Angelina Danilova isn’t just any foreign girl in Korea. She’s practically the poster child for going viral and turning it into a full-on celebrity career. She first blew up on Instagram as the “pretty Russian girl eating Korean food,” and from there it was game over.
With her doll-like visuals, statuesque figure, and surprisingly deep obsession with Korean culture, we’re talking everything from spicy stews to K-pop dance covers, of course she became an overnight sensation.
What started as a couple of viral posts quickly snowballed into variety shows, music video cameos, and endless TV panel appearances. Her official debut came with tvN’s quirky show Babel 250, but she didn’t stop there. Angelina’s been everywhere since.
Unlike the usual flash-in-the-pan foreign influencers, she managed to stick around thanks to actually learning the language, showing off a down-to-earth charm, and never missing a chance to keep herself in the spotlight on Instagram, YouTube, or TV.
Some call her lucky, others say she’s calculated, but either way, Angelina Danilova has cemented herself as one of Korea’s most talked-about foreign stars. Due to her stardom, she has been able to rub elbows with big time celebrities in Korea too including K-pop boyband EXO!
Check out her complete profile below, including accolades and TV appearances in Korea.
- Full Name: Angelina Sergeyevna Danilova (Ангелина Сергеевна Данилова / 안겔리나 세르게예브나 다닐로바)
- Date of Birth: December 28, 1996 (Age 28)
- Birthplace: Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Physical: Height – 177 cm | Shoe size – 260 mm
- Nationality: Russian
- Education: Saint Petersburg State University – Major in Interior Design
- Religion: Russian Orthodox
- Occupation: Entertainer, Model, TV Personality, Singer
- Agency: KPLUS
- Nicknames: Jelly (젤리), Andanhee (안단희), “Old-Fashioned Girl” (옛날 여자)
Lifestyle & Personal Tidbits
- Diet: Pescatarian (avoids red meat, eats fish & poultry)
- Languages: Speaks five fluently (Russian, Serbian, English, Italian, Korean), with aspirations to learn French and Japanese
- Hobbies: Korean dramas, acting practice, playing ukulele, cycling around Seoul (often spotted near Eonju Station)
- Family: Tragically lost her mother in 2017 after a battle with cancer
- MBTI: ESFP-A (previously ESFJ-T)
- Tattoos: Confirmed to have at least one
- Friendships: Close with gymnast Son Yeon-jae, introduced restaurants in St. Petersburg to fellow Russian celeb Kris
Television
- Variety Shows
- Babel 250 (tvN, 2016) – Cast member *Angelina Danilova’s variety debut in Korea
- Mixtape (Mnet, 2016) – panel cast
- South Korean Foreigners (MBC every1, 2018–2022) – Regular panelist
- Love of 7.7 Billion (JTBC, 2020) – Panelist
- Hidden Singer (JTBC, 2020) – Panelist
- Baek Jong-won’s Class (KBS2, 2021–2022) – Cast member
- Miss Trot 3 (TV CHOSUN, 2023–2024) – Contestant
- Other guest appearances include Happy Together 4, The Manager, Welcome, First Time in Korea?, among others
- Educational & Documentary Programs
- My Neighbor, Charles (KBS1, 2017) – Guest
- Docu One – Do You Speak Korean? (KBS1, 2021) – Featured
- History Stay: Traces Season 3 (TBS, 2023) – Cast
- Healing Road (TV CHOSUN, 2023) – Cast
- Web Shows
- Under Quiz (YouTube, 2019)
- Spy from Bear Country (Korea Tourism Organization, 2020)
- The Best Cooking Secrets (EBS YouTube, 2020–2021)
- Radio
- Bae Sung-jae’s Ten (SBS PowerFM, 2019–2021) – Recurring guest
- 2 O’Clock Date with Ji Seok-jin (MBC FM4U, 2019)
- K-POPPIN’ (Arirang Radio, 2020)
Acting
- Dramas
- Shining Eun-soo (KBS1, 2016) – Minor role
- The Uncanny Counter 2: Counter Punch (tvN, 2023) – “Jade” (special appearance)
- Player 2: Master of Swindlers (tvN, 2024) – “Kalett” (supporting role)
- Films
- New Fairytale (2018) – Cinderella
- The Swordsman (2020) – Foreign woman
- Music Videos
- Hanhae – “EYESCREAM” (2016)
- Eddy Kim – “Heart Pound” (2017)
- Boohwal – “Moment” (2020)
Modeling
- Signed model under Sky Model Agency
- Walked in Seoul Fashion Week (2017 F/W, 2021 S/S)
- Commercials: Banila Co., Angel-in-us Coffee, Alvogen Mercilon, Bullsone, ChapStick, Minish Dental Hospital (exclusive model), among others
- Photo shoots: MAXIM (2017), bnt International (2019, 2020, 2021), InStyle (2020), Singles (2020), Woman Chosun (2022), etc.
