Overview of Twice
Twice is a nine-member South Korean girl group formed by JYP Entertainment. The group debuted on 20 October 2015, with its members, Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu. They debuted with the extended play ‘The Story Begins’. The girls’ passion for music earned them the title ‘The Nation’s Girl Group’ in the nick of time.
‘The Story Begins’ marked their presence in the industry, and in 2016, they captured the attention of the public with the single song ‘Cheer Up’. The song became the best-performing single of 2016 and won prestigious awards. Another single, ‘TT’ from their third EP (extended play), ‘Twicecoaster: Lane 1’ topped the Gaon charts and became the highest selling album of the same year.
JYP’s collaboration with Republic Records for American promotions helped the group imprint their presence on the US Billboard 200. The group’s first English single is ‘The Feels’, and it successfully entered the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart.
Formation and Debut
On 19 December 2013 JYP Ent. Informed the coming of a new JYPE girl group in the beginning of 2014. As part of that, JYPE formed a group and welcomed the trainees, Lena and Cecilia, as the first members. The group was named 6MIX, but the group did not come into reality when the trainees left the company.
Twice and the Controversy
As the first plan got ruined, the founder of JYP Ent. informed the coming of a new group. Also, he informed that the group will contain seven members, and the members will be selected through a survival show named ‘SIXTEEN’. The show began on 5 May and ended on 7 July 2015. However, the selection process of the candidates created controversies.
The seven candidates who survived the show were Nayeon, Sana, Jeongyeon, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, and Chaeyoung. Nonetheless, J. Y. Park decided to bring back the eliminated members, Momo and Tzuyu, which created disagreement among the audience.
The Speciality of the Group Name ‘Twice’
The group was named Twice by J. Y. Park. The meaning of the name explains: “the group will touch people’s hearts twice: once through the ears, and once again through the eyes”. The fans of Twice are called “Once” and it means “If you love us even once, we will repay your love with twice of our love”.
Popularity
To be precise, Twice only took 19 months after their official debut to hook firmly in the K-pop grounds. They were able to sell 1.2 million units of all the four EPs released. By the next few years, the girls marked their strong presence in the entertainment industry, not only in South Korea but also in Japan and the USA.
Japanese Debut
Twice made their Japanese debut on 28, June 2017 with the Japanese compilation ‘#Twice’. The album compilation won the hearts of Japanese fans, encouraging the girls to release an original Japanese, ‘One More Time’, a maxi single in October. The continuous success of Twice’s albums in Japan insisted the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) award platinum certifications for both the album and CD single in 2017. At the end of 2017, Billboard Japan placed Twice in the third position in the Top Artist category. Later, in 2019, Twice girls went on a Japanese dome tour.
The girls’ Japanese tour was named ‘Twice 1st Tour: Twiceland – The Opening’. The event took place from 17th to 19th of February at the SK Olympic Handball Gymnasium. Later, the group went on a tour to Thailand and Singapore.
Members
Jihyo
Jihyo was born on 1 February 1997 in Guri, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. In Twice, she serves as the leader and the main vocalist. She was originally named Park Ji-soo by her parents, but she changed her name to Park Jiho before her sixteenth birthday.
She joined the company as a trainee when she was a third grade student. JYP Ent. selected her when she won the second prize in the Junior Naver competition. She is the Twice member who trained for ten long years. She became the leader of Twice through the anonymous voting conducted among the members.
Being the member who trained for 10 long years at the company, Jihyo got the opportunity to train with WG, miss A, Got7, 2PM and 2AM. Also, she is familiar with the other members in JYP. In the group, she is nicknamed ‘Hyo-mas’, and ‘Thomas the train’ due to her talent in mimicking Thomas. The members comment that she is the best drinker in the group. On 5 August 2019, her romantic relationship with Kang Daniel was officially announced, but the couple broke up due to their busy schedules.
Nayeon
Nayeon, or Im Na-yeon, was born on 22 September 1995, in Gangdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea. She joined Twice as the lead vocalist, center, lead dancer, and face of the group. Also, she is the oldest member among the girls.
Though Nayeon was selected as the first member of Twice, JYP selected her as a part of 6mix group. 6mix was a girl group that JYP planned to introduce to the public. However, the group was disbanded before its debut.
In 2018, TC Candler listed her name in the 82th position in ‘The 100 Most Beautiful Faces of 2018’ category. On 24 June, she debuted as a solo artist with the title track ‘POP’ from the mini-album ‘IM NAYEON’.
