release, "My Copycat," appeared in August 2014.

A.S. RED and other collaborations

A.S. RED, formed by Pledis Entertainment in 2011, consisted of Kahi, Jungah, Nana, and Uee. The sub-unit debuted on July 20, 2011, with the single album "Red," featuring the title track "In the Night Sky". Nana also contributed to the duet "Funky Man" with Lizzy on After School's "Virgin" album and recorded the solo track "Close Your Eyes" for Orange Caramel's "Shanghai Romance" single.

Solo music releases

Following her departure from Pledis Entertainment, Nana made her solo debut on September 14, 2025, with the digital single "Seventh Heaven 16".

Nana's acting career and movies

Nana transitioned into acting in 2014, expanding her entertainment career beyond music performance.

Fashion King movie appearance

Nana made her acting debut with a cameo appearance in the Korean film Fashion King, which was released on November 6, 2014. She portrayed Kim Hae-na, described as a "queen bee" character at Kee An High School. The role marked her first acting experience in the film industry. Fashion King was based on a popular webtoon series by Kian84 and featured a cast including Joo Won, Sulli from f(x), and Park Se-young. Her character was created specifically for the film adaptation and did not exist in the original webtoon.

The Empress' Man Chinese drama

Following her film debut, Nana starred in the Chinese television drama Love Weaves Through a Millennium in early 2015, a remake of the Korean drama Queen In-hyun's Man. Later in the year, she appeared in the Chinese romantic comedy film Go Lala Go 2, the sequel to Go Lala Go!, playing the character Sha Dangdang, described as a capable new employee.

Good Wife K-drama role

Nana secured a supporting role in the television drama The Good Wife, which premiered on July 8, 2016. The series was a remake of the American series of the same name and aired on tvN. She portrayed Kim Dan, a bisexual investigator working for a law firm and colleague to the main character Hye-kyung. In order to perfect her character's Gyeongsang Province dialect, Nana received assistance from fellow After School member Lizzy, who recorded line readings for her to practice. She underwent extensive preparation for the role, including five auditions. Nana received positive reviews for her performance and earned the Rookie Actress award at the 2016 Asia Artist Awards.

Why is Nana considered one of the most beautiful faces?

TC Candler rankings (2013-2016)

TC Candler's Independent Critics List of 100 Most Beautiful Faces recognized Nana beginning in 2013, when she debuted at second place, marking the highest debut on the list since 1999. She advanced to first place in 2014 and maintained the top position in 2015. In 2016, she ranked third on the annual list. Her consistent appearances in the top rankings led to her being named Most Beautiful Face of the Decade in 2020. She continued to appear in the top 10 through 2021, never falling below that threshold since her initial 2013 entry.

On a March 9 episode of "Radio Star," Nana addressed the rankings, stating she felt thankful but received negative comments after news articles spread. She expressed that she did not consider herself the prettiest in the world and felt embarrassed by the title, though she noted it became a unique identifier when visiting China or Japan.

Fashion and modeling achievements

Nana's modeling work gained attention in 2011 when she was selected as a main model for the Tokyo Girls Collection. A representative in Japan noted that the Tokyo Girls Collection typically features only professional models and that appearances by singers as main models are rare. She has served as a brand ambassador in fashion campaigns featuring distinctive concepts, including Deconstructivism and Goth Romantic styles.

Physical appearance and style

In a 2015 Cosmopolitan Korea interview, Nana discussed her fitness routine, which includes completing 100 squats and 100 sit-ups nightly before bed. She also takes stairs instead of elevators to create attractive leg lines.

Nana's personal life and interesting facts

Born Im Jin-ah on September 14, 1991, in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, South Korea, Nana has blood type A and is an only child. Her stage name was created by her manager to fit her image, while she acquired nicknames including Jinjin, Camel, and Desert Fox. In addition to her performing credentials, she holds professional certifications as a makeup artist and beautician, maintaining membership in the Makeup Artists Association.

Nana appeared as a cast member on the reality television programs Roommate and Roommate 2. In March 2014, she joined the second season of OnStyle's Style Log as a host alongside Hong Jong-hyun and Cho Min-ho. Accordingly, dating rumors emerged in January 2015 regarding a relationship between Nana and actor Hong Jong-hyun, with reports suggesting they had been dating for nearly seven months. The situation created controversy due to Hong Jong-hyun's on-air relationship with Girl's Day's Yura on the program We Got Married. Both parties subsequently released official statements denying the romantic relationship.

On December 5, 2024, reports surfaced that Nana had been dating model Chae Jong Seok, with the pair traveling to Bali, Indonesia, in June and appearing as an on-screen couple in Baek Ji Young's music video. Both agencies stated they could not confirm the reports as they concerned the artists' private lives.

On November 15, 2025, the Guri Police Station arrested a man in his thirties on charges of attempted armed robbery at Nana's residence in Guri. The suspect broke into the house at approximately 6 a.m. using a ladder to access the balcony through an unlocked door. He strangled and injured Nana's mother before Nana intervened, with both women ultimately subduing the intruder and contacting authorities. SUBLIME confirmed that both women sustained injuries requiring medical treatment, with Nana's mother losing consciousness due to serious injury. Nana resumed professional activities on November 26, 2025.

FAQs

Does Nana have tattoos?

Nana displayed extensive body tattoos at the press conference for the film Confession in September, appearing in a strapless black dress alongside co-stars So Ji-sub and Kim Yoon-jin. Following public reaction, Pledis Entertainment stated they could not comment as it concerned the artist's private life. At the subsequent press conference for the Netflix series Glitch on September 27, she clarified that the tattoos represented a personal decision unrelated to her character.

What happened with the Sunwoo controversy?

In 2025, Nana publicly criticized The Boyz member Sunwoo after a video showed him waiting for a security guard to retrieve his dropped earbuds, accepting them with one hand without visible gratitude. She commented that he needed to be scolded. When criticized for judging based on limited footage, she responded with the statement, "You can tell everything from one thing".

Did the robber sue Nana?

On January 2, 2026, the armed robber who attacked Nana and her mother countersued Nana for her defensive actions during the November 2025 assault. SUBLIME stated the defendant showed no remorse and was exploiting Nana's public profile, vowing to pursue all possible civil and criminal legal action.