Awards
- 2018: Korean Image Awards – Flower Stone Award
- 2020: Korea Arts & Culture Grand Awards – Model Division
- 2021: World Star Entertainment Awards – Global Popularity (Variety)
- 2021: Korean Wave Culture Awards – Popular Culture Division
Other Activities
- Presenter at the 2017 Gaon Chart Music Awards
- Presenter at the 2019 KBO Golden Glove Awards
Now that her film work is out of the spotlight, let’s shift to the drama off-screen, because Angelina’s every post and public move keeps fans talking.
Public Frenzy & Misunderstood Messages
Angelina Danilova has long been a magnet for attention, but one rumor really set Korea buzzing: the claim that her “ideal type” was a Korean man and that she dreamed of marrying one. The truth? Total miscommunication. A fan had misinterpreted one of her innocent food posts. That didn’t stop the story from spreading like wildfire, though, and suddenly Korean men were sliding into her DMs with declarations of love.
Her admirers aren’t limited to Korea, either Russian fans have been keeping tabs on her rise in the spotlight abroad, showering her with messages from back home.
Even when the world got tense, Angelina kept her eyes on her public image. During the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict, she quietly closed comments on her social media posts and added a ☮️ peace symbol to her bio, making it clear she was taking a stand without stirring controversy.
From Ukulele Covers and First Single to the Trot Stage
Angelina has stated that she loves snowboarding and kite surfing to sketching, video editing, fashion, horse riding, and globe-trotting. She has dabbled in just about everything. But the one passion that really stuck? Music.
For over seven years, she’s been self-taught on the ukulele, posting little clips here and there that showed her love for singing and performing. What started as casual hobby videos eventually landed her on the big stage.
In 2023, Angelina shocked fans by appearing on Miss Trot 3, the massively popular trot singing competition on TV CHOSUN. She shared the stage with big names like Jeong Se-joo (the youngest-ever winner), Oh Yu-jin, and Miss Kim.
While Angelina didn’t snag the crown, her appearance alone proved she wasn’t afraid to step out of her “foreign influencer” box and chase a whole new dream in music.
But her musical journey actually began earlier. Back in January 2020, Angelina announced on Instagram that she was preparing to release her first single. And shortly after, she officially dropped “As You Are”, her debut digital track. Fans were buzzing at the thought of a Russian-born star stepping into the K-music scene.
Surprisingly, though, that remains her only official release to date. Despite her flirtation with the trot stage and her undeniable musical hobbies, Angelina hasn’t followed up with another single or album…yet.
Which leaves everyone asking: was “As You Are” just a one-time experiment, or is she quietly plotting her next big move in music? 👀
Angelina Danilova’s Top Controversies
Like many foreign stars who rise quickly in Korea, Angelina Danilova has not escaped scandal. In fact, her career has been marked by more than one headline-making controversy.
From Starlet to Scandal? Angelina Danilova’s Name Dragged Into Fraud Case
Back in 2018, Danilova found herself at the center of a major legal battle with her former agency, Palette Media. The agency accused her of breaching her exclusive contract, which was supposed to run from 2016 to 2019 by secretly signing with Prism Entertainment.
Even juicier, Palette claimed she participated in promotional gigs and sponsorship deals behind their backs. They wasted no time filing a damages suit and a complaint with the Seoul High Prosecutors’ Office, alleging she carried out “illegal commercial activities” while still under their management.
At the time, this was seen as a shocking betrayal, especially since Danilova had risen to fame in Korea only a few years earlier after being dubbed “the hottest K-pop fan.”
Partying in a Pandemic: Angelina Called Out for Maskless Night Out
But that wasn’t the only time she stirred drama. In 2021, Angelina sparked outrage during the height of COVID-19 restrictions. She was spotted in a YouTube vlog from fellow model and YouTuber Sissel, attending a housewarming party where five people appeared on camera, clearly violating Seoul’s “no gatherings of 5 or more” rule.
Netizens erupted, accusing her of being careless and selfish during a national health crisis. Angelina quickly scrambled to defend herself, insisting that only four people actually stayed for dinner and games, while Sissel’s boyfriend “just dropped by with a gift.”
She even had the video deleted, blaming the controversy on “misleading editing.” Still, the incident left a stain on her “sweet foreigner” image and gave gossip blogs plenty of material to chew on.
Beauty Bragging Backlash?