She has a rabbit doll named Kkaengi, which she often talks to. Also, she makes the other members talk to her doll. In her facial features, she is confident about her lips. Due to a car accident that happened in her younger days, her left leg is a little weak.
Jeongyeon
Yoo Jeong-yeon, famous by her stage name Jeongyeon, was born on 1 November 1996, in Gyeonggi, South Korea. She was originally named Yoo Kyung-wan but later changed her name to Yoo Jeong-yeon since the other name sounded like that of a boy. She is the lead vocalist of Twice. At the time of voting for the leader, she got the highest votes after Jihyo.
Jeongyeon tried twice to join JYP Ent. In her second attempt, she got selected in the 6th Open Audition on 1 March 2010. She got selected to both SM and JYP, but signed in with JYP. In the beginning, Jeongyeon dreamed of becoming a model.
Jeongyeon’s most confident body parts are her legs and teeth. In 2018, she was ranked in the 66th position of ‘The 100 Most Beautiful Faces of 2018’ in the TC Candler. She is the mother figure in the group. She has anxiety issues, and on 17 October 2020, she took a break. Later, she went on a hiatus on 19 August 2021, due to the same reason.
Momo
Hirai Momo, or Momo, was born on 9 November 1996, in Kyoto, Japan. She is the main dancer, sub-vocalist, and sub rapper of Twice. JYP Ent. reached her after seeing her dance video with her older sister. The sisters attended the audition of JYP on 13 April 2012, but her sister did not survive the audition. However, Momo failed in the 6th episode of SIXTEEN, but her impressive dancing skills compelled J.Y. Park to select her as a member of Twice.
She joined dance classes at the age of three, inspired by her older sister. She is interested in both hip hop and urban, and among them, she is most confident in performing urban dance. Due to her dancing skills, she is called the ‘dancing machine’ of Twice.
The dating news between Momo and Heechul of Super Junior was confirmed in January 2020. However, they could not proceed with their love lives due to their busy schedules. The couple officially announced their breakup news on 8 July 2021.
Sana
Minatozaki Sana is the sub vocalist of Twice. She was born on 29 December 1996, in Osaka, Japan. She got selected to the JYP Ent. on 13 April 2012.
Sana‘s name was listed in the The 100 Most Beautiful Faces of 2017 and 2018. In 2017, she was ranked in the 21st position, and in 2018, she was ranked in the 46th position on TC Candler chart for ‘The 100 Most Beautiful Faces’. For the 2019 Idol Star Athletic Championship, she served as the MC.
She is good at untangling knots. She has a habit of stretching in bed if she feels trouble falling asleep. Also, she likes lying in bed for a long time.
Mina
Myoui Mina is the main dancer and sub vocalist of Twice. She celebrates her birthday on 24 March 1997. She was born in Texas, United States. Her parents share Japanese nationality, and she was an American by birth. However, in 2019, she gave up her American citizenship.
She entered the JYP Ent. through the Japanese audition. She started her training at the company on 2 January 2014. Among the Twice girls, see served the less training period.
She is called by the nicknames ‘Penguin’ and ‘Black Swan’. She is a quiet person and often suffers from anxiety issues. In 2019, she went on a hiatus for a few months, from July, to lessen her anxiety.
Dahyun
Kim Da-hyun, popular by the name Dahyun, was born on 28 May 1998, in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. She joined the group as the lead rapper and sub vocalist. JYP Ent. discovered her bright future as a K-pop idol through the solo performance that she did in the youth dance festival. Later, on 7 July 2012, JYP officially selected her as a trainee.
She joined JYP Ent. by rejecting the offers from SM and YG. The Eagle dance video of her that went viral during her pre-debut days made her popular. She likes to be with her members and does not like being alone in dark places.
She got her nickname ‘Tofu’ due to her fair skin. She has a problem with her eyesight and always wears contact lenses.
Chaeyoung
Son Chae-young, famous by her stage name Chaeyoung, is born on 23rd April 1999 in Gangdong, Seoul, South Korea. She got auditioned for JYP Ent. on 6 June 2012. In the group, she serves as the main rapper and sub vocalist.
Her favourite number is 29 which she explains 2 represents Twice and 9 represents the nine members in the group. Chaeyoung is a healthy eater. She is not a big fan of sweet dishes and likes to eat a lot of veggies. She once said, she got the habit of healthy eating from her grandmother.
Since she is a rapper in the group, she is very shy when she is asked to sing in front of the other members of the group. To perform Lady Gaga’s ‘Born This Way’ in the 2019 Philippines performance, she fought with the JYP staffs to include the song in the list and on 29 June, Nayeon, Mina, Jeongyeon, and her performed the song.
