Leia (singer)

Leia
カルテス・ラリッサ
Born
Larissa Ayumi Cartes Sakata

(2001-05-14) May 14, 2001
Curitiba, Brazil
Citizenship
  • Brazil
  • Japan
Occupations
  • Rapper
  • singer
  • dancer
Years active2020–present
Musical career
Genres
Instrument
  • Vocals
Years active2020–present
Label
Formerly of
Japanese name
Kanji坂田あゆみ
Hiraganaさかた あゆみ
Katakanaカルテス・ラリッサ
Transcriptions
RomanizationKarutesu Rarissa

Larissa Ayumi Cartes Sakata (カルテス・ラリッサ, Karutesu Rarissa; born May 14, 2001)[a], known mononymously as Leia (Korean: 레아; Japanese: レア), is a Brazilian and Japanese rapper, singer and dancer based in South Korea. She is best known for being a member of the girl group Blackswan, and is widely recognised as the first Brazilian-born idol in the South Korean music industry.

Early life and career

Leia was born on 14 May 2001 in the city of Curitiba, Paraná. She is the daughter of a Brazilian mother and a Japanese father.[1][2][3] By the age of four, Leia was already singing with ease in talent shows in her hometown. Her love of K-pop began when she was 11, and with it came a desire to learn Korean; initially, the singer learnt the language online.[4]

Leia is multilingual and speaks Portuguese, English, Korean and Japanese.[5][6]

Leia travelled to South Korea for the first time in 2013, at the age of 12, after being the only one to pass an audition held by Pledis Entertainment in Curitiba. [5][7][2][1] From her early teens, whilst living outside Seoul, she had to strictly follow the dance and singing rehearsals required by the company, so every day after returning from school, she would record videos to demonstrate her training.[4]

Her debut in Korea was originally set to take place with the final line-up of the group BP Rania in 2020, but the group underwent a rebranding process, bringing an end to their activities as Rania.[8] She was the third member to be revealed for Blackswan on 3 July 2020, via the group’s official Instagram account, where a letter—written in Korean and translated into English—was posted. Leia became the first Brazilian woman to debut in a K-pop girl group.[5][9][10]

Discography

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes References
2020 Save sea Companion She herself Episode: "Finding Fellow Travelers" [11][12]

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese pronunciation: [ɾaɾisːa kaɾɯtesɯ]; alternatively 라리사 카르테스, Hepburn: Rarisa Kareuteseu, Korean pronunciation: [ɾaɾisʰa kʰaɾɯtʰesʰɯ]

References

  1. 1 2 Pacheco, Mari (16 October 2020). "Black Swan: Primeira idol brasileira debuta em novo grupo de kpop |". POPline (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  2. 1 2 POVO, Redação O.; redacao-o-povo (16 October 2020). "Paranaense de 19 anos é a primeira brasileira no K-Pop". O POVO (in Portuguese). Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  3. ↑ "ブラックスワン(韓国グループ) K-POP初の構成で日本国籍メンバーも ｜ ドラマのメディア". drama89. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Primeira brasileira no K-pop divide dormitório em Seul e treina dança por seis horas diárias". Extra Online (in Brazilian Portuguese). 23 October 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 "Paranaense de 19 anos é a primeira brasileira no K-pop; estreia será no Blackswan". Extra Online (in Brazilian Portuguese). 13 October 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  6. ↑ "Learn a bit more about the members of Black Swan". allkpop. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  7. ↑ "Larissa Ayumi the first Brazilian to join the k-pop group; Know | Time24 News". www.time24.news. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  8. ↑ "Primeira brasileira no K-pop estreia no grupo Blackswan; assista clipe de 'Tonight'". Extra Online (in Brazilian Portuguese). 16 October 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  9. ↑ Braziliense', 'Correio (21 October 2020). "Conheça Larissa Ayumi, a primeira brasileira a integrar grupo de k-pop". Diversão e Arte (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  10. ↑ "Grupo de k-pop terá brasileira na formação; conheça Leia, do Blackswan". www.uol.com.br (in Brazilian Portuguese). 7 August 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  11. ↑ 온라인기자, 박현숙 (29 October 2020). "'동행자 구함' 러블리즈 케이×지수×예인, 인천 여행 가이드로 나선다". 스포츠경향 (in Korean). Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  12. ↑ "'동행자구함' 인천출신 러블리즈 멤버 가이드로 나선다". Daum | 스포츠서울. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
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