If legal battles and COVID parties weren’t enough, Angelina also found herself in the hot seat over her… beauty? On an episode of KBS’s “Happy Together 4”, the Russian star casually dropped that Koreans often gasp in awe when they see her, saying they go, “Hul! Daebak! So pretty!”
While she may have been sharing an innocent anecdote, the MCs quickly teased her with a sharp, “How could you say that yourself?” Many viewers felt the same, calling the moment a bit too self-congratulatory.
Though Angelina tried to downplay it by insisting she “doesn’t know how to react to compliments,” the clip sparked mixed reactions online. Some praised her for being honest about the attention she gets, while others accused her of showing a hint of vanity.
Blind Item Buzz: Angelina Danilova’s Rumored Romance with Actor Kim Ji-soo
Does Angelina Danilova have a boyfriend? Who is her boyfriend, you may be wondering.
In 2017, Angelina gave a rather unsatisfactory answer to that.
However, in 2018-2019, Korean forums had been buzzing with a blind item that has tongues wagging: whispers suggest that Angelina Danilova may have once been romantically linked to actor Kim Ji-soo.
Details are scarce, and both parties have stayed tight-lipped, but the rumor alone has sent fans into a frenzy, speculating about secret dates and behind-the-scenes chemistry.
While nothing has been confirmed, Angelina’s name keeps popping up whenever blind items about K-drama stars surface. And maybe yet are very curious who Angelina Danilova will call a boyfriend.
Actor Kim Ji-soo was rocked in 2021 by explosive allegations of school violence and bullying, which immediately derailed his career. The accusations forced his removal from the hit K-drama River Where the Moon Rises, with the production company scrambling to re-film six episodes.
His agency at the time, KeyEast, terminated his contract, and the production company filed a lawsuit seeking damages. Ji-soo admitted to some past misbehavior as a student but vehemently denied more serious claims, including sexual assault and secretly filming classmates. One accuser later confessed to fabricating their story entirely, yet by then, Ji-soo’s reputation had already taken a massive hit.
The scandal plunged Ji-soo into intense public scrutiny, with netizens dissecting every statement and past action. Despite the backlash, he has been slowly working to rebuild his image. He enlisted in the military, signed with a new agency, and even released a YouTube video reflecting on his past while hinting at a potential acting comeback.
Interestingly, he seems to have found a loyal fanbase abroad, particularly in the Philippines, who continue to support him as he navigates this rocky chapter in his career.
Angelina Danilova Spotted Partying at Soap Seoul
Word on the streets: Angelina Danilova used to be seen lighting up Soap Seoul, once Itaewon’s hottest underground spots. Known for its neon-soaked, soap-shaped interior and world-class DJs, this is the kind of place where Seoul’s A-listers like G-Dragon, Jay Park, and Kid Milli have been spotted, and now Angelina has officially joined the ranks.
Fans are buzzing after seeing her there. Some say she was vibing to the music, others whisper she might’ve been scouting collabs or just enjoying a night out like the Seoul celebs do.
Angelina Danilova’s Celebrity Fan Club Revealed
Angelina Danilova’s social circle is a who’s who of the international creative elite, with a roster of A-listers who not only follow her but also engage with her content. Her Instagram is a curated gallery of likes and comments from some of the most influential figures in music, fashion, and entertainment.
Lauren Tsai: An American model, illustrator, and actress who gained fame on Netflix’s Terrace House: Aloha State. Tsai has since made a name for herself in the fashion world, collaborating with brands like Marc Jacobs and contributing to Marvel Comics.
Stefanie Michova: A German model and actress based in Seoul, known for her relationship with Korean rapper Beenzino. Michova has appeared in films such as Unbloomed and Hooked.
Dean (DΞΔN): A South Korean R&B singer-songwriter and producer, often referred to as the “R&B Prince of Asia.” He debuted under Universal Music Korea and Joombas Music Group in 2015 .
Zion.T: A South Korean hip-hop and R&B singer, rapper, and songwriter. He debuted in 2011 and is known for his smooth vocal delivery and genre-blending music.
Code Kunst: A South Korean rapper, producer, and composer who debuted independently in 2013. He is a member of the crew Legit Goons and has been associated with labels like HIGHGRND and AOMG .
Final Thoughts: Angelina’s Wild Ride To Fame
From viral Instagram fame to TV panels, trot competitions, and modeling gigs, Angelina Danilova’s life has been anything but quiet. Between agency drama, COVID rumors, and whispers linking her to top Korean actors, she’s navigated controversy while keeping fans hooked.
Love her or gossip about her, one thing’s clear: Angelina isn’t going anywhere. Have you heard of her?
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