by Hasan Beyaz
Photography: Jinwoo Park // Hair: Oh Ji Hye // Makeup: Won Jung Yo // Stylists: Choi Mi Sun, Choi Jae Hee, Park Shin Young, Bae Su Rim // Jewelry: Spinelli Kilcollin
NAYEON’s first solo photoshoot for a Western publication wasn’t just another day in the life of a pop star; it was a declaration of independence.

“I made a lot of effort to showcase the different concepts and looks. I especially feel like the color red looks really good on me, so I felt confident for this photoshoot. It was my first American photoshoot without the rest of the girls from TWICE, so I was very excited," NAYEON warmly shares, with an infectious enthusiasm that’s as stylish as her Louis Vuitton ensemble.
NAYEON, who is one-ninth of TWICE - one of the best-selling girl groups in history - greets me over Zoom from her home, fresh off a long day of shooting our editorial in Seoul. Her signature dazzling smile lights up the screen of my MacBook, making the surreal moment sink in: I’m face-to-face with an idol who has unknowingly been a huge part of the soundtrack to my life for years.
"The overall photoshoot mood was very free, creative, and open. So, I enjoyed that a lot."
The ebullient vibes of TWICE’s 2019 hit “FANCY” often lifted my spirits during anxious walks to a new job. The inescapably addictive choreography of “TT” and “LIKEY” has had me in a chokehold for half a decade. More recently, it has been a joy to witness the members blossom by frequently challenging themselves as artists and performers through a multitude of chart-topping releases.
When TWICE performed at London’s O2 Arena in September 2023 during their record-breaking READY TO BE World Tour, I was practically bouncing off the walls with excitement at seeing them in the flesh. Seeing them live, in all their fabulous glory, was an almost out-of-body experience that engraved itself into my memory forever.
To put it simply, TWICE's READY TO BE World Tour has been a historic milestone in K-Pop history. In support of their twelfth mini album of the same name, the READY TO BE World Tour has reportedly grossed over $78 million, selling 1.5 million tickets via a staggering fifty-one shows across five continents - clearly, I am not the only one severely under TWICE’s spell. Some of the facts surrounding their READY TO BE World Tour are quite frankly mind-blowing when reeled off: the first-ever girl group and first Asian female act to sell out Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium; the first foreign female act to perform at Yokohama’s Nissan Stadium; one of the highest-grossing K-Pop tours of all time.
But that tour was more than just a series of concerts. The READY TO BE World Tour has been nothing short of an epic phenomenon, certifying TWICE’s place within the upper echelons of K-Pop while setting new standards for what it means to be a girl group on the global stage. Of course, their stratospheric star power is much more nuanced than just listing those mind-boggling statistics; it’s in the way TWICE can successfully transcend language barriers through their magnetic charms, chameleon-like concepts, and genre-defying hits that they can globally resonate with millions of ONCEs (TWICE’s fanbase) on a profoundly emotional level.
Today, we turn our focus to NAYEON, who stands out even within the constellation of TWICE’s stars and is often referred to as the "centre" of TWICE. I’m catching up with her in-between TWICE’s closing Japanese leg of the world tour, where the group is playing six final stadium shows to 360,000 fans. Despite another whirlwind schedule, NAYEON seems accustomed to the madness that comes with being one of pop’s most in-demand stars. Her energy when we talk is cool, calm, and collected - a true reflection of her personality. “What I've discovered about myself throughout my career journey is that, personally, as NAYEON - not just the artist - I'm pretty laid-back. I can handle anything that comes my way with an 'oh, ok, that could happen' attitude,” she casually shares.
Our conversation spotlights the recent release of NA, NAYEON’s second mini album as a solo artist. True to the album’s title - a playful nod to the Korean word "na," meaning "I" – NA is a bold venture for NAYEON, exploring new artistic territories which allow her to lay herself bare.
"I want fans to experience the diverse side of me."
"I wanted fans to listen to it and feel like, ‘Oh, NAYEON can really show off this concept as well.’ My first solo album, IM NAYEON, was mainly focusing on the fact that that was my very first solo album and that I had made my solo debut. For the second mini album, I tried to convey more of the aspect that I could do a variety of different genres," she declares, highlighting the creative growth that comes with stepping into the spotlight alone.
For NAYEON, this freedom has particularly allowed her to pursue experimental dance moves and performance styles. "For this album, I had more freedom in choreography and stage concepts. I could dance with both female and male background dancers, which was a fresh experience for me," she says, highlighting her desire to break new ground.
Although NAYEON says that the process alone of creating a solo project is “generally fresh and new” to her, it’s her second mini-album that’s a truer testament to her explorative nature, with tracks that delve into new genres and styles.
"Although I did have some pressures and there were a lot of expectations from people from my first solo album, I simply just tried to overcome those pressures and anticipations by showing the new aspects of myself, that I could do a lot of different genres and I could keep challenging myself in my career."
One of those moments in particular is “MAGIC”, a stand-out B-side from NA which features JULIE from KISS OF LIFE. It was written and produced by the legendary hitmaking duo of Charli Taft and Daniel ‘Obi’ Klein.
“MAGIC” is a sassy and sultry exploration into the highs of new love.
When explaining why she chose JULIE to feature on the track, NAYEON shares: “I felt that I needed a female rapper for that specific track. Although I never had a chance to meet JULIE in person before, I had JULIE in mind by watching her performances. As I felt that she's really great, I decided to go with JULIE for that track.”
