leadership - The c suite
KHANNIE - FOUNDER AND CEO
Real Name: Khanh Tran
Origin: USA
Ultimate Bias Group: BTS
Top 3 Biases: Jungkook (BTS), HyunA (4Minute), Lisa (BLACKPINK)
I’m a graphic designer by day and a fangirl ninja by night. Being in the K-Pop fandom for close to a decade of me spending a fortune and knowing how to secretly cry at my work desk while watching comeback teasers. An avid and dedicated fangirl like me would have an excel spreadsheet of all the merchandise purchased, concert and traveling expenses, and then seeing how all of that money could be better spent elsewhere. However, I love this fandom and this lifestyle because I met some of the greatest friends, experienced amazing concerts, and found light in the darkest moments of my life.
ROXY - CO-OWNER & CMO
Real Name: Roxanne Wilson
Origin: USA
Ultimate Bias Group: BTS & ATEEZ
Top 3 Biases: Yoongi (BTS), Yunho (ATEEZ), Hongjoong (ATEEZ)
Jack-of-all-trades in the media realm. Graphic designer, writer, videographer. K-Pop veteran. Basically the female incarnation of Min Yoongi. Loud SF9 supporter and truly believes that it is inevitable for the entire world to end up stanning ATEEZ.
KELLY - EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Origin: USA
Ultimate Bias Group: BTS, SEVENTEEN, DAY6
Top 3 Biases: Taehyung (BTS), Hoshi(SEVENTEEN), Young K (DAY6)
Relatively new to all things Hallyu, I happily stumbled upon K-Pop by accident when my workout playlists ran dry. Ever since becoming an ARMY in 2016, I have only fallen further into the Korean entertainment abyss. Add to that a degree in English and a background in journalism and market research, and I found myself here at The Kraze. When I’m not traveling across the country to go to as many live shows as possible, I can be found scouring the K-hip-hop and indie scene. Lastly, if I can leave you with any piece of advice, it’s this: stan DAY6.
RASHELLE - EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Real Name: Rashelle Brownfield
Origin: Chicago, IL
Ultimate Bias Group: NCT, LOONA
Top 3 Biases: Lee Taeyong (NCT), Yves (LOONA), Lee Haechan (NCT)
K-Pop came into my life thanks to great friends and a budding internet addiction back in 2013; since then I've never looked back. I've always been interested in music and culture throughout the world, and getting into K-Pop exposed me to a whole new scene I'd never encountered. If I'm not deep-diving into another new group to love, I'm either gaming, reading through a new series way too fast, writing or researching. I'm extremely happy to have a chance to get involved in the K-Pop community in a new way.
EDITORIAL
JULIA - WRITER, TRANSLATOR
Origin: USA
Ultimate Bias Group: BTS
Top 3 Biases: Yoongi, BTS, …. BTS?
I have been exposed to world of K-Pop at quite a young age. Diving deeper into the pools of the culture as a whole due to my Korean background, K-Pop has always been a part of my life as far as I remember. While wandering around in means of getting more into the whole K-Pop world, I finally reached my destination in the year of 2014—that is, when I first stumbled upon BTS. From that day on, I am spending my time as a devoted ARMY (nothing can stop me from fangirling—yes, not even school) as well as a writer and translator of The Kraze. Consistently influenced by my multifandom sister, I’m now at the verge of joining her (but not quite yet).
omar - WRITER
Real Name: John Letson
Origin: Radcliff, KY
Ultimate Bias Group: DAY6
Top 3 Biases: DAY6, SHINee, BoA
I'm a senior at the Savannah College of Art and Design majoring in writing. I started freelance writing and landed two editorial internship that lead me toward magazine journalism. I listened to a bunch of K-Pop growing up, but when Boys Planet came out it reignited my love for the genre.
