Heo Chan-mi

Chanmi was born on April 6, 1992 in Namyangju, South Korea. Chanmi went to Anyang School of Arts (Theater and Cinema), where she graduated from on February 9, 2011.[1]

Heo Chanmi has been involved in the entertainment industry since 2004, when she became a trainee in S.M. Entertainment. She initially trained to become a member of Girls' Generation, however she eventually didn't make the final cut to be a part of the group due to the fact she was the youngest and was only in seventh grade.[2]

After leaving SM Entertainment, Heo signed with Core Contents Media and made her official debut in 2010 as a main vocal of the group Coed School. The group debuted with a single "Too Late".[3] They later released music videos for songs "Bbiribbom Bbaeribbom" and "Listen To My Pounding Heart" as well as a mini album titled "Something That Is Cheerful And Fresh".[4]

By mid 2011 Coed School split into two sub units: Speed and 5dolls. Heo was placed in the latter along with the remaining three female Coed School members and a new member Eunkyo. The group released two promotional videos for singles "Lip Stains" and "Your Words" in which Heo was the protagonist along with the bandmate Lee Soomi and singer Jay Park.[5] 5dolls later released one more single titled "Like This Or That" prior to Heo Chanmi's and Lee Soomi's departure from the group and the company in 2012. In her statement on her personal Twitter account, Heo reassured the fans that despite leaving her company, she wasn't planning on leaving the industry and was already in the process of looking for another agency.[6]

After leaving Core Contents Media, Heo joined Pledis Entertainment as a trainee for a brief period of time. In 2013, she appeared in Seventeen TV among other Pledis Entertainment trainees and performed in one of the Like Seventeen shows.[7] Shortly after, she left the company and joined Dublekick Company.

In January 2016, it has been revealed that Heo Chanmi, who was then a Dublekick Company trainee, would be joining Mnet survival show Produce 101.[8] She performed a cover of the song "Don't Stop the Music" by Rihanna and was placed in the "A" category. Along with other participants, she later recorded a song titled "Yum Yum" as a part of a sub-group 7 Go Up.[9] Heo was eliminated from the show in the 10th episode, eventually landing in the 26th place.

Duble Kick Company's survival show "Finding Momoland" began in June 2016. It was aired on Mnet and its purpose was to select 7 members to debut in a new girl group. It was announced that Heo would be skipping on the show, as she was preparing to debut in a different team.[12] She did, however, make a guest appearance in one of the episodes and cheered on the group's debut.[13]

In November 2016, MC Mong's 7th album "U.F.O" was released and Heo was featured on the album track "And You" alongside singer New-a. They both were referred to as members of a group High Color, hinting at the team's upcoming debut.[14]

In October 2017, it was revealed that Heo Chanmi would be debuting next year in High Color, a girl group consisting of four members under Mostable Music. The team joined YG Entertainment's survival show Mix Nine and Heo as well as her bandmate New-a were a part of the subgroup "Good Vibe (좋은 바이브)". They recorded and performed a song produced by MC Mong titled "Like a Star (이 밤이 지니면)".[15] Heo was eliminated from Mix Nine in the 13th episode with her final rank being 20th place.

Soon after the show ended, Heo Chanmi along with other member Darin left High Color and the team eventually debuted as a ballad duo under Million Market,[16] meanwhile Huh took a break from the entertainment industry and didn't make any public appearances in 2018 since Mix Nine's ending.

In February 2019, Heo graduated from Dongduk Women’s University with a major in practical music. She wrote on her personal Instagram account, “I was at university for seven years. I went to university longer than I went to elementary school, but I finally graduated. It feels a bit regretful now that I’m about to leave, but…. goodbye. Thank you to my vitamins, who came from far away so early in the morning to congratulate me. I love you.”[17]

In March 2019, Heo Chanmi made her first public appearance since her participation in a survival show Mix Nine. Along with her former 5dolls bandmate Lee Soomi, she gave an interview to SUBUSU News.[18] The singers talked about the time when they were promoting together, while Heo also mentioned Produce 101 and how the show was edited to create a bad impression of her.

Throughout the whole 2019, Heo Chanmi was hinting on her possible comeback through her social media. In January 2020, it was eventually revealed that Heo had signed an exclusive contract with FirstOne Entertainment.[19] She was introduced as an all-round entertainer and it was revealed that she would be opening her official YouTube channel soon.[20] The channel was officially opened on January 23, 2020 and the same day Heo Chanmi released a cover of Señorita by Camila Cabello and Shawn Mendes.