Ella Chen

Ella Chen Chia-hwa is a Taiwanese singer, actress, and television host who gained fame as a member of the girl group S.H.E. Across her career, she has built a prominent profile in the Mandopop industry, appearing in musical releases, television series, feature films, and variety shows.

Chen entered the music industry after her sister registered her for a talent competition held by HIM International Music in August 2000. Her deep alto vocal range caught the label's attention, leading her to reach the finals and eventually sign as a founding member of S.H.E. Her stage name, Ella, was derived from an agency personality assessment indicating courage.

Within S.H.E, Chen frequently served as the primary group representative in media interviews and was recognized for her tomboy persona. Early in her career, she sustained notable on-set injuries during television productions in 2003 and 2005. Beyond performing, she composed music for other musical acts, including Power Station, Huang Yi Da, and Yao Yao.

Chen began her solo recording career in 2012 with her debut EP, To Be Ella. She released her first full-length solo album, Why Not, in 2015, supporting it with a sold-out solo concert showcase at Legacy Taipei and subsequent performances in mainland China. She followed this release with a limited single EP, Me vs. Me, in late 2016.

In November 2020, Chen staged her ELLA Show: Entertainment Unlimited live production in Taipei and issued a companion digital EP. She later expanded the show to Kaohsiung in 2022, becoming the first female solo performer at the venue. She released her second solo studio album, Bad Habits, in 2024, and announced her solo concert tour, It's Me, in 2025.

Chen's acting career includes major television roles in series such as The Rose, Reaching for the Stars—which earned her a Golden Bell Award nomination for Best Lead Actress—and Hanazakarino Kimitachihe. On the big screen, she starred in feature films including New Perfect Two, Bad Girls, and The Missing Piece, winning the Yakushi Pearl Award at the 11th Osaka Asian Film Festival for her role in the latter.

Additionally, Chen has worked extensively in television hosting and reality programming, co-hosting Take Me Out and serving as a judge or mentor on shows such as Masked Singer, Produce 101 China, and Youth With You. In 2023, she took first place in the fourth season of Ride the Wind. She is married to Alvin Lai, with whom she has a son born in April 2017.