TWICE Are Still Reaching New Heights — and They’re Doing It Together


For a decade, the world has watched K-pop girl group TWICE dominate the music industry. Nine voices making beautiful harmonies, nine dancers executing choreography without missing a step, nine expertly coordinated outfits that tell a story of a song or a moment.

Year after year, this seemingly impossible cohesion has helped make TWICE the smash success the group is today, topping charts, selling out stadiums, traversing genres, aesthetics, and sounds. But for Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu it has always been more about their history, their personalities, and how they interact with one another as individuals, pairs, units, and, of course, as a whole.

TWICE debuted on October 20, 2015, with the single “Like Ooh-Ahh,” after each member had earned a spot in the group via the music competition-survival show, Sixteen. The following year, when the group released “Cheer Up,” TWICE earned its first music-show win (new music competes on weekly TRL-esque live shows that consider fan votes, digital and physical sales, and streams), also winning the attention and hearts of the general public.

The members of TWICE were all teens when they debuted, living together under one roof, sharing rooms, and parts of their personal lives too. The six eldest members watched maknaes (youngest members) Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu graduate high school, and some members got their own driver's license along the way.

Dahyun remembers going to support Jihyo’s solo performance on Inkigayo last year, and how different it felt to watch one performer instead of nine. (In K-pop, it's more common to have individual members release solo music without leaving the group, as artists tend to do in Western groups.) “Just seeing her fulfilling everything when nine people usually split up each role and responsibility…” Dahyun recalls. “She was taking it all in herself, and it felt really emotional watching that.”

<cite class="credit">[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)</cite>
[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)

Together, though, the members form a leading girl group in third-generation K-pop, alongside BLACKPINK and Red Velvet, and have become known colloquially as “the Nation’s Girl Group,” a title that has historically referred to the legendary second-gen act Girls Generation (SNSD) and groups that are long beloved in South Korea and also have massive impact abroad.

TWICE's popularity in South Korea led to a Japanese debut that increased its status as a leading global group. TWICE became the first foreign act to perform and sell out three nights at the iconic Tokyo Dome, while also being the first K-pop girl group to do a dome tour.

As the global demand for K-pop has grown immensely over the past decade, so has TWICE’s fanbase. The group sold out arenas around the world during their Twicelights Tour in 2019, and again on the subsequent III Tour and Ready to Be Tour, in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

In 2021, amid the group's growing popularity, TWICE released its first US single, “The Feels.” It became the group's first Billboard Hot 100 hit. TWICE has since amassed more Top 10 debuts on the Billboard 200 chart than any other female K-pop act, according to JYP Entertainment.

The group is now setting the stage for its biggest year yet, and is at the forefront of a girl group renaissance, lifting up other acts as they ascend to new heights. “We’re very thankful,” Jeongyeon tells Teen Vogue. “It feels like, Wow. We grew up really well. It’s like a full-circle moment, and it’s fulfilling.”

Jeongyeon, dressed in a beige, loose-fitting denim jacket and a shredded chiffon dress, is the first of the members to face the camera during the group's Teen Vogue cover shoot. “I was really nervous when I got here,” says the 27-year-old Suwon, South Korea, native, resembling a real-life version of the nervous-smile emoji that has a drop of sweat on its head. Still, Jeongyeon knows her angles and can work the camera while maintaining a sense of play. She’s the prankster of the group. “I really love the members,” she says with a giggle. “I like to bring a happy atmosphere whenever I can.”

Jeongyeon wears a [Jason Wu jacket](https://jasonwustudio.com/), [Collina Strada dress and shoes](https://collinastrada.com/), and Sterling King earrings.
Jeongyeon wears a [Jason Wu jacket](https://jasonwustudio.com/), [Collina Strada dress and shoes](https://collinastrada.com/), and Sterling King earrings.
[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)
<cite class="credit">[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)</cite>
[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)

On the other side of the studio, 27-year-old Sana, of Osaka, Japan, isn’t feeling nerves as much as excitement. She is known for her playful, Betty Boop-loving, “cutie-sexy” image, but on set, she’s focused and ready to adapt. “There’s not a lot of opportunities to do a photo shoot in America. The feeling of it all is really new,” she says, looking like a queen in an ivory-colored Prada dress. “I feel that the promotions in the US are quite fun because the feelings of it are very different.”

