BLACKPINK’s Jennie didn’t hold back on the May 7th episode of tvN’s You Quiz on the Block 3. She opened up about her life—from growing up in New Zealand to handling the intense pressure of global fame—and even shared her deep pride in Korean culture, which she showcases in her stage outfits.
Talking about her childhood, Jennie laughed as she remembered how seriously her mom took hair care. “My mother wouldn’t allow me to just dry my hair roughly; I had to dry it down to the scalp and even apply essence before playing. She wouldn’t tolerate anything less.” She smiled and added, “Now, I’m so grateful for that care.”
Her stylist, Park Min-hee, also joined the show and spilled some details about their creative process. “Jennie and I really studied history a lot together,” she said. One of the outfits they showed off was inspired by the Vermilion Bird (Jujak)—a mythical creature said to protect the south. “I wanted to design it with the feeling of a goddess protecting Korea,” she explained. The design included feather-like details that symbolized the Vermilion Bird’s wings, full of traditional Korean symbolism.
Another show-stopping outfit was based on the Silla Dynasty’s golden crown. It wasn’t just flashy—it was a labor of love. The ‘Seoul City’ themed piece was made with real Korean mother-of-pearl inlay. “It took over 300 hours to complete, with artisans attaching each piece of mother-of-pearl by hand,” they revealed. Even the shoes were decorated with Dancheong patterns, making sure the essence of Korea went right down to her toes.
Jennie explained why including Korean culture in her performance outfits is so important to her. “It was because of my pride in being Korean. Also, since my performances are filmed and uploaded, people overseas watch them, so I naturally wanted to promote Korea.”
But beyond all the glam, Jennie got real about the toll fame has taken on her. She said that after debuting, she didn’t even have time to look after herself. “During the world tour, my first solo song was also released, doubling my schedule. Back then, I was young and didn’t know how to take care of my health.” She went on, “My health deteriorated a lot, I lost weight, and I sprained my ankle frequently. It feels like I just kept running after debuting.”
She also opened up about how mentally tough things got. “Since I didn’t go out much, I think it was mentally challenging too. I heard many good things on broadcasts, but not being able to connect with people close to me made me feel like I wasn’t doing my job well.” She added, “I started to blame myself a lot and see everything negatively. There was a time when my energy level really hit ‘zero.’ That was my biggest concern.”
Backtracking to her early days, Jennie remembered studying abroad in New Zealand when she was just 10. She said her mom wanted her “to grow up in a wider world,” and honestly, it worked. “New Zealand suited me well. For every hour of studying, they let me play outside for two hours, and there were many nature-based experiential learning activities. I loved rolling around in the grass since I was little.”
Later, after realizing her passion for music, she sent an audition video to YG Entertainment and was accepted as a trainee just a month later. “My musical tastes seem to align well with YG,” she said about why she picked the agency.
Training at YG, though, was no joke. “It was simply working to death,” she said, remembering the intense daily routine. She added with a chuckle, “Because trainee life wasn’t free, I even got scolded for secretly drinking coffee in Hongdae.”
Eventually, all that work paid off. After about six years of grinding, she debuted as a member of BLACKPINK and shot to global stardom. And now, whether it’s music or fashion, she’s using her platform to share what she loves most—her Korean roots.
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