Tzuyu
Chou Tzuyu, or Tzuyu, was born on 14 June 1999 in Tainan, Taiwan. Twice, she serves as the lead dancer and sub vocalist. She is the youngest one. Despite her age, she is the tallest member in Twice, and when asked about her wish for her next life, she said she wants to be born as a short girl.
She got selected in JYP Ent. in 2012 when she attended the MUSE Performing Arts Workshop in Tainan. She shifted from Taiwan to South Korea on 15 November 2012. She is confident in her chin and eyes.
Discography
Studio Albums
- ‘Twicetagram’ – 30 October 2017
- ‘Eyes Wide Open’ – 26 October 2020
- ‘Formula of Love: O+T=<3’ – 12 November 2021
Japanese Studio Albums
- ‘BDZ’ – 12 September 2018
- ‘&Twice’ – 20 November 2019
- ‘Perfect World’ – 28 July 2021
- ‘Celebrate’ – 27 July 2022
Extended Play
- ‘The Story Begins’ – 20 October 2015
- ‘Page Two’ – 25 April 2016
- ‘Twicecoaster: Lane 1’ – 24 October 2016
- ‘Signal’ – 15 May 2017
- ‘What Is Love?’ – 9 April 2018
- ‘Yes or Yes’ – 5 November 2018
- ‘Fancy You’ – 22 April 2019
- ‘Feel Special’ – 23 September 2019
- ‘More & More’ – 1 June 2020
- ‘Taste of Love’ – 11 June 2021
- ‘Between 1&2’ – 26 August 2022
- ‘Ready to Be’ – 10 March 2023
- ‘With You-th’ – 23 February 2024
Compilation Albums
- ‘#Twice’ – 28 June 2017
- ‘#Twice2’ – 6 March 2019
- ‘#Twice3’ – 16 September 2020
- ‘#Twice4’ – 16 March 2022
English Singles
- ‘I Want You Back’ – 2018
- ‘The Feels’ – 2021
- ‘Moonlight Sunrise’ – 2023
- ‘I Got You’ – 2024
Promotional English Singles
- ‘More & More’ 2020
- ‘I Can’t Stop Me’ – 2020
Awards
- K Global Heart Dream Awards 2023
Favorite Idol Girl Group Popularity Award - Asian Pop Music Awards 2023
Top 20 Songs of the Year (Overseas) - Billboard Women in Music 2023
Breakthrough Award - Nickelodeon Mexico Kids’ Choice Awards 2023
Favorite K-Pop Group - Circle Chart Music Awards 2022
Artist of the Year – Digital Music (November) - MAMA Awards 2022
Worldwide Fans’ Choice Top 10 - APAN Music Awards 2021
APAN Top 10 (Bonsang)
Represent Record of the Year - Asia Artist Awards 2021
RET Popularity Award – Singer (Female) - Edaily Culture Awards 2021
Best Concert Award - Golden Disc Awards 2021
Best Album (Bonsang)
Worldwide Fans’ Choice Top 10 - MAMA Awards 2021
Best Female Group - Hanteo Music Awards 2021
Artist Award – Female Group - Seoul Music Awards 2021
Bonsang Award - Shorty Awards 2020
Best in Music - Asia Artist Awards 2020
Popularity Award – Singer (Female)
Artist of the Year (Daesang) - Bugs Music Awards 2020
20th Anniversary Awards – Most Loved Music (‘Cheer Up’ & ‘TT’)
20th Anniversary Awards – Most Loved Artists - The Fact Music Awards 2020
Artist of the Year (Bonsang) - Golden Disc Awards 2020
Best Album (Bonsang)
Best Digital Song (Bonsang)
Cosmopolitan Artist Award - MAMA Awards 2020
Most Popular Artist
Worldwide Fans’ Choice Top 10 - Japan Gold Disc Awards 2020
Best 3 Albums (Asia)
Album of the Year (Asia) - Seoul Music Awards 2020
Bonsang Award - Soribada Best K-Music Awards 2020
New K-Wave Favorite Female Bias
Bonsang Award
Artist of the Year - Asia Artist Awards 2019
Artist of the Year (Daesang)
Best Social Artist Award – Music - V Live Awards 2019
Artist Top 10
Best Channel – 3 million followers
Global Artist Top 12 - Soribada Best K-Music Awards 2019
Music of the Year
Bonsang Award
Female Popularity Award - Philippine K-pop Awards 2019
Best Female Group - Seoul Music Awards 2019
Bonsang Award - Circle Chart Music Awards 2019
Artist of the Year – Digital Music (April)
Artist of the Year – Digital Music (July) - The Fact Music Awards 2019
Artist of the Year (Bonsang) - Genie Music Awards 2019
The Best Selling Artist
The Female Group - Golden Disc Awards 2019
Best Album (Bonsang)