Sana wears a [Prada dress and shoes](https://www.prada.com/).
Sana wears a [Prada dress and shoes](https://www.prada.com/).
[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)
<cite class="credit">[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)</cite>
[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)

Mina, 27, born in San Antonio and raised in Kobe, Japan, is also focused, but not so much on the shoot happening around her — it’s not her turn in front of the camera yet. “This is what I’m playing,” she says, turning her phone so I can see the Candy Crush-like game in which she’s engrossed. For Mina, this is the epitome of an “if you know, you know” moment. She maintains perfect posture, looking graceful in a pastel green dress, laser-focused on her phone, aiming to beat the next level in the moving-puzzle game.

Mina's glamorous high-fashion look at this moment, however, isn’t really her personal style, she says, which is more a mix of streetwear and feminine silhouettes. Often praised for her posh looks, Mina is among the TWICE members considered to be a fashion icon. Upon hearing this, she says with a light laugh and smiling eyes, “It’s far away, but I’m working on it!”

Mina wears a [Fendi dress](https://www.fendi.com/), [Charles & Keith shoes](https://www.charleskeith.com/us), and Dinosaur Designs bracelets.
Mina wears a [Fendi dress](https://www.fendi.com/), [Charles & Keith shoes](https://www.charleskeith.com/us), and Dinosaur Designs bracelets.
[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)
<cite class="credit">[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)</cite>
[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)

Momo, 27, who grew up in Kyoto, Japan, also prefers a more comfortable look than her glam one for the shoot. In the past, she was one to shy away from the mic, preferring to show off onstage with her choreography. But that has changed over the course of TWICE’s time as a group: She’s now more active and bold in showing off her talents outside of dancing.

“Actually, Momo recently became ‘mother’!” Jihyo later tells me, because she’s served looks, written songs, posed for the cover of various Japanese magazines, and become an ambassador for fashion and beauty brands.

Momo wears a [Miu Miu top, cardigan, and shoes](https://www.miumiu.com/).
Momo wears a [Miu Miu top, cardigan, and shoes](https://www.miumiu.com/).
[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)
<cite class="credit">[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)</cite>
[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)

Tzuyu, a 24-year-old from Tainan, Taiwan, is the maknae of the nine and also known to be one of the quieter group members, next to Mina. According to her group mates, though, she is also one of the funniest, unintentionally. “I do feel that I kind of have that side to me,” she says with a chuckle, before confidently adding: “I’m quiet because of my birth sign [Gemini], but when I come out, I’m funny. ”

Or maybe it’s the charm of being the baby of the group. Tzuyu left home at 13, so the other members became the big sisters who raised her. Until now, they have spoiled and teased her as any siblings would, eventually getting her “maknae on top” moments when she can make her funny, blunt remarks but still be coddled at the end of the day. “Just receiving the love from the others makes me feel like, even if I get old, I will always be the maknae. Even in my 40s, I’ll be the maknae.”

Tzuyu wears an [Emporio Armani top and shorts](https://www.armani.com/en-us/experience/emporio-armani?tp=124778&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0MexBhD3ARIsAEI3WHLEXyS9CQxGDB5W0MYwX506WFmBnDtUOMHNOTZ8fx6vWlyLv0j0mg4aAuS0EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds), [Charles & Keith shoes](https://www.charleskeith.com/us), and [Demarson earrings](https://www.demarson.com/).
<cite class="credit">[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)</cite>
[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)

Behind Tzuyu is Chaeyoung, 25, from Seoul, South Korea, who has a strip of blonde flowing through her black hair. She is known to create music from a place of wisdom and confidence, and also has a penchant for tattoos.