Hien - Writer
Real Name: Hien Nguyen
Origin: Vietnam but studying in California, USA
Ultimate Bias Group: SEVENTEEN
Top 3 Biases: Hoshi (SEVENTEEN), DK (SEVENTEEN), Jihyo (TWICE)
Dancing to Girls Generation’s “Gee” in fourth grade aerobics class was actually my introduction to K-Pop as unusual as it sounds! I was a casual listener until I discovered SEVENTEEN in early 2016 and then became fully immersed in fandom culture. Collecting photocards, making fellow fans on social media, camping out at concerts and testing my luck for fansigns are some things I’ve done since becoming a CARAT. Although I jokingly say I only “financially” invest in my ult group, I listen to and enjoy everyone in the genre and also love Korean R&B music! Being a part of the Kraze team is such a full circle moment for me as I realized my early love for journalism through K-Pop from reading pop culture magazines when I was a kid back in Vietnam.
nicole - writer
Origin: UK
Ultimate Bias Group: GOT7
Top 3 Biases: Yugyeom (GOT7), Taehyun (TXT), Chaeryeong (ITZY))
I am a Journalism student whose main interest is writing pieces on all things which show various perspectives of different cultures all around the world!
I was introduced to K-Pop through a friend in 2015 and I was immediately drawn in by the music which sounded so familiar to me, as well as the personalities found within the groups.
I have made so many meaningful friendships through K-Pop, GOT7 specifically, over the years, and I retain so many fond memories shared throughout this community.
Outside of K-Pop you can find me collecting magazines and CDs, as well as co-running ZAZA the Zine, a platform curated to highlight marginalised creatives within Scotland.
Joining The Kraze has allowed me to have a platform where I can share my interest of K-Pop to people who haven't dabbled into it yet, and I am so excited to share this community with others!
vivian - editor
Origin: USA
Ultimate bias group: BTS
Top 3 biases: Kim Taehyung (but really all of BTS), DEAN, Hwasa (MAMAMOO)
I was summoned to the K-pop realm after discovering the music videos of 2NE1, Big Bang, Girls Generation, Kara, and many others back in the day. It was the catchy beat and addictive choreography for me. Slowly, my K-pop phase began to fade...or so I thought. It wasn’t until procrastinating in college when I started heavily binging Kdramas and variety shows to fill a void, and was introduced to K-R&B, -hip-hop, -indierock. I then realized how much I missed out in the Korean music scene and quickly reverted to my old ways. Oddly enough, my curiosity to know a few members’ names got me sucked into the fandoms!
cara - editor
Real Name: Cara Musashi
Origin: California, USA
Ultimate Bias Group: BTS
Top 3 Biases: Yoongi & Hoseok (BTS), DK (SEVENTEEN)
As a nerd of many genres, K-Pop slid into my arsenal of interests around 2017 when a friend introduced me to BTS and I fell in love with their music and personalities. Since then, I’ve expanded to other groups like Stray Kids, Seventeen, and TXT, making it hard to choose only three biases… In addition, I have long since been a fan of anime, gaming, and Disney. If you’re ever looking for me, you may just find me in Avenger’s Campus hanging out with Loki, trying to avoid killers in Dead By Daylight, or reading a new novel and wishing dragons were real. I’m looking forward to working with the Kraze team and making new friends who share similar interests.
melina - writer
Real Name: Melina Valle
Origin: Brooklyn, New York
Ultimate Bias Group: ATEEZ
Top 3 Biases: Hongjoong (ATEEZ), Jihyo (TWICE), BM (KARD)
I'm an aspiring writer and avid K-pop stan. I studied journalism in school to be able to work in the entertainment industry and get to be a professional fan girl. In my free time, I like to learn different languages and watch true crime documentaries.
courtney - Writer
Real Name: Courtney Willis
Origin: UK
Ultimate Bias Group: Super Junior, N. Flying, 2PM, and possibly every group that participated in Kingdom: Legendary War!
