Lisa
Who was Lisa?
Thai-born member of the K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, one of the most successful international music acts from South Korea.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Lisa (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Lisa, originally named Pranpriya Manobal and born on March 27, 1997, in Buriram Province, Thailand, is a Thai rapper, singer, dancer, and model. She gained international fame as a member of the South Korean girl group BLACKPINK. She later changed her name to Lalisa Manobal and goes by the stage name Lisa. As the only non-Korean in BLACKPINK, she highlights K-pop's global reach and is one of Thailand's most well-known talents.
At just 13, Lisa moved to South Korea in 2010 after she succeeded in YG Entertainment’s global auditions, where she was the only Thai selected. She spent five years training in singing, dancing, and performing before debuting with BLACKPINK in August 2016. Their debut single album 'Square One,' featuring 'Whistle' and 'Boombayah,' quickly became a commercial hit, putting BLACKPINK on the map in K-pop.
Known as BLACKPINK's main dancer, lead rapper, and sub-vocalist, Lisa has played a big part in the group's chart-topping hits and milestones. BLACKPINK was the first K-pop girl group to perform at Coachella in 2019 and has worked with major Western artists like Dua Lipa and Selena Gomez. Their music videos have billions of views on YouTube, and Lisa is often praised for her lively stage presence and skills.
Lisa launched her solo career in September 2021 with the single album 'Lalisa.' It broke several records, including the highest first-week sales for a female solo artist in South Korea and the most-viewed music video by a solo artist in 24 hours. Her later releases have also done well, helping her carve out a unique identity apart from BLACKPINK. Beyond music, Lisa has a strong presence in fashion as a global ambassador for luxury brands and is frequently featured on magazine covers worldwide.
Lisa’s impact goes beyond entertainment, increasing interest in Thai and Korean culture. With hundreds of millions of followers on social media, she is one of the most followed K-pop artists globally. She promotes Thai culture using her platform and has been acknowledged by the Thai government for boosting the country's international profile through her work.
Before Fame
Lisa grew up in Buriram Province, Thailand, and from an early age, developed a love for dance and performance. She entered various dance competitions and joined a dance crew called We Zaa Cool with her childhood friends. They performed at local events, gaining recognition for their talent.
The big change came in 2010 when YG Entertainment held auditions across Asia to find new talent for their training program. Lisa auditioned in Thailand and was the only one selected from the country out of 4,000 applicants. At just 13, she decided to move to South Korea alone to start the demanding training process that would eventually lead to her debut with BLACKPINK six years later.
Key Achievements
- First solo K-pop artist to win at both MTV Video Music Awards and MTV Europe Music Awards
- Broke the record for most-viewed music video by a solo artist in 24 hours with 'Lalisa' (73.6 million views)
- Achieved highest first-week album sales by a female solo artist in South Korean history
- Became the first K-pop soloist to reach number one on US iTunes with debut single
- Named as global ambassador for luxury brands including Celine, Bulgari, and MAC Cosmetics
Did You Know?
- 01.She can speak four languages fluently: Thai, Korean, English, and basic Japanese and Chinese
- 02.Her original birth name Pranpriya means 'beloved soul' in Thai, which she later changed to Lalisa meaning 'the one who is praised'
- 03.She owns five cats named Leo, Luca, Lily, Louis, and Lego, often featuring them on her social media
- 04.She was a mentor and dance trainer on the Chinese reality show 'Youth With You' seasons 2 and 3
- 05.Her solo debut music video 'Lalisa' was filmed at various locations in Thailand to showcase her cultural heritage