Despite her flashy style, of all the solo stages on TWICE's tour, Chaeyoung's is perhaps the simplest, featuring only a chair, a mic stand (with a stuffed toy attached), and the performer herself singing an unreleased song. “I’ve always wanted to write a song [for myself],” she says. “But this time around, I actually really liked it personally. I’m not sure about genre, but I want to find a style that I would be really good at. And I want to get better at playing the guitar too.”

Chaeyoung wears a [3.1 Phillip Lim top and skirt](https://31philliplim.com/) and [Christian Louboutin shoes](https://us.christianlouboutin.com/us_en/).
Chaeyoung wears a [3.1 Phillip Lim top and skirt](https://31philliplim.com/) and [Christian Louboutin shoes](https://us.christianlouboutin.com/us_en/).
[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)
<cite class="credit">[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)</cite>
[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)

It’s nearly dinner time as 28-year-old Seoul native Nayeon stunts in a magenta ribbon-inspired dress reminiscent of her “Pop!” era: “It’s fancy,” she says. She feels “fulfilled” at the moment knowing all went well. Referencing that solo hit, TWICE’s eldest recalls performing the song on tour. “Playing the song in such a big stadium was so exciting,” she recalls with a slight smile. “And the fans singing along was really nice.”

Nayeon wears a [Louis Vuitton dress and belt](https://us.louisvuitton.com/), [Christian Louboutin shoes](https://us.christianlouboutin.com/us_en/), and [Bea Bongiasca jewelry](https://beabongiasca.com/).
Nayeon wears a [Louis Vuitton dress and belt](https://us.louisvuitton.com/), [Christian Louboutin shoes](https://us.christianlouboutin.com/us_en/), and [Bea Bongiasca jewelry](https://beabongiasca.com/).
[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)
<cite class="credit">[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)</cite>
[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)

“Preppy” and “proper” are two words that could best describe 25-year-old Dahyun, raised in Seongnam, South Korea. She’s an observer, and reserved when it comes to professional settings like these. When you put her on the stage in front of her fans, however, or get her alone with the other TWICE members, she’s a walking meme.

Dahyun has three sides to her: “Cute, sexy, and free,” she says. The word “dubu,” or tofu in Korean, is one of Dahyun’s nicknames; in 2018, fans mashed it with the word "ahjusshi," or a Korean old man, to make “Dubjusshi,” one of Dahyun's “free" sides. The fan favorite viral moment came when she was caught roaming the streets of Chile in yellow plaid pajamas, red slides, an oversize black tee, a baseball cap, and shades, topped by a towel wrapped around her neck.

Regardless of the side she chooses to bring out, Dahyun’s mysterious presence offers a sense of calm and comfort. “I haven't thought about how I do it,” she says. “But if you see me that way, I really appreciate it! I want to become such a warm person, not just as shown, but in reality as well.”

Dahyun wears a [Michael Kors Collection coat](https://www.michaelkors.com/), [Manolo Blahnik shoes](https://www.manoloblahnik.com/us/), and [Jane Taylor earrings](https://www.janetaylor.com/).
Dahyun wears a [Michael Kors Collection coat](https://www.michaelkors.com/), [Manolo Blahnik shoes](https://www.manoloblahnik.com/us/), and [Jane Taylor earrings](https://www.janetaylor.com/).
[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)
<cite class="credit">[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)</cite>
[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)

Last but not least, there’s 27-year-old Jihyo, the group's leader from Guri, South Korea, who changes into slides before she approaches the table to get more comfortable. “Actually, when I do shoots with the members, I don’t really go for the outfit that’s on the feminine side,” she says. “But right now, the color, the style leans more towards the feminine side, so it’s quite new to me.”

With her solo music, Jihyo has been focused on staying true to the sense of self she’s found over time. “The main goal that I had regarding songs, or even when going on variety shows, was that I wanted to show my true self to everyone,” she told Teen Vogue last year.

