TWICE
Biography
Twice is a South Korean girl group formed by JYP Entertainment. The group is composed of nine members: Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu. They were formed through the survival show "Sixteen" and officially debuted on October 20, 2015, with the mini-album "The Story Begins".
Formation and Debut
In 2015, JYP Entertainment announced the formation of a new girl group through the reality competition show "Sixteen". The show concluded with seven members being selected: Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, and Chaeyoung. However, J.Y. Park, the head of the agency, decided to add two more members to the final lineup. Tzuyu was added based on audience votes, and Momo was added based on the decision of the A&R team and the trainers. The nine-member group debuted on October 20, 2015, with the release of their first EP "The Story Begins", featuring the title track "Like Ooh-Ahh".
Members
Nayeon
Born on September 22, 1995, in Seoul, South Korea, Nayeon is the oldest member, a lead vocalist, and a lead dancer. She made her solo debut on June 24, 2022, with the mini-album "Im Nayeon".
Jeongyeon
Born Yoo Kyung-wan on November 1, 1996, in Suwon, South Korea, Jeongyeon is one of the group's lead vocalists. Her father is a famous Korean traditional chef.
Momo
Born Hirai Momo on November 9, 1996, in Kyoto, Japan, she is the main dancer, a sub-vocalist, and a sub-rapper for the group.
Sana
Born Minatozaki Sana on December 29, 1996, in Osaka, Japan, she is a sub-vocalist in the group. She was scouted by a JYP agent while shopping with her friends.
Jihyo
Born Park Ji-soo on February 1, 1997, in Guri, South Korea, Jihyo is the leader and main vocalist. She trained for 10 years before her debut. She made her solo debut on August 18, 2023, with the mini-album "Zone".
Mina
Born Myoui Mina on March 24, 1997, in San Antonio, Texas, USA, she is a main dancer and sub-vocalist. She holds Japanese citizenship and trained in ballet for over a decade.
Dahyun
Born Kim Da-hyun on May 28, 1998, in Seongnam, South Korea, she is the lead rapper and a sub-vocalist. She can play the piano.
Chaeyoung
Born Son Chae-young on April 23, 1999, in Seoul, South Korea, she is the main rapper and a sub-vocalist.
Tzuyu
Born Chou Tzuyu on June 14, 1999, in Tainan, Taiwan, she is the lead dancer, a sub-vocalist, and the youngest member (maknae). She was discovered by JYPE at a performing arts workshop in 2012.
Rise to Fame and Musical Career
Twice gained significant popularity in 2016 with their single "Cheer Up", which topped the Gaon Digital Chart and won "Song of the Year" at major music awards. This was followed by the success of "TT" from their third EP, "Twicecoaster: Lane 1", which was the best-selling K-pop girl group album of 2016. In 2017, they debuted in Japan with the compilation album "#Twice", which achieved Platinum certification. Their first full-length Korean album, "Twicetagram" (2017), and its single "Likey" made them the first female K-pop act to top both Billboard's World Albums and World Digital Song Sales charts simultaneously.
Over the years, the group has released numerous successful albums, including "What Is Love?" (2018), "Fancy You" (2019), "Feel Special" (2019), "Eyes Wide Open" (2020), and "Formula of Love: O+T=<3" (2021). In 2024, they topped the US Billboard 200 chart with their thirteenth EP, "With You-th".
Impact and Achievements
Known for their catchy "color pop" sound and vibrant visuals, Twice has earned the title "The Nation's Girl Group" in South Korea. They became the first K-pop girl group to hold a Japanese dome tour in 2019. The group has received numerous awards, including multiple "Song of the Year" Daesangs (grand prizes) and have sold over 14 million albums in South Korea and Japan as of 2022. In 2023, Twice became the first K-pop group to receive the Breakthrough Artist award at the Billboard Women in Music Awards. Their fanbase is officially known as "Once".