Top 3 Biases: Eunhyuk (Super Junior), I.M (Monsta X), V (BTS)
My love of Korean entertainment started in 2017 after binge watching music videos, and variety show episodes, of BTS. Before this, I liked Wonder Girls – Why So Lonely and of course, had listened to Psy’s – Gangnam style, but I hadn’t yet fallen deep into the Kpop and K-drama hole that I am in today! Since then, I have graduated in Film Studies and have written several academic essays on stardom and celebrities in Korea and have, also, visited Seoul where I saw N. Flying do a street busking session! Now, I listen to different artists across K-pop, K-rock, K-RnB/hip-hop, and K-indie, and watch many different K-drama’s, with Oh My Venus being my all-time favourite! I’m also a massive fan of the variety show Running Man (some may even say I’m addicted to it) which is where my fan journey begins with a lot of my favourite Korean artists, actors, and entertainers.
Jess - writer
Origin: USA
Ultimate Bias Group: SEVENTEEN
Top 3 Biases: Vernon (SEVENTEEN), Kai (EXO), Jinho (PENTAGON)
It all started back in 2016 when I finally decided to search up EXO on Spotify. I clicked through a few of the top tracks on their Spotify page, and was hooked immediately after hearing “Monster.” After that, I was exposed to BTS, and soon found so many other groups to fall in love with. I am a huge multistan (mainly operating with the brain of a Carat) with some of my favorites being Seventeen, SHINee, Itzy, and EXO. I have recently started collecting photocards, and in my spare time I love learning choreographies or tweeting about Seventeen. I am always grateful I found KPop, since there is always something exciting going on in the industry and I have made and met some of my best friends thanks to it.
jacob - writer
Real Name: Jacob Aron Leung
Origin: Canada
Ultimate Bias Group: SEVENTEEN and GFRIEND
Top 3 Biases: Jeonghan (SEVENTEEN), Moonbyul (MAMAMOO), Yuju (GFRIEND)
When I became a K-Pop fan in 2017, little did I know it would become a fascination for many years. Though K-Pop originally enthralled me through my interest in social sciences, I also view the medium through a journalistic lens. I went from writing college essays about my interests — including one about GFRIEND — to now writing for a K-Pop magazine.
Cidney - writer
Origin: Maryland, USA
Ultimate Bias Group: GOT7, ATEEZ, MONSTA X
Top 3 Biases: Mark (NCT), Seonghwa (ATEEZ), Q (The Boyz)
Growing up music and writing were and still are my biggest passions. I grew up listening to many boy/girl groups and singing at any given time, and if I wasn't singing you would find me writing in my journal or typing on my computer. When I first got into K-pop it was in 2014, and a group named 4Minute opened my eyes to this genre of music. As time passed I then started branching out to K-Hiphop and K-R&B. Listening to Dean, GSoul, DPR, PLT, and many more. My love for music grew tremendously after that if that was even possible. From K-Pop I was able to step outside of my comfort zone. I was able to meet new people, experience new things, and go to new places. With my love for both, I am grateful for this opportunity to bring my two passions together.
Marjolaine - writer
Origin: France
Ultimate Bias Group: BTS
Top 3 Biases: Jungkook & Jimin (BTS), Cha Eunwoo (ASTRO) – and Moonbin forever.
Having recently discovered K-Pop, I became a die-hard BTS fan when I watched one of their "IDOL" performances at a concert on YouTube. Their talent was a revelation for me. Perfectly executed choreographies with incredible synchronicity, breathtaking stage presence, unique voices, Korean lyrics that give a particular vocal rhythm: an explosive cocktail for the senses ! Since then, I have continued to be interested in Korean culture but also in the psychological dimension of fandoms and the Idol industry. Today I want to retrain in this passion which has become a philosophy of life and I am very happy to join The Kraze team. I also like Kdramas, Webtoons and finally... my guilty pleasure is redoing all the dance challenges of our favorite Idols!
rina - writer
Real Name: Corina Miller
Origin: Philadelphia, PA
Ultimate Bias Group: Stray Kids
Top 3 Biases: Hyunjin (Stray Kids), Jooyeon (Xdinary Heroes), Yechan (OMEGA X)
I fell in love with Kpop back in 2016 when I discovered BIGBANG, BTS, and EXO. Since then, I’ve been exploring the wide variety of entertainment and culture that Korea has to offer. I am currently a film student/aspiring music video director in college and have always enjoyed writing. I love the friendships and memories that come along with the Kpop experience and can’t wait to make many more with The Kraze.
