K-pop artist, Jennie Kim has once again, proven to be one of the industry’s most successful artists with the announcement of the launch of Odd Atelier, the singer’s solo label. Alongside this recent applaudable feat, Jennie also has her accolades and deals to show for it. Speaking of a fast-rising artist with a sense of aspiration and vision, this trailblazer remains one of the toppers of the list. Having desired from a young age to be a pop icon, she took her the right steps, and has been living her dreams so far. Jennie Kim’s undeniable excellent artistry, complemented by her trendsetting fashion sense is further sets her apart as one of the hottest singers, and the series of photos we’ve curated in this piece are a testament to that.
Biography
Born January 16, 1996, in Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea as the only child of her parents, Jennie began her educational journey at Cheongdam Elementary School in Seoul. The singer’s successful music career is traced far back to a memorable trip to New Zealand. Following her enthusiastic reaction to being in the new environment, her parents relocated her to New Zealand, where she furthered her studies at Waikowhai Intermediate School in Auckland.
After a six-year stay in New Zealand, against her mother’s intention to relocate her to Florida in the U.S., to study law, the singer returned to South Korea in 2010 to pursue her dream in the K-pop entertainment industry with her parents’ full support. During her time in New Zealand, she developed a special interest in music produced mainly by YG Entertainment. Without stalling on her dream, she auditioned for YG Entertainment, showcasing her talent and successfully aced her audition with a performance of Rihanna’s “Take a Bow.” The then- 14-year-old Blackpink youngster was soon accepted as a vocalist trainee under the YG Entertainment label. However, the company subsequently noticed her versatility and suggested that she take on the role of a rapper, as she was good at incorporating rap elements into the songs she covered.
During her six years of training, Jennie became well-known among her fans for the sons that she made covers for, taking on lead roles in music videos, and actively participating in projects with her label mates. The talented vocalist further showcased her versatility as an artist by appearing as an actress in G-Dragon’s music video for “That XX” and contributed to songs like Lee Hi’s “Scarecrow,” Seungri’s “GG Be,” and the Korean version of G-Dragon’s “Black.”
However, 2013 was a big year for her as Blackpink’s Jennie was announced as a new artist for the entertainment agency, and by June 1, 2016, she became the first member of YG Entertainment’s Blackpink, alongside fellow members Jennie, Lisa, Jisoo, and Rose. The group made their debut single with ‘Square One’ and ever since the Blackpink girls have never failed to amaze their fans, Over the years, BLACKPINK has received numerous accolades, including 13 Circle Chart Music Awards, seven Golden Disc Awards, eleven MAMA Awards, three Seoul Music Awards, and eleven Guinness World Records, among others. Notably, they made history as the first Korean girl group to win an MTV Video Music Award and secure a nomination at the Brit Awards.
In 2018, Jennie announced her solo debut album, some months after her first single, ‘Solo,’ was released on November 12 of the same year. The song was a success in that it made its curator the only Korean solo artist to perform at Coachella. Her 2023 single, “You & Me” achieved great success, as it sat with royalty on the number one spot on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart and secured a spot among the top five in South Korea. It also became the first song by a Korean female soloist to top the UK Singles Downloads Chart.
New Label (ODD ATELIER)
Just recently, following the Blackpink members contract renewal with YG Entertainment, Jennie announced the launch of her record label. This announcement was made on her social media page where she wrote, “Hi, this is Jennie. This year was filled with many accomplishments, and I’m so thankful for all the love I’ve received. I’m also excited about what’s to come, as I start my solo journey in 2024 with a company that I have established called (OA.) Odd Atelier. Please show lots of love for my new start with Odd Atelier and of course, BLACKPINK”. With the launch of this new Record Label Jennie’s undeniable charm has become even more glaring, establishing her be an artist with not just an enchanting voice and perfect body but an epitome of brilliance.
Fashion
Blackpink Jennie’s love for fashion isn’t something she just stumbled upon when she became a pop star; in fact, she has been a fashion enthusiast since childhood. As a kid, the 27-year old had reportedly loved reading fashion magazines and enjoyed putting those ideas into action, as she would go through her mother’s wardrobe to find fancy and beautiful vintage Chanel clothes. Jennie also revealed that she participated in planning her wardrobe for her single “Solo.” The pop icon aimed not just to select clothes for the sake of wearing them but to choose outfits that aligned with her style and visually represented her music.
This involvement in her fashion choices contributed to her long-term improvement in approaching fashion style. At a certain point in her career, she earned the nickname “Human Chanel,” and “Human Gucci “ and not only was she referred to as “Human Chanel”, she also became the ambassador for Chanel. She began securing endorsement deals as far back as 2018, starting with some striking photos with Chanel. Subsequently, she was named the Global Ambassador for Chanel, a testament to the fashionista’s enchanting look and luxury appeal.
An artist with a dynamic style, Jennie isn’t only blessed with great taste in fashion, she also possesses the perfect body of a model—a stunning and jaw-dropping shape that has no doubt contributes to her broad her fan base. She remains the second most-followed K-pop artist on social media with about 83 million Instagram followers.
Endorsements
Due to her exceptional fashion sense, sexy figure and series of hot campaign photos, Hera, a South Korean luxury beauty brand, made her the face of Hera. Surpassing their expectations, the lipstick series she endorsed drew much attention and it witnessed a five-times increase in sales, compared to the period before her association with the brand. This lipstick collection was subsequently named “Jennie Lipstick.” Not content with this success, the fashion queen went on to secure an endorsement deal with Calvin Klein, where she not only became the face of the Spring 2021 collection, and Calvin Klein 2021 fall campaign but also retained her position for the 2022 collection. This is only a fraction among the singer’s endorsements. The South Korean singer has consistently proven to be an enigma of success in the industry, continually raising the bar of excellence in music, fashion, and modelling, achieving new heights daily.