Jihyo wears a [Tory Burch dress](https://www.toryburch.com/en-us/), [Larroude shoes](https://larroude.com/), and [Sterling King earrings](https://sterlingkingny.com/).
Jihyo wears a [Tory Burch dress](https://www.toryburch.com/en-us/), [Larroude shoes](https://larroude.com/), and [Sterling King earrings](https://sterlingkingny.com/).
[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)
<cite class="credit">[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)</cite>
[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)

When the members gather for a shot of them all together, they’re wearing a mix of suits and dresses, posing against a spring-like background. It’s only appropriate, as the girls themselves are blooming into women, and the group into a global force in pop music.

“We’re really thankful [that we have] nine members,” Jihyo says. “For one person, one member can be their favorite and they might not like the rest, but because we push our team of nine together, the team vibes are really good. We’re really thankful because of that. And because of that, we actually get a lot closer.”

Outside of the nine, Nayeon, Jeongyeon, and Jihyo are known as 3Mix, a name inspired by a rumored JYP girl group called 6MIX that would include the three of them (and member Sana). Momo, Sana, and Mina, later known as MiSaMo, are bonded as the Japanese members of the group. (Fun fact: Momo and Sana passed the same JYP auditions, boarded the same flight to South Korea, joined the label on the same day, and moved into the dorms on the same day. After Momo was eliminated during Sixteen, Sana expressed that she wouldn’t be able to debut without her friend. Honestly, if that isn’t a sign of fated soulmates, what is?) And Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu are best known as the group’s School Meal Club, as they were the youngest members, who also still went to school.

As the years have passed, some of the members found places of their own as part of a new chapter in adult life, and some are paying their blessings forward, giving back to their loved ones and communities. Every chapter, every win, record broken, or achievement made as a group is reflected in their personal journeys.

Mina: [Norma Kamali top and pants](https://normakamali.com/), [Roger Vivier shoes](https://www.rogervivier.com/), [Swarovski jewelry](https://www.swarovski.com/en-US/). Jihyo: [Emporio Armani dress](https://www.armani.com/en-us/experience/emporio-armani?tp=124778&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0MexBhD3ARIsAEI3WHLEXyS9CQxGDB5W0MYwX506WFmBnDtUOMHNOTZ8fx6vWlyLv0j0mg4aAuS0EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds), [Charles & Keith shoes](https://www.charleskeith.com/us), [Demarson earrings](https://www.demarson.com/). Jeongyeon: ​[Saint Art suit](https://saintartnewyork.com/), [Jimmy Choo shoes](https://us.jimmychoo.com/), [Mounser earrings](https://mounser.com/). Chaeyoung: [Nana Jacqueline dress](https://nanajacqueline.com/), [Sandy Liang skirt](https://www.sandyliang.info/), [Larroude shoes](https://larroude.com/), [Robinson Pelham ring](https://www.robinsonpelham.com/), [Demarson earrings](https://www.demarson.com/), [Mateo earrings.](https://mateonewyork.com/) Momo: [3.1 Phillip Lim top and pants](https://31philliplim.com/), [Roger Vivier shoes](https://www.rogervivier.com/), [Swarovski bracelet](https://www.swarovski.com/en-US/), and [Jane Taylor ring](https://www.janetaylor.com/). Nayeon: [Zimmerman sweater and skirt](https://www.zimmermann.com/us), [Nomasei shoes](https://nomasei.com/en-us). Sana: [MSGM top](https://www.shop-msgm.com/en-us), [Staud skirt](https://staud.clothing/), [Nomasei shoes](https://nomasei.com/en-us), [Bea Bongiasca ring and earrings](https://beabongiasca.com/), [Alison Lou ring](https://www.alisonlou.com/) Tzuyu: [Versace dress, shoes, and headband](https://www.versace.com/us/en/), [Swarovski ring](https://www.swarovski.com/en-US/). Dahyun: [Michael Kors Collection sweater](https://www.michaelkors.com/), [Larroude shoes](https://larroude.com/), [Bea Bongiasca rings](https://beabongiasca.com/), [Goshwara ring](https://goshwara.com/).

