Essa Xu (許楚涵) has a singing voice that has been compared with super pop star Britney Spears while her slim but curvy figure and sweet looks have made her a sought after model and all-round entertainer.She is one quarter Russian and grew up in a musical family. Her grandmother was a music teacher and her mother played the cello.
At kindergarten she took up gymnastics and ballet, and at 14 she started singing European pop songs, forming a young girl group that was quite successful.
This encouraged her dreams of a career in showbiz and while studying business management in Singapore also took and acting and singing classes at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts.
Since then she has been modeling for major clients like Japan’s Matsushita Group, and has appeared on CCTV and various major national TV programs.
Earlier this year she sang the romantic theme song Don’t Say You Love Me for the popular stage play Please Lie to Me.
As to her mixed heritage she once told a magazine reporter: “Perhaps, because I’m mixed and have features that are appreciated by both Westerners and Asians, I am accepted by more people.”
She’s a Virgo and likes extreme sports, plays video games and watches Formula One racing.