BLACKPINK Lisa
It’s been two years since BLACKPINK lit up the stage at Coachella, but we’re still reeling from that killer performance.
While the world has stopped, it seems that there is no stopping BLACKPINK. Rose released her solo tracks – On The Ground and Gone – this March, and Lisa is poised to drop her solo album this very weekend.
Hence, here are some fun facts about Lisa Manoban for us to dote on before what is expected to be another banging release.
1. Lisa legally changed her name after a fortune teller advised her to
If you have Thai friends, chances are they have their “nickname” and their “official name” that you never really hear.
Lisa’s legal first name is “Lalisa”, which means “one who receives prosperity”.
Image credit: @lalalalisa_m via Instagram
Although, this wasn’t always her name. Originally named “Pranpriya” at birth, Lisa changed her name after a fortune teller told her that “Lalisa” would bring her more luck than her OG name.
Considering how big she is now, it seems like the fortune teller knew what she was talking about. Can we get her number?
2. She’s afraid of needles
While Lisa isn’t afraid of stepping in front of a big crowd at huge stages like Coachella, she’s one who would raise a white flag to needles.
Image credit: Amino Apps
Revealed to the audience in a V Live chat session, she once fainted right into Rose’s lap after receiving a flu shot.
After all, Lisa Unnie is just another human.
3. The most followed K-Pop idol in history
While us mere mortals tend to celebrate every time our pics get hundreds of likes on the ‘gram, Lisa is on another level.
With over 58 million followers, Lisa is the most followed K-pop idol in history.
Image credit: @lalalisa_m via Instagram
Maybe after we headline an international music festival, we’ll get that many followers, too.
4. Lisa is YG Entertainment’s first non-Korean artist
Considering she’s a K-pop star, many are surprised to find out that Lisa is actually of Thai descent.
Image credit: YG Trainees via Pinterest
It’s fair though. Considering the idol can not only speak Korean fluently but can also rap in the language, it’s hard to believe it’s not her native language.
Image credit: YG Trainees via Pinterest
Back before she was the most followed K-pop idol, Lisa was just a girl with a dream. She was one of four thousand who auditioned for the company in 2010, and was the only Thai offered the chance to become a trainee for YG Entertainment.
During Lisa’s five years of training, she always received “A” grades in all performance aspects.
Image credit: @blackpinkofficial via Instagram
Seems like all the hard work has surely paid off, considering we’re all so eagerly anticipating her solo album.
5. Her parents do not own a hospital
A rumour started many years ago that Lisa’s parents own a hospital. Though we’re not sure where this tea came from, we can say that the K-Pop idol’s parents actually do not own a hospital.
Image credit: Koreaboo
In fact, her stepfather, Marco Brushweiler, is a world-renowned chef. While the culinary and medical industry both place a great emphasis on cleanliness and knowing your way around a knife, we’re not so sure how the rumour that her parents own a hospital started.
Image credit: Korea Boo
6. Lisa is a paw-rent to five cats and a pupper
When she’s not dominating the charts or the internet, Lisa is hanging out with her fur-babies.
Image credit: @lalalalisa_m via Instagram
The K-pop idol is a mother to Luca, Leo, Lily and Louis.
Image credit: Zoom TV Entertainment
In addition to her kitties, she also has a puppy named “Love”.
Louis is a British Shorthair
Image credit: @lalalalisa_m via Instagram
As someone with two Ragdoll cats in their company office, I’d like to take the opportunity to note that Luca and Lily are also Ragdoll cats.
Image credit: @lalalalisa_m via Instagram
7. Lisa holds the title of K-pop’s Dancing Queen
GIF: K Pop Map
Earlier this year, CHOEADOL, an app where the people cast their votes for different categories, asked the community which female idol was worthy of the “Dancing Queen” title.
Over 60% of participants voted for Lisa.
GIF: K Pop Map
Plus, her bandmates followed closely behind her. The top four names in CHOEADOL’s list are all BLACKPINK members, leading us to believe that their dance practices are so intense yet rewarding.
Image credit: Showbiz Cheatsheet
I mean, imagine going famous for dancing and having your legs become a meme.
Screenshot: @Netflix via Twitter
8. Lisa appeared in Taeyang’s Ringa Linga MV
Before there was BLACKPINK and BTS, there was BIGBANG.
Around the early 2010s, BIGBANG was topping charts all over the world. Even newer members of the K-pop fandom would recognise some of their members’ names: G-Dragon and Taeyang.
Image credit: News Breezer
Lisa was actually in a music video for one of Taeyang’s more popular singles Ringa Linga. To date, the MV has over 120 million views.