Diana - writer
Origin: Stuttgart, Germany
Ultimate Bias Group: BTS
Top 3 Biases: Jimin (BTS), Sungyeol (INFINITE), Joy (Red Velvet)
Hey there, I'm Diana, a self-proclaimed book, music, and cultures nerd. I stumbled upon kpop by chance - it was Block B's "Nillili Mambo" that got me hooked. To gain more insight, I decided to take various Korean Language and Culture courses at university, fully immersing myself in the culture. As an English major graduate, I combined my passion for writing with my love for Korean culture and found a perfect match with The Kraze. As a new writer for The Kraze, I'm excited to share my interests with others, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to do so!
lacey - editor
Origin: Australia
Ultimate Bias Group: BLACKPINK
Top 3 Biases: Jennie (BLACKPINK), Jungkook (BTS), Joshua (SEVENTEEN)
I am a 23-year old who loves all things regarding writing and music. I am a university graduate who spends her time writing, cooking and listening to all things music. I was first introduced to K-pop in 2020 thanks to TikTok and have been obsessed ever since. My all time favourite group is BLACKPINK but I am open to listening to other groups as well.
Angelica - writer
Real Name: Angelica Vianello
Origin: Rome (Italy)
Ultimate Bias Group: Love many, but I’m more into the Solo & K-indie scene!
Top 3 Biases: Kim Feel, Samuel Seo, Sungwoojunga
I came to love Korean culture through K-dramas (read: I was blown away by Hyun Bin’s majestic hair), so from the OSTs I quickly hopped onto the music scene, and 5 years later my everyday listening queue is still “all the recent releases from korean showbiz”, whatever the genre. Also, watching Korean dramas and movies, attending concerts, or tasting Korean food are still my fav thing to do at any given chance. Plus, having the opportunity to use my professional experience to write about Korea is always a pleasure, and it makes me get to know some great people!
DESIGN
ni - graphic designer
Real Name: Nia
Origin: Maryland, USA
Ultimate Bias Group: GOT7
Top 3 Biases: Jackson Wang (GOT7), Hwiyoung (SF9), Changkyun/IM (MONSTA X)
My first introduction to korean music funny enough wasn’t kpop but actually rappers Dumbfoundead and Keith Ape. It wasn’t until years later that I stumbled upon ‘Never Ever’ by GOT7 and I was enthralled by the music and obviously…the members-specifically Jackson. I have always been into bands: one direction, mindless behavior, big time rush-you name them and I love them. So when I discovered Kpop, I continued to carry the fan girl torch. It has been five years since I got into Kpop and I have made some of my closest friends, been all over the world for concerts and made some of my favorite memories. When I am not attending concerts, you can find me in the art studio or playing a video game, as long as its something active I am into it!
Ciara - photographer
Real Name: Ciara Glagola
Origin: Detroit, Michigan
Ultimate Bias Group: The Boyz, ONEUS, VERIVERY
Top 3 Biases: Sunwoo (The Boyz), Ravn (ONEUS), Hoyoung (VERIVERY)
My biggest passions are music, photography, and traveling, and I am always working to combine those things in any way possible. I fell in love with the world of kpop in 2017, through a friend who needed a buddy for a BTS concert. In the years since then, kpop has become something that brings me constant creative inspiration and joy, and motivates me to be a better artist every day. I am currently working toward a marketing degree, and in my free time, I love reading and writing. As someone who does not know how to wrap up introductions very well….Stan The Boyz!
