Editor-in-Chief Barbara Koh flies to Seoul for an exclusive interview with K-pop superstar and Urban Decay Global Citizen CL
She’s a huge K-pop star, one of the OGs – an original. If you’re still in the dark, Lee Chae-Rin, better known as CL, was the leader of K-pop girl group 2NE1, considered one of the biggest girl groups of their time. With the likes of Big Bang, Super Junior and 2PM, 2NE1 was part of what the music industry calls the “second generation of K-pop stars”, the ones responsible for bringing K-pop to the world stage.
But amidst the “same-ness” of the groups and how the members portrayed themselves, K-pop Star CL had always stood out. Even as she started off as an 18-year-old with the YG-managed 2NE1, CL possessed way more swagger, more attitude – embodying a self-reliant, independent, badass attitude that was way ahead of her time.
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Being a triple threat – singer, rapper and dancer – made her triply bold, and CL admits she’s been unique from the start. The “I Am The Best” singer is unabashed about who she is. When I met her fin Seoul for Urban Decay’s #PrettyDifferent campaign launch, I could feel the room reverberate with her energy and effervescence. She emphatically says, “I was really loud, bright and super happy – very nonchalant… and also a super tomboy.”
Urban Decay Global Citizens
It’s no wonder then that when beauty brand Urban Decay decided to shake things up, it turned to a group of celebrities, including CL, to become its #PrettyDifferent Global Citizens. Urban Decay Founding Partner Wendy Zomnir says the launch of this new “Pretty Different” manifesto “is our anthem for fellow makeup junkies who don’t want to subscribe to beauty standards”. She adds, “It’s our tribute to individuality because everyone is pretty different.”
Joining CL in this collective of trailblazers who champion uniqueness are actor Ezra Miller, who was also in Seoul for the launch party at SJ Kunsthalle in Gangnam, singer Lizzo, actress Joey King and Colombian singer Karol G.
So, when you get to meet a megastar, you want to ask her as many questions as you can. Here’s what we got out of her in 10 minutes!
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