This January, Elyn Leong of the international girl group Gen1es graces our digital cover. Now a year since her debut with Gen1es, she opens up to us about her journey from entering the reality show Chuang Asia: Thailand, her girl group debut, and beyond.
On an overcast morning in mid-November, Elyn Leong, dubbed the ‘sweetie’ of her girl group Gen1es, is draped across the JAECOO J5. The crossover SUV — with its steady, dependable drivetrain and stylish, premium design, especially following Gen1es’ latest single, “Vroom” — is a fitting setting for her Lifestyle Asia shoot. As the title track of Gen1es’ second EP, “Vroom” kicks it off with high energy and confidence; a true hype song that really sets the tone of the rest of it. The music video features the nine girls flanked by an array of cars, highlighting the song’s messaging of being “on the move” and having no limit to their goals and dreams.
There’s a lyric Elyn sings in “Vroom”, which can be closely translated to: “In this battle where every second counts, dreams are our weapons.” While empowering as it is, this line also gives an insight into Elyn’s own journey and career so far — how she had undergone rigorous training and discovered herself in the process, and finally achieved her dreams of debuting.
“I never thought I could end up here,” Elyn tells me. “I used to really struggle with talking. Like, if you were to interview me like this two or three years ago, I wouldn’t be able to talk at all.”
Despite growing up an introvert, Elyn knew what she wanted for herself from a pretty young age — to bask in the limelight. She proceeded carefully and strategically, first making herself known on the popular app Musical.ly before moving on to TikTok. She starred in various commercials, crafted her online personality and later, when she decided that music was the way to go and performing for others gave her a one-of-a-kind sort of rush, Elyn embarked on her Chuang Asia: Thailand journey.
Chuang Asia: Thailand gathered 70 young female trainees from different countries and agencies who would go through several challenges in order to fight for a spot in a girl group that would eventually debut from the show. The show’s mentors included Jackson Wang, who was also the producer, as well as Jeff Satur, Mike Angelo, Ten of the boy group NCT (and WayV), and Nene of BonBon Girls. And after a rigorous nine weeks, the girl group Gen1es was born.
In the middle of all this, Elyn, then 21 years old, quietly realised her dream of performing. It had already taken shape long before Chuang Asia: Thailand and solidified around the time Gen1es debuted with their single, “Hourglass”.
“I think that it has been such an amazing journey because I’ve learned so much,” Elyn opens up. “After a year, I can really feel how much I’ve grown. I used to have intense stage fright. Before going on stage I would literally be shaking, even though not many people could tell. But the moment I step onto the stage, it’s like there’s an on-and-off switch. I tell myself that this is my moment, and I give everything I have. And the more I perform, the more comfortable I become. Hearing the cheers, seeing the smiles from the audience and knowing that I’m able to bring joy to people… it all slowly overcomes the fear. Now, I’m finally able to enjoy the stage and truly have fun while performing.”
The girls of Gen1es have had their fair share of stage performances. Last year just after their debut, they had their international showcase at the SPACE ROMANCE Music Carnival held at Wuhan, China, and Elyn describes the experience as “enjoyable”. “Of course, I do feel a little sad that we don’t have as many stages as we did right after debut,” she adds, “but I’ve also come to understand that this is the reality of being in such a competitive industry. Even so, I truly enjoyed that performance. Every stage still means a lot to me, and I try to cherish each opportunity to perform and connect with the audience.”
Chuang Asia: Thailand didn’t just teach Elyn the ways of confidence and overcoming stage fright. Sure, she had dabbled in music and acting before — but mastering dancing was an entirely different playing field altogether. “One of my biggest challenges was definitely dancing,” Elyn shares. “I went into training camp with very minimal dance experience, while almost everyone around me had been dancing for many years and had exceptional skills. That gap really scared me at first. I was constantly worried that I wouldn’t be able to keep up.”
On top of that, Elyn was away from home and had to learn to stand on her own two feet. “I didn’t have anyone to talk to in the beginning, so there were moments when I felt really lonely and helpless,” she opens up. “But I was very lucky to meet amazing friends and teachers who were patient and willing to guide me. I pushed myself every single day, practicing again and again, because I wanted to be able to stand confidently on stage. Looking back, I’m really proud of myself for overcoming that fear. I didn’t let it take over — I learned to focus, stay present, and do my very best.”
Among these friends of course were the girls who would eventually debut alongside her in Gen1es. Elyn and the eight girls — Qiao Yiyu, Pailiu, Yean, Wang Ke, Xueyao, Didi and Emma — were naturally drawn to each other, and some of them even grew close over the course of the show. “Fans even nicknamed us ‘the Avengers’, which was really cute,” Elyn muses. “Even though some of us only got to know each other properly after debuting, it never felt awkward. We all came from different countries and backgrounds but we shared the same dream. We were walking in the same direction with the same goals, and that created a strong chemistry between us. We’ve been living together for almost two years now, and it genuinely feels like a family. I’m so grateful to have them with me on this journey. I really love them.”
Like many K-pop and K-pop-adjacent idols or groups, Gen1es has much of their content filmed and shared across YouTube and social media platforms, giving fans that small slice of their real-life personalities. This is something Elyn herself had to take time to get used to. “I think my biggest takeaway so far is that the idol entertainment industry really magnifies everything about you,” she muses. “Your strengths, your weaknesses, and even your mindset.” The idol industry has long been infamous for its brutality, and the road to becoming famous is one of the most treacherous in the industry — dotted with potential traps and pitfalls involving control, identity and impossible expectations.
“Before entering the industry, I thought talent and hard work were the most important things,” Elyn adds. “But after being in it, I’ve realised that consistency, emotional resilience and self-awareness are just as crucial. You’re constantly under observation, and that teaches you very quickly how important it is to stay grounded and clear about who you are. I’ve also learned how to balance authenticity with professionalism. As an idol, you’re not only performing music. You’re representing a team, a brand, and sometimes even certain values. It made me more conscious of my actions but at the same time, it pushed me to protect my genuine love for music. Overall, the industry taught me that growth often comes from pressure. It’s not always comfortable but it has helped me mature faster and appreciate the journey, not just the final results.”
Born from a survival show, naturally Gen1es is a girl group under contract — which is set to end by the year 2027. But Elyn is just cruising by and enjoying the ride for now. “I do have my own plans for the future, but I don’t want to share too much yet,” she says with a coy grin. “I believe in doing things first before talking about them. It’s kind of my personal rule in life. I prefer to show results rather than make promises. It keeps a sense of mystery and makes the surprises more meaningful.”
Here, she pauses. “But if I were to hint a little, I’d say that I’d like to release my own music,” she teases. “It is something I’m thinking about. I still have so much more I want to show the world, even beyond disbandment. But for now, I want to fully enjoy and cherish the time I still have with Gen1es, and give my best to every moment we share.”
editor-in-chief & creative direction MARTIN TEO | interview PUTERI YASMIN SURAYA | editorial team RONN TAN | photography EDMUND LEE | videography JACKIE MAH | hair styling PHILEX | makeup artist BAO | styled by BRY | wardrobe H&M, HERMÈS, COACH
Find out more about GEN1ES ELYN LEONG in the latest issue of LSA Digital Cover Vol. 040 HERE.
Note : The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
