Lisa

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Lisa was born Pranpriya Manobal on March 27, 1997, in Buriram province, Thailand, and later legally changed her name to Lalisa at the advice of a fortune teller for prosperity. An only child, she was raised by her Thai Buddhist mother, Chitthip Brüschweiler, and her Swiss stepfather, chef Marco Brüschweiler. After enrolling in dance classes at age four, she began competing regularly in contests, including in To Be Number One, and joined the eleven-member dance crew We Zaa Cool alongside BamBam of Got7. In September 2009, the crew entered the LG Entertainment Million Dream Sanan World competition broadcast on Channel 9 and won the Special Team Award. In 2010, at age 13, Lisa auditioned to join YG Entertainment in Thailand. Among 4,000 applicants, she was the only one to qualify, which prompted then CEO Yang Hyun-suk to offer Lisa a chance to become a YG Entertainment trainee. She officially joined the label as its first non-ethnic Korean trainee on April 11, 2011. In August 2016, Lisa debuted as one of four members of Blackpink, the first non-ethnically Korean artist under the label. The group's debut single album Square One featured lead singles "Whistle", which topped all South Korean charts upon debut, and "Boombayah". Lisa's debut single album Lalisa was released on September 10, 2021. The music video for "Lalisa" became the most-viewed video by a soloist in 24 hours with 73.6 million views, breaking the record held by Taylor Swift's "Me!" featuring Brendon Urie, for which she earned two Guinness World Records. The album sold 736,221 copies in South Korea in its first week, setting the record for the highest first-week sales among female artists domestically and making Lisa the first female soloist to surpass the 500,000-copy mark in one week. On August 28, 2022, Lisa won the MTV Video Music Award for Best K-Pop for "Lalisa" and became the first K-pop solo artist to win an MTV Video Music Award. On November 13, she won the MTV Europe Music Award for Best K-Pop and became the first solo K-pop artist in history to win an MTV Europe Music Award as well. In September 2023, Lisa headlined five performances for the Parisian cabaret Crazy Horse. On November 22, 2023, Lisa was invested by King Charles III as an Honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) alongside her bandmates during a special investiture at Buckingham Palace which was also attended by South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol.

In Their Own Story

The spotlight hits hard, blinding for a split second before the beat drops. Lisa steps into the center of the chaotic arena, the roar of thousands fading into a rhythmic hum in her ears. Her movements are sharp, precise cuts through the air, every gesture calculated to match the heavy bass thumping against her chest. As she delivers her verse, the crowd surges forward, a sea of pink and black lights reflecting in her eyes. In this moment, there is no fear, only the pure, unadulterated joy of command.

Reader's Guide

Lisa serves as the dynamic engine of Blackpink, anchoring the group with her exceptional dance skills and confident rap delivery. Her character arc is defined by a relentless pursuit of perfection in performance, often taking on the most demanding choreographic sections to elevate the group's overall stage presence. Her primary strengths lie in her physical control and rhythmic intuition, allowing her to execute complex routines with apparent ease while maintaining an engaging connection with the audience. She acts as a bridge between the group's powerful image and its accessible charm, often providing moments of playful energy that balance the darker, edgier themes of their music. Defining moments in her journey include her debut performance which immediately established her as a standout performer, and subsequent eras where she took on more prominent solo verses. Her evolution is marked by an increasing confidence in her artistic identity, solidifying her role not just as a member, but as a global ambassador for the group's unique style.

Did You Know?

• Lisa was the only applicant among 4,000 to qualify for YG Entertainment's audition in Thailand in 2010.
• The music video for 'Lalisa' broke the 24-hour view record for a solo artist with 73.6 million views, surpassing Taylor Swift's 'Me!'.
• Lisa became the first K-pop solo artist to win an MTV Video Music Award (Best K-Pop for 'Lalisa' in 2022).
• She earned her eighth Guinness World Record for 'Money' becoming the first K-pop track by a solo artist to reach 1 billion streams on Spotify.
• Lisa was invested by King Charles III as an Honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) alongside her Blackpink bandmates in November 2023.