A day after the photo shoot, I meet the group for lunch at their US publicist’s office near New York's Times Square. A spread of Prince Street pies, bucket combos of Jollibee fried chicken, and a tray of homemade turon (a Filipino snack made of brown sugar and banana wrapped in spring rolls) is laid out in a conference room, welcoming the group. Chatter and laughter fill the space. Jihyo is already distributing plates (leader energy) around the table, immediately rewarding herself with a drumstick from the bucket. It feels like watching a live variety show mukbang featuring a close-knit group of friends enjoying a nice meal.

The conference room feast celebrates the last couple of days of prepping for WITH YOU-th, with every moment leading to the final (and only) US show, a couple of weeks away. For the next two hours, this is TWICE’s “healing time,” when the nine women can sit back, relax, and be themselves. “It’s yaja time,” I say, calling on the group to speak freely or casually, whatever makes the members feel comfortable. “Yah!” Jihyo responds, playing along, chuckling with her mouth half full.

This nine-member ensemble has taken its Ready to Be Tour around the world, selling out arenas, domes, and stadiums in Asia, Europe, and North and South America. In a rare move, and switching up the K-pop concert gears, TWICE brought along JYP Entertainment’s newest girl group, VCHA, to open for them on select dates in Las Vegas, São Paulo, and Mexico City.

“Seeing their stage was really fun!” says Nayeon as she picks at her plate of food. Other members nod in agreement. “They actually watched our stage until the very end for all the concerts, and it was really moving for them. We felt they had a lot of learning points just from seeing their performances too,” she adds, referring to how they’ve grown as they’ve gotten more experience onstage.

TWICE and VCHA together in Las Vegas.
TWICE and VCHA together in Las Vegas.
Courtesy of JYP Entertainment

The foundation of VCHA, which was formed through the reality show A2K, isn’t that much different from TWICE’s Sixteen aspect. The most wholesome part of this is that VCHA members Savanna and Camila have expressed in past interviews that TWICE is the reason they became idols.

Chaeyoung mouths “Oh!” in silent surprise. Jeongyeon shares that sentiment as the group members look up from their plates to acknowledge the reason their hoobae, or juniors, in the industry have joined the extended K-pop universe. Jihyo says “Daebak!" (meaning “Wow!”) as she covers her mouth. “I really didn’t know that,” Jeongyeon adds.

Perhaps it’s weird for them to take a meta look at their own impact, but the group's success is highly visible and ever-growing. TWICE has multiple brand deals across Asia. The members attend fashion weeks around the world amid sold-out world tours. They even have a dance-practice room named after them in the new JYP building in Seoul. They’re still trying to process it all. “We’re cool?” Chaeyoung questions jokingly.

On the group's newest single, “One Spark,” the members sing about being in their golden days. In reality, though, they’re in their golden era. They are still writing history and upholding their title as a top global act, simultaneously promoting in South Korea, Japan, and the US. (“We never really chose one place where we want to be an artist where we can meet our fans,” Jihyo says. “Of course, situation-wise for different countries, it may feel kind of sad since some opportunities come up in other countries and some don’t, but we’re really trying to find a good balance in between all of this.”)

Groups like VCHA, NiziU, and the rumored future Latin girl group from JYP are prime examples of TWICE’s ongoing legacy. Especially in an era when girl groups are having their rightful renaissance, they are “mother,” as Jihyo notes, using the term again.

It can be a heavy thing to carry sometimes. “That’s quite pressuring,” Jeongyeon says after hearing the meaning behind it.

“We (as TWICE) had a dream of becoming an artist while looking at other artists once,” Momo explains. “It’s just really cool that these younger people have the same dream looking at us as well. It’s just fascinating, and we’re very thankful because of that.”

<cite class="credit">[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)</cite>
[Jingyu Lin](https://www.instagram.com/jingyulin_/)

Getting to the top was no easy feat. Being under one of the biggest Korean entertainment labels was an advantage, but there was still pressure to carry the company’s title as the representative girl group of their generation. That pressure affected individual members’ physical and mental health, and TWICE became one of the first groups to speak openly about prioritizing mental health, specifically.