As NAYEON was the first of TWICE’s nine members to make her official solo venture (member JIHYO followed suit with her debut mini album ZONE in August 2023), I’m intrigued by that transition from being part of a record-breaking collective like TWICE to a solo artist debuting her first project. While chart domination is the norm for the group, the challenges of solo artistry are not lost on NAYEON. "When I’m in the group with the eight other girls, it feels like there’s less of a burden on myself since I can discuss and consider everything with the other girls. But when I’m doing the solo performances or generally being a solo artist, I am the only one who can decide anything or decide which way things should go. So that's kind of the challenge and pressure that I feel when doing the solo albums," NAYEON explains, her voice steady but reflective. Yet, it’s this very pressure that pushes her to new heights, driving her to explore uncharted territories in her music.
The mini album is fronted by the hip-hop tinged, pop-dance affair “ABCD.” Oozing Y2K pop diva nostalgia from the jump and dripping in alluring seduction, “ABCD” and its accompanying music video are both a stark departure from the fluorescent adorability of “POP!” – a move which offers fans a dramatic shift in NAYEON’s solo artistry. Emitting powerful confidence in “ABCD” with NAYEON’s own signature stamp, the end result is an audio-visual experience which verifies NAYEON as K-Pop’s perfect all-rounder.
It perhaps comes as no surprise that, although NAYEON’s inspirations can “really vary” as she draws from a wide range of artists depending on her current interests, one name stood out as a key muse for this era: Jennifer Lopez. As one of the ultimate Y2K pop divas, J. Lo was also a leading force in popularizing the iconic ‘dance break’ in music videos, much like the one we see in “ABCD”.
By channelling this inspiration, NAYEON not only honours her idols, but also carves out her own space with her unique charm - it’s thrilling to watch her join the ranks of legendary names who came before her, while taking their influences on her to newfound terrain.
However, there was a moment where “ABCD” was in competition with a different, currently unheard song which ultimately did not make the cut for NA. "Originally, there was another candidate for the title track. We were debating between two songs, but both myself and the staff liked 'ABCD' the most. We thought 'ABCD' could better showcase the performance side of NAYEON, and it was also very different from 'POP!', the previous focus track. The choreography for 'ABCD' was a style I'd never tried before, but with my professionalism, I aimed to perfect each movement. I worked hard, studying each move and challenging myself to deliver the best performance."
Another intriguing element to K-Pop’s global power lies not just within their sold-out tours, but the way stars are able to mightily pull in physical album sales reminiscent of the ‘90s. For NAYEON, her first mini album was unsurprisingly another milestone moment setting new benchmarks for success. IM NAYEON surpassed over 500,000 pre-orders and later debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 in the US.
NAYEON is the first K-Pop soloist to enter the top 10 of this prestigious chart.
The album’s utterly ubiquitous megahit "POP!" quickly became a streaming sensation, racking up millions of plays across platforms and currently boasting over 300 million streams on Spotify alone. The success of “POP!” and IM NAYEON further boosted TWICE's global recognition, highlighting the group's ability to excel both collectively and individually – while underscoring NAYEON’s potential to thrive independently.
With that much success, there was surely a lot of pressure to succeed once more when the time came for her follow-up. NAYEON reflects on this with her characteristically cool confidence: “I simply just tried to overcome those pressures and anticipations by showing the new aspects of myself, that I could do a lot of different genres and I could keep challenging myself in my career.”
We talk more about the release of NA, such as the physical album’s limited-edition being packaged as a stylish bag – a decision which reflects NAYEON’s underlying knack to seamlessly fuse the power of fashion with the multi-faceted sounds of her work. “When I was deciding on the limited-edition version, I had lots of different items in mind, such as bags, a tin case and different items. But in the end, I decided to go with that bag."
"Although I am a singer and my main goal is to deliver the best song and best performance to the audience, I also think that outfits and accessories also influence the general mood of the whole album as well. That's why I feel fashion items or outfits are also very important factors of an album or music production.”
An undisputed fashion icon in her own right, NAYEON offers a peek into the array of sources which help influence her style. “As a Louis Vuitton ambassador, I enjoy wearing Louis Vuitton clothes a lot. First, I get inspiration from social media platforms and the videos I see. Second, I find inspiration when I go shopping, whether I'm buying products or just window shopping. I look at a product, think it's pretty, and get inspired. Additionally, I gain a lot of inspiration from doing photoshoots like today.”
When the time comes to reflect on her career, NAYEON’s personal philosophy is telling.
"I’m not sure if this could be advice, but I think that uncertainty is for everyone. Nobody knows what's going to happen in the future, so I tend to avoid making definite plans or promises about what lies ahead."
"I try to avoid any stress regarding that, since I never know what's going to happen and I always try to focus on what I’m doing right now. In order to achieve my long-term goals, I just always try and do whatever I can do in the moment so that I can reach my goals," she says, sharing a glimpse into the mindset that has guided her through her illustrious career. Despite numerous trend-setting accomplishments to her name, both as a member of TWICE and as a solo artist, NAYEON’s grounded and focused attention on living in the present moment feels wholly refreshing for a pop star of her level. "While I have countless proud moments from my career, right now what fills me with the most pride is that, even after more than nine years together, including our trainee years, we've chosen to continue as a group."
"This commitment is what I'm most proud of, both for myself and for TWICE as a whole," she says, her voice filled with genuine pride and affection.
As our conversation draws to a close, NAYEON shares a charming story from the day’s shoot. “I discovered something amusing today,” she begins with a smile. “I always thought I was great with spicy food, but after trying it here, I realized I can’t handle it at all anymore. I guess I’m no longer a spicy food lover.”
Even though it’s a light-hearted confession, it somehow seems to encapsulate the broader themes of our conversation: growth, rediscovery, and the desire to give new things a shot. From challenging herself by mastering unfamiliar dance moves, to embracing a kaleidoscope of revelatory musical sounds, every experience in NAYEON’s journey is slowly but surely shaping her into the most authentic version of herself.