Jean - Photographer
Origin: USA
Ultimate Bias Group: BIGBANG, CNBLUE
Top 3 Biases: G-Dragon (BIGBANG), Jung Yonghwa (CNBLUE), Cha Eunwoo (ASTRO)
In an effort to improve my native Korean, the rabbit hole of K-Dramas originally sucked me in. After You're Beautiful, Jung Yonghwa and CNBLUE became by UB group, but soon Big Bang, Epik High, BAP and AOMG were to drag me further into the K-music world. From going to concerts and enjoying my music in a solo bubble, I soon realized that there was a much larger community of fans of all ages, ethnicities, genders and styles that filled the K-pop realm. With friends all over the world from in their teens to 60's, I've formed a solid network of amazing friends that share with me my love of K-pop. Spreading my skills beyond the realm of fine art management, I joined in the world of K-media and have developed a love of capturing those perfect moments of my favorite groups to share.
marketing
JAY - Marketing DIRECTOR
Real Name: J.Ventinilla
Origin: USA
Ultimate Bias Group: B.A.P (but I love so many groups too!)
Top 3 Biases: Yongguk (B.A.P), Mark Tuan (GOT7), IU
I’ve been a long time fan of K-Pop since 2007 and have been about that multifandom life. I was first exposed to K-Pop thanks to BoA, DBSK and Super Junior and since then have seen so many groups rise up and seen the industry grow to what it is today. I am a promoter and writer for The Kraze but aside from my work with this awesome team, I’m a grad-student, which means my head is always buried in books but I am also working on my YouTube channel (centered around K-Pop and other interests) and Twitch gaming channel in my spare time. Most of the time, you can catch me spazzing around on social media, so I encourage you all to interact with me! K-Pop has been a big part of my life and I don’t see my love wavering for it for a long time coming. One last thing: STAN B.A.P.
robyn - social content manager
Real Name: Robyn Rush
Origin: Houston, TX
Ultimate Bias Group: GOT7 & ASTRO
Top 3 Biases: Jinyoung (GOT7), Moonbin (ASTRO), Jimin (BTS)
K-pop has been a big part of my life since 2006, with the thanks to Shinhwa’s Perfect Man. Who would’ve thought that over a decade later, I would still be so committed to learn more about it? Within over that decade, I went from being a solo Teen Top stan, to becoming a huge multistan to various groups (but my roots will forever be 2012-2014 K-pop). With social media being a huge part in today’s society, I always try to stick with the new trends going along (which is why I got my Bachelors degree in Creative Media). You can find me almost anywhere! I spend a lot of my time on YouTube uploading reactions and other videos related about K-pop. And when I’m not on YouTube, you can find me on Twitch most likely playing Valorant and blasting K-pop while doing so. There’s never a day that goes by where I don’t blast GOT7 on full volume.
chanel - social media manager
Origin: USA
Ultimate Bias Group: BLACKPINK
Top 3 Biases: Lisa (BLACKPINK), RM (BTS), pH-1
I'm a writer and digital marketer with a degree in Journalism. I love all things pop culture (from Marvel to DC) and Korean entertainment. With a passion for storytelling and creativity, I'm either freelance writing on entertainment topics or creating digital content. In 2018, I discovered my love for K-pop through BLACKPINK albums and became a multi-stan of many groups and solo artists.
chloe - email marketing specialist
Origin: Long Island, New York
Ultimate Bias Group: BTS
Top 3 Biases: Jungkook (BTS), Baekhyun (EXO), Jackson Wang (GOT7)
Music has always been a big part of my life, but ever since I discovered K-Pop through BTS in 2015, it has played an even bigger role than I could ever imagine. You can catch me learning the newest dances or attending more concerts than I probably should (because I have too many favorites). I love being a part of this community that has allowed me to meet so many people and expand my horizons. As I figure out the next step in my career, I am excited to continue sharing K-Pop to the world while working at The Kraze!