In 2019, Mina went on a six-month hiatus due to anxiety. Her story, along with the other members, became the sole inspiration behind the group's hit single, “Feel Special,” which highlighted their personal concerns and worries. In the ensuing two years, member Jeongyeon went on two hiatuses due to health concerns about her neck and “panic and psychological anxiety.” It was a clear missive for fans to not just push through pain, but to rest and heal, even if it means taking a break from various responsibilities. TWICE helped normalize discussions of mental health in K-pop, where it was considered especially taboo.

"I was scared at first, and I contemplated whether or not I should even publicize my state," Mina said in a 2020 Teen Vogue interview. "But I’m a human being. I have a heart. That’s why I suffered. What really helped were the other members."

In that same 2020 interview, Jihyo added, "I'm realizing that health isn't just about bodily health. Our mental states are intimately tied to our physical health."

Nayeon says that it took her years to be herself in front of the camera, and Jeongyeon adds that it took time to build stamina in this career. The first couple years as a K-pop idol are extremely busy and stressful; the performers are under pressure to establish a name for themselves and prove they can stand out in a crowded industry. And, of course, there was limited time to relax. It only got harder as the group's fame skyrocketed. After they topped the charts and won that first music show award, in 2016, with the second single “Cheer Up,” everything shifted again.

“During our debut era, it was really busy,” Sana recalls. “When people ask, ‘Are you tired?’ we’ll say, ‘Oh no, we’re not tired.’ ‘Are you busy?’ ‘Oh, we’re not busy.’ Now I express myself better when I'm tired. When I look back on it, I think, Did I really have to say the opposite of what I was feeling all these years?” She remembers being asked questions in interviews about what she liked or disliked, and struggling to answer. “I realized, I should know those kinds of things [about myself],” she concludes.

“We’re completely different [from our idol selves],” Nayeon continues. “Idols do have to use a lot of energy, and there is kind of a limit to how much a person can use their energy. We push all of that [away] while being an idol.”

“During concerts, I give my all,” says Momo. “But when I come back down the stage, I [take it easy] and relax right after.”

“Whenever we do pre-recordings and greet fans, I actually go home and take a rest in the middle of it all,” Jeongyeon says. “But once I’m done for the day, dancing and showing my charms, I just go back to doing laundry and cleaning. So [I found] a balance between those two.” She’s also learned that she has been hard on herself in the past: “I’m trying to be more generous to myself. Although that’s not always working, I’m trying really hard.”

Some of TWICE’s youngest members have found different ways to unplug from idoldom: Chaeyoung picked up a PS5 to play Minecraft, Tzuyu got into Gyrotonic, while Mina continues to uphold her nerdy off-duty image as the proud Marvel-loving, Lego-building gamer. (“I’ve watched all of it,” Mina says proudly after professing her love for Marvel and Iron Man.)

While they may be sunbaes, or seniors, in the industry, TWICE is a group that many new and upcoming acts aspire to be like — and do TikTok challenges with. “You know you have a new nickname, right?” I say, turning to Jihyo, who nods curiously. “Park TikTok.” She claps and points in acknowledgment, embodying the IJBOL expression well, causing the whole room to giggle.

But Jihyo’s latest moniker isn’t just a name she received for taking on random dance challenges with fellow group members and other artists; she’s putting in the work to make sure TWICE is up to date and can communicate well with younger peers. “It’s kind of my homework these days," she says, "just looking at what’s popping up and what’s popular.”

“All of them are doing so well now,” Nayeon says, praising this generation’s roster of acts. “But we feel like we’re learning at this point too. Take care of your health. Stay healthy and stay happy! Have your own individual time.”

