Dayoung of girl group WJSN is cementing her unique style in both visuals and music, sharing the true story behind her ‘hot girl’ concept.
In September last year, Dayoung’s first digital single, with the title track “Body,” garnered significant public acclaim and topped music show charts.
She surprised many with a dramatically different style from her WJSN days, embracing a ‘hot girl’ concept that included blonde hair with dark roots, smoky makeup, and a healthy, bronzed complexion.
Dayoung commented, “People say I’ve ‘transformed a lot,’ but my fellow members tell me I must be happy to present my true self,” which has sparked curiosity.
She clarified, “This is my natural skin tone; I didn’t tan. I now use a darker foundation, whereas during my WJSN days, I used brighter foundation for body makeup. I would go through a bottle of cleansing foam every week,” sharing surprising behind-the-scenes details.
Her undyed roots and smoky makeup also reflect her usual appearance. “I usually wear heavy makeup,” she stated, recalling a day when her hair and makeup artists noted that her unkempt roots and smudged makeup perfectly suited the song “Body.”
However, the company initially rejected this concept. Dayoung, who has been with the company since she was 13 and views its staff as parental figures, eventually convinced them by expressing her desire to present her natural look, stating, “Parents can’t win against their children.”
For her second single, “What’s a Girl to Do,” Dayoung maintained a style similar to “Body.” She believes it’s crucial for an artist to have an instantly recognizable image, aiming to cement Dayoung as the “girl with smoky makeup and blonde hair.”
Musically, her style differs significantly from WJSN’s. Dayoung noted, regarding her English lyrics and work in the U.S., “I think people might wonder why I have so many English lyrics.”
Dayoung explained that while Korean is comfortable as her first language, she finds singing in English easier because she grew up learning pop songs.
“The company suggested, ‘You’re good at R&B, let’s focus on that,’ and I sang many songs by Alicia Keys and 90s to 2000s pop artists,” she shared, highlighting her comfort with English vocalization.
Dayoung is also diligently studying English to reduce any communication gap during interviews.
Her overseas songwriting is part of her learning process. “I wanted to go to the birthplace of the music I learned,” she explained, likening it to studying abroad.
Initially prioritizing style and vocal tone over lyrics, she admitted that over 80% of her lyrics were in English, but she hopes to incorporate more languages in the future. “I want to create English interpretation content to cater to those who miss Korean lyrics,” she stated.
Dayoung will release her second digital single, “What’s a Girl to Do,” at 6 PM on the 7th, marking her comeback after seven months.
Image source: Starship Entertainment
