Here's what to know about the four standout stars of the record-breaking K-pop girl group Blackpink
There's so much to know about the multitalented members of Blackpink: Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa.
Recognized as "the world's most popular girl group," the South Korean pop phenoms have created a global name for themselves since the debut of their first album Square One in August 2016.
Although the record only consisted of two songs, "Whistle" and "Boombayah," it was heavily promoted in the K-pop scene, as Blackpink was the first girl group in seven years from YG Entertainment — a famous K-pop training organization in South Korea that operates as a record label, talent agency and music production company.
In the years that followed, the group released one chart-topping single after another, such as "Ddu-du Ddu-du" off 2018's EP Square Up and "How You Like That" off 2020's LP The Album. The latter sold approximately 1.2 million copies in less than a month after its release, making Blackpink the first million-selling K-pop girl group.
Jennie, 26
Jennie (whose full name is Kim Jennie) grew up in Seoul and New Zealand, before joining YG in 2010. Blackpink was formed in 2016 after an expansive audition search that crossed many countries, and Jennie was its first member.
"I was the first one on the team, and I got to watch everybody come in," Jennie (who is fluent in Korean, Japanese and English) told Elle in September 2020.
Jennie was a "trainee" just shy of six years, and has become the main rapper of Blackpink, although there's no official leader of the group.
Lisa, 25
Lisa (whose full name is Lalisa Manobal) was the second member to join Blackpink and is the youngest of the group. She's the main dancer of the group, though she also raps and sings.
She was raised in Thailand, but left Bangkok in 2011 to train for five years before the group debuted hits "Whistle" and "Boombayah" in 2016. The training process was rigorous, with restrictions on dating, driving, and drinking — and for Lisa, at times was trying.
"When was this going to end? Like, when? Do we have to get tested every single month?" Lisa recalled her experience in a Rolling Stone interview. "I'd call my mom [in Thailand], wanting to quit, and she'd tell me to hang on just another year, just hang on."
Jisoo, 28
Jisoo (whose full name is Kim Jisoo) was the third member to join Blackpink and is the eldest of the group. She's the lead vocalist and is considered an expert harmonizer.
Jisoo is the only member of Blackpink who was born and raised in South Korea. In fact, she grew up in Gunpo, a small city approximately 20 miles south of the YG headquarters. In August 2011, she became a trainee for five years before joining the group.
"It was hard for me to transition to [YG], where there were many rules. I had to grow a sense of patience and endurance," Jisoo told Rolling Stone of her experience as a trainee, especially coming from a family that was "more liberal."
Rosé, 25
Rosé (whose real name is Park Chaeyoung) joined YG Entertainment in 2012, placing first among 700 contestants during an audition in Sydney. She's the main singer of Blackpink, known for her recognizable voice.
Rosé became a "trainee" at 15, which meant she left her parents to develop her pop career at YG full time — something she now recalls as difficult. "If I was going through a hard time, I'd go to the bathroom, sob my heart out, then on to the next thing," Rosé told Rolling Stone. "I was on autopilot or something. If you told me to do that again, I could never."
Jisoo (whose full name is Kim Jisoo) was the third member to join Blackpink and is the eldest of the group. She's the lead vocalist and is considered an expert harmonizer.