Best Digital Song (Bonsang) - Japan Gold Disc Awards 2019
Best 3 Albums (Asia)
Song of the Year by Download (Asia) - MAMA Awards 2019
Best Dance Performance – Female Group
Best Female Group
Worldwide Fans’ Choice Top 10
2019 Qoo10 Favorite Female Artist - Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism 2019
Hallyu Culture Grand Prize - Asia Artist Awards 2018
Fabulous Award – Singer
Artist of the Year – Music
Best Artist Award – Singer - Japan Record Awards 2018
Best Song Award - Korea Popular Music Awards 2018
Bonsang Award
Best Digital Song - Japan Gold Disc Awards 2018
New Artist of the Year (Asia)
Best 3 New Artist (Asia)
Album of the Year (Asia)
Best 3 Albums (Asia)
Song of the Year by Download (Asia) - Genie Music Awards 2018
The Best Selling Artist
The Female Group
Best Global Performance - The Fact Music Awards 2018
Artist of the Year (Bonsang)
Worldwide Icon - Circle Chart Music Awards 2018
Artist of the Year – Digital Music (February)
Artist of the Year – Digital Music (December) - Golden Disc Awards 2018
Best Album (Bonsang)
CeCi Asia Icon Award
Best Digital Song (Bonsang) - MAMA Awards 2018
Best Dance Performance – Female Group
Best Female Group
Favorite Dance Artist – Female
Song of the Year
Worldwide Fans’ Choice Top 10 - Circle Chart Music Awards 2017
Artist of the Year – Digital Music (April)
Artist of the Year – Digital Music (October) - Golden Disc Awards 2017
Song of the Year (Daesang)
Best Digital Song (Bonsang) - Korea Cable TV Association Awards 2017
Artist of the Year - Korea PD Awards 2017
Performer of the Year (Daesang) - MAMA Awards 2017
Best Dance Performance – Female Group
Song of the Year - Asia Artist Awards 2016
Best Artist Award – Singer - Golden Disc Awards 2016
Rookie of the Year Award - Korea Cable TV Association Awards 2016
Best Singer Award - Korean Consumer Forum Award 2016
Korea’s Brand of the Year - MAMA Awards 2016
Best Female Group
Song of the Year - MAMA Awards 2015
Best New Female Artist
Interesting Facts about Twice
- Jihyo loves going to karaoke when she is stressed.
- While the members were in dorm, the biggest group is shared by Jihyo, Sana, Mina, and Nayeon.
- Nayeon is a close friend of Jisoo and Jennie from BLACKPINK.
- Twice’s first studio album ‘Twicetagram’ and ‘Likely’, its lead single topped both the Billboard’s World Albums and World Digital Song Sales charts in 2017.
- Sana is the only child of her parents.
- Chaeyoung loves to engage in artistic works.
- Jeongyeon‘s father is a famous chef in South Korea.
- After the release of Twice’s single ‘Feel Special’, they were listed in the Canadian Hot 100 chart in 2019.
- Momo is a great eater in the group and she is nicknamed the ‘eating machine’.
- Jeongyeon’s favourite number is 0 because she does not have a favourite number.
- Jeongyeon hates wearing contact lenses.
- Nayeon’s favourite number is 9 because there are 9 members in Twice.
- Jeongyeon knows saxophone and guitar.
- Sana is good at calligraphy.
- Dahyun is scared of every animal.
- Chaeyoung is the sleepy head of the group.
FAQs
- Who is the Leader of Twice?
Jihyo is the leader of Twice. - Who is the oldest member of Twice?
Nayeon is the oldest member of Twice. - Who is the youngest member of Twice?
Chou Tzuyu is the youngest member of Twice. - How many members are there in Twice?
Twice consists of nine members. - When was Twice debuted?
Twice debuted on 20 October 2015. - What are the Instagram IDs of Twice members?
@_zyozyo (Jihyo), @nayeonyny (Nayeon), @jy_piece (Jeongyeon), @momo (Momo), @m.by__sana (Sana), @mina_sr_my (Mina), @dahhyunnee (Dahyun), @chaeyo.0 (Chaeyoung), and @thinkaboutzu (Tzuyu) - Who are the Maknaes of Twice?
Dahyun, Chaeyoung and Tzuyu are the Maknaes of Twice.