“I feel they should utilize that free time better,” Jihyo advises. “I realize a lot of [young and newer artists] find me difficult to interact with,” she adds, noting that she’s now in the power position. “I kind of felt sad about this for myself with the group. It doesn’t feel like it’s been a long time that I’ve been doing this career. But now I can see the difference of how many years I have worked compared to the new artists coming in. And, for me, it’s okay to speak casually, but then they keep on bowing and are all, like, strict and stuff. Even when I did my solo stuff, I felt that as well. It’s like, ‘Oh, I actually do have quite a few years on my career now.’”

The members of TWICE have gotten used to criticism and judgment, first from label heads and professionals on Sixteen, later from fans and anti-fans. Before the decoration, celebration, and praise of today, there were bad days, stressful times, and the hardships that shaped them.

Nayeon says she doesn’t have many regrets: “There was a reason why certain things happen during certain times.”

“What I actually regret is that I felt I had a lack of understanding of what this career entailed,” Jihyo says. “After kind of accepting that, now I know how to utilize my personal time to differentiate it from when I’m working.”

After a second of silence, Nayeon blurts out, “Bleaching my hair too much!,” apparently recalling a regret, which opens a can of worms for the rest of the group.

There are a couple nods and a “Ah! 맞아!" (meaning “Right!”) from around the room, especially from Chaeyoung. Sana buries her head in her hands and murmurs, “Definitely the pigtails I wore during the ‘Cheer Up’ showcase.” Mina makes air pigtails on her head.

Momo, a former fiend for jokbal, a savory dish of Korean pig trotters, regrets going on a variety show where she danced to “Like Ooh-Ahh” with a whole jokbal in her hand. “That was such a miss for me,” she says. Jihyo picks up, “Because that was Momo’s favorite food, she received so many gifts with jokbal.” Says Nayeon, cracking up, “I’ve never seen Momo order or even eat jokbal anymore after that [era].”

Now the members are feeling nostalgic. “I wish we [could] go on variety shows all together again,” says Nayeon. “During our debut period, we got on a lot of programs, but we don’t go on much now, and we’re kind of missing it.”

Times have changed, though, and TWICE, alongside many groups, has begun creating its own variety shows. The group, and Jeongyeon specifically, wants to produce its own variety show. “It’s actually a really funny idea,” she pitches everyone in the room. “Jihyo would call her friend to do an interview, but then the emcee would be Momo.”

“Call it Talk That Talk,” Dahyun responds, followed by sounds and nods of approval from the other group members for referencing their 2022 title track.

In that moment it’s evident how much they cherish their past, present, and future. They may have learned how to better protect their time and grown a lot as individual people and as a group, but some things never change. They still assemble like the Avengers whenever together. “The Power of 9,” as ONCE, their fans, call them. The members of TWICE are grounded, humble, and endlessly grateful to those who support them, no matter the era or distance.

“Because of this work, I do receive a lot, as much as I put in,” Jihyo says. “And while living as a person, it’s not easy to receive all this type of love. Because of this career, we’ve been able to receive lots of love. Without this career, would I have been able to go on a plane [even] once? But because of this, I go on planes very often.” The group nods, listening as their leader shares what they all were thinking.

“So, what’s next?” My question is vague, but the members share their personal bucket list wishes. Nayeon wants to be a better driver, as it has been five years since she received her license; Chaeyoung wants to work on more songs; Mina wants to visit Milan, for a concert or fashion show; Momo wants to do some solo traveling; Tzuyu wants to travel to countries she hasn’t been to before and perform there, to which Dahyun agrees, adding that she wants to continue to be healthy and happy. Oh, and they’re all interested in pursuing acting down the line.

But in terms of what’s next on the group's 2024 agenda after their Las Vegas show, another solo is in the works, following Nayeon and Jihyo’s. But who, exactly? TWICE is known as the group that spoils fans and followers with upcoming new releases, but it's time for them to have a taste of their own medicine and let me be the one to do the spoiling.

I turn to Nayeon and congratulate her. “How does it feel to be back?” I ask. The group gasps in shock, like they’ve been fooled. The sounds of “Ah!” and “뭐야!” from all nine women fill the room.