Ringa Linga climbed up to number three in Billboard’s “US World Digital Songs” chart, and number six on the Gaon Chart in South Korea.
9. She is Celine’s first brand ambassador
In September 2020, Lisa was appointed as the first brand ambassador for a luxury fashion brand, Celine.
Image credit: @lalalalisa_m via Instagram
According to Billboard, the label’s artistic director, Hedi Slimane, named Lisa as his “muse”.
Image credit: @lalalalisa_m via Instagram
She was even seen sitting in the front row of the label’s runway show during Paris Fashion Week.
Image credit: @lalalalisa_m via Instagram
Image credit: @lalalalisa_m via Instagram
10. Lisa and BamBam from Got7 were in the same dance crew
Before Lisa was the Dancing Queen, she was part of the dance crew, WeZaa Cool.
Also part of the troupe was BamBam from Got7.
Image credit: K Star Live
I wonder if we told those two teenagers that they’d soon be selling out multiple stadiums and representing one of Thailand’s largest telecommunication providers if they’d believe us.
11. Lisa is protective of her bangs
The K-pop idol is hardly ever seen without her signature fringe.
Image credit: @lalalalisa_m via Instagram
When the band appeared on Knowing Bros on JTBC, Lisa admitted that she gets “very stressed” if her fringe isn’t absolutely perfect, as written on Koreaboo.
Image credit: @lalalalisa_m via Instagram
One of her bandmates, Jisoo, further mentioned that Lisa would “throw hands” if anyone were to touch her bangs.
While some of us can only dream of rocking blunt bangs like the K-pop idols, 2020’s at-home haircuts proved that fringes are not for everyone.
So, if there were ever a day when we had bangs as Lisa does, we, too, would be on the defence if anything – or anyone – threatened them.
Seems she’s had this hairstyle for a while
Image credit: Koreaboo
12. She can speak 5 languages
We are well aware that she can speak Thai and Korean as she is Thai and living in South Korea. However, she can speak English fluently as well. You can find many videos of her speaking English on YouTube.
Plus, it’s reported that she can also speak some Japanese and Chinese.
13. Her favourite food of all time is french fries
Image credit: @About Music via Twitter
Lisa enjoys eating french fries so much. She mentioned multiple times that it has been her favourite food since she was a child.
She mentioned that she always brings a bucket of french fries while hanging out with the other members of the group.
14. Lisa was listed on ‘Most Beautiful Women In The World’ for three years straight
Image credit: @lalalalisa_m via Instagram
With her top tier visual and smouldering gaze, BLACKPINK Lisa made it onto the list of 100 Most Beautiful Women In The World on TC Candler. In 2016, she secured the 41st position. In 2017, she went up to the 15th place, and she made it to the 9th place in 2018.
According to MANOFMANY, she clinched the 2nd position in 10 Meet the ‘Most Beautiful’ Woman in the World for 2020.
We’re not even surprised she was on these lists because she deserved these positions. She’s beautiful inside and out.
15. She became the first female artist to claim the No.1 on Billboard
Image credit: @lalalalisa_m via Instagram
When “Lalisa” came out, it became a hit overnight. We vibed with the song so much and couldn’t put it on pause. In 2022, the song climbed the Billboard’s Hot Trending Songs chart and reached the top, making Lisa the first female K-pop artist to top the chart.
Lalisa’s music video achieved 500 million views on YouTube in June 2022. The track appeared on the chart for over 40 weeks after the chart had been launched.
16. Lisa earned a Spotify’s Billion Club trophy
Image credit: @lalalalisa_m via Instagram
Recently, Lisa’s fans flocked to congratulate her on her Instagram as she uploaded a short video celebrating her recent Spotify Billion Club trophy. She was the first female K-pop artist to join the club, thanks to her song, Money, exceeding over 1 billion listens on the platform.
Lisa Manoban never disappoints us with her lovely personality and talents.
BLACKPINK Lisa facts to prove she’s the GOAT
At just 24 years old, Lisa Manoban has already done so much. This list only contains a fraction of the things that this K-pop powerhouse has achieved in a short period of time – we’re excited to see what the future holds for her.
While we can’t support this Dancing Queen in person, we’re thankful that we can keep up with her – and her pets – on social media.
Also, for more pop culture articles, check out Mew Suppasit: Thailand’s rising star, fun facts about Kitty Chicha: the actress who portrays “Nanno”, and Miss Universe Thailand Amanda Obdam.
Cover images adapted from (L-R): @lalalalisa_m via Instagram, @lalalalisa_m via Instagram, @lalalalisa_m via Instagram
Article originally published by Sam Mai in 2021, last updated by Bank Fasaisirinan on December 2023.
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