Malea Emma Biography: Net Worth, Siblings, Age, Parents, Height, Movies, Songs, Instagram, American Idol
Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja is an Indonesian-American actress, singer, and songwriter who first captured international attention in 2018 with a viral rendition of the U.S. national anthem at an LA Galaxy match.
She has since built a respected career across film, television, and music.
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Best known for her acclaimed role as Mika in the A24 film After Yang and for receiving the youngest-ever golden ticket on American Idol, she is widely regarded as one of the most versatile young performers of her generation.
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| Wiki Facts & About Data | |
| Real Name: | Malea Emma Tjandrawidjaja |
| Stage Name: | Malea Emma |
| Born: | July 14, 2011 (age 15 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Height: | 1.09 m |
| Parents: | Arman Tjandrawidjaja, Esther Tanudjaja |
| Siblings: | Mark Andrew Tjandrawidjaja |
| Occupation: | Actress, Singer |
| Net Worth: | $1 million – $2 million |
Early Life and Education
Malea Emma was welcomed into the world on July 14, 2011 in Los Angeles, California, United States, to Arman Tjandrawidjaja and Maura Esther Tanudjaja.
She is the younger of two children and has an older brother named Mark Andrew Tjandrawidjaja.
Her interest in music emerged remarkably early, as she began singing before she could even speak, and her parents enrolled her in formal vocal lessons at the age of three.
She made her singing debut at five years old, performing “On My Own” from Les Misérables at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City as part of the American Protege Winners Recital.
Academically, she attends a Mandarin Immersion Elementary School in Los Angeles, where she is taught in both English and Mandarin.
She is of Indonesian-Chinese descent and her religion is Christianity.
Career
Malea Emma began her professional journey at just four years old, appearing in commercials for brands such as Progressive and Jeep while also developing her skills as a singer.
Her earliest breakthrough came in September 2018, when the seven-year-old won a social media contest held by the LA Galaxy to sing the national anthem before a Major League Soccer match.
Her powerful, soulful rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” before a crowd of 25,000 at StubHub Center stunned audiences and quickly went viral online, earning her national media coverage from outlets including NPR, BBC, and Billboard.
That same year, she was cast as Molly in a star-studded production of Annie at the Hollywood Bowl, where the Los Angeles Times praised her as a “comic spitfire” whose performance “stole hearts right and left”.
She also released her debut single, “My Only God,” in December 2018. Her career continued to flourish as she expanded into television and film.
In October 2018, she was invited to audition for American Idol, where judges Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, and Luke Bryan were so impressed that they awarded her a golden ticket to the Hollywood rounds — despite her being too young to compete at the time.
She was also invited to perform a duet of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” with Tony and Grammy Award winner Jennifer Holliday on Good Morning America.
On television, she secured recurring guest roles on the iCarly revival and Disney Channel’s Coop and Cami Ask the World and Raven’s Home.
Her most acclaimed acting achievement came in 2021 with the A24 science fiction drama After Yang, in which she starred as Mika opposite Colin Farrell.
Her performance earned rave reviews from critics at The Hollywood Reporter, IndieWire, and Awards Watch.
In 2024, she starred as Mei Lien in the Indonesian film Dilan 1983: Wo Ai Ni, for which she also wrote and performed the soundtrack song “Ini Suratku”.
Malea Emma has continued to build on her early success, demonstrating remarkable range across acting, singing, and songwriting.
In November 2025, she was honored with the Asian Women in Entertainment Award from the Asian Hall of Fame in Los Angeles, becoming the first Indonesian to receive the distinction.
She has remained a sought-after performer for major sporting events, having sung the national anthem at NBA games, including multiple consecutive appearances, as well as at the 2018 MLS Cup final before a crowd of 73,000.
Beyond performing, she is fluent in four languages — English, Mandarin, Indonesian, and Spanish — and plays piano, violin, guitar, and ukulele.
Her journey from a viral anthem singer to a critically recognized actress reflects a rare level of versatility for a performer her age, and her golden ticket to American Idol remains valid for the 2027 season, when she will be old enough to compete.
Social Media
- Instagram Handle: @maleaemma
- Twitter/X Handle: @maleaemma
- TikTok Handle: @singdadsing
- YouTube Channel: @maleaemma
Personal Life
Malea Emma has never been married and is currently single, with no publicly disclosed romantic relationships and no children.
She is the younger child of Arman Tjandrawidjaja and Maura Esther Tanudjaja and has one older brother, Mark Andrew Tjandrawidjaja.
Discography
- My Only God (2018)
- Raven’s Home (2017)
- Coop and Cami Ask the World (2018)
- iCarly (2021)
- After Yang (2021)
- The Final Rose (2022)
- Dilan 1983: Wo Ai Ni (2024)
- Ini Suratku (2024)
Net Worth
Malea Emma has built an estimated net worth of approximately $1 million to $2 million through her work as an actress, singer, and songwriter.
Her primary income sources include her lead role in the A24 feature film After Yang, her recurring television roles on Disney Channel and the iCarly revival, and her soundtrack work for the Indonesian film Dilan 1983: Wo Ai Ni.
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