A nice, playful scolding from TWICE’s leader follows. “Why’d you do that?” Jihyo says, taking a sip of her Pineapple Quencher. “We were trying to hide it from you!”

Members are still shaking their heads, laughing.

“Well, I'm really excited and thrilled,” Nayeon says. “I tried a whole new concept for this album, and it was so much fun working on it…. Unlike the lovely mood presented in ‘Pop!,’ I wanted a more honest and mature side. You'll be able to see a more powerful side of me.”

After the release of TWICE’s single “I Got You,” which peaked at No. 38 on the Billboard Global 200, earlier this month, fans were quick to create theories that Jeongyeon would be the next soloist based on her signature neon green color in the title track’s font in the ending credits. “I didn’t even think about that!” Jeongyeon says, laughing, “'Cause I thought ‘I Got You’ and the music video carries a natural theme. I think that’s why we used the green color, and I didn’t think any intention was in it. I don’t have any plans for now. I hope my fans are not too excited and [don’t] anticipate too much.”

Jeongyeon shares this with the group, and the members are impressed that fans would go to that length. The comeback soloist, on the other hand, laughs and expresses her wish to see her fellow member go solo. Nayeon’s gears are clearly turning as if the new information she just learned will support her next spoiler scheme.

Whether they tag team to tease fans (or one another) or promote the endeavors of their group mates, there’s an ongoing practice for the nine-member group: They are one another’s support system. Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu all started off as friendly competitors. But over the past decade, they’ve become a family of sisters who’ve celebrated each other in the highest of highs and provided supported through the lowest of lows. They left home to pursue this career, but they have a home in each other now. No matter what the next decade of their career brings, they’ll be ready.

“We’re really thankful [for everything],” Jihyo says, nodding. “Because we push our team of nine together, the vibes are really good, and because of that, we actually get a lot closer.”

As the group wraps up, finishing drinks and taking last bites of food, Jihyo looks around the room, then at each member one by one. Known as the “mic” of the group, the one who has trained the longest of all, Jihyo gets the last word: “We’re really proud of each other.”


Photo Credits

Photographer Jingyu Lin

Lighting Tech Taylor Schantz

Photo Assistant Mark Jayson Quines

Digitech Dana Golan

Stylist Savannah White

Stylist Assistant Shannon Gorman

Prop/Set Stylist Selena Liu

Prop/Set Stylist Assistant Colin Favre

Prop/Set Stylist Assistant Tri Tran

Prop/Set Stylist Assistant Sammy Kim

Hair Designer Dasom Kim

Hair Staff Yebeen Hwang, Jiyun Song

Makeup Jungyo Won, Haeram Lee, Dasom Choi, Soobin Choi

Manicurist Eri Handa at Home Agency

Manicurist Assistant Yoshiko Yamaguchi

Production Leah Mara at @leahmaraproductions

Tailor Marcus Hicks at @bushwoodtailors

Production Assistant Cameron Bevans

Production Assistant Roy Garza

Production Intern Sae Kwon

Assistant Fashion Editor Tascha Berkowitz

Design Director Emily Zirimis

Designer / Production Liz Coulbourn

Visual Editor / Production Bea Oyster

Editorial

Editor-in-Chief Versha Sharma

Executive Editor Danielle Kwateng

Features Director Brittney McNamara

Talent Director Eugene Shevertalov

Sr. Culture Editor P. Claire Dodson

Contributing Editor Alyssa Hardy

Associate Director of Audience Development and Analytics Mandy Velez Tatti

Sr. Social Media Manager Honestine Fraser

Social Media Manager Jillian Selzer

Copy Editors Dawn Rebecky

Research Editor Cristina Sada

Video Credits

Sr. Director, Creative Dev (CNE) Mi-Anne Chan

Manager, Creative Dev (CNE) Amalie MacGowan

Assoc. Manager, Creative Dev (CNE) Ali Farooqui

Assoc. Manager, Creative Dev (CNE) Catherine Mhloyi

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue


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