Stage Name: Minzy
Birthday: January 18, 1994
Position: Rapper/Vocalist
Group: 2NE1
Management Company: YG Entertainment
Although born in Seoul, she moved Gwangju province at a young age and live there with her grandmother the legendary folk dancer Gong Ok Jin. She lived as a normal child except for her exceptional dance skills. She was taught traditional Korean folk dance at a very young age. Her passion however was hip hop. She continued to immerse herself in studying hip hop dance and entered competitions in dance.
A video clip of her dancing was sent to YG Entertainment and was viewed by the company’s C.E.O. He was impressed and scouted her to become a trainee in YG Entertainment. Originally, she was supposed to debut in Japan as a duo with another YG trainee that gained attention over the internet, May Doni. This plan was halted due to May Doni switching management companies before their official debut. Her debut was postponed for some years and she ended up becoming one of the members of YG Entertainment’s super girl group, 2NE1, in 2009.
FEIRCE FACTS: She entered YG at the same age as GDragon and Taeyang were when they first joined. She was in sixth grade.
Minji trained under So You Think You Can Dance’s Twitch during her trainee days and before his stint at the American reality show. She has won numerous dance awards in Gwangju even before debut
NICKNAMES: Gong Mingkki
ANIMAL COUNTERPART: Otter
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