Exploring the life of Hwasa, the sexy tan-skinned singer behind viral TikTok hits who refuses to conform to South Korea's beauty standards.
Anyone who frequents TikTok has likely heard the viral song "Good Goodbye," featuring the catchy "ayi aya" chant and wrist-twisting dance that has become a global trend, especially among couples. This sound has been used in over 1.1 million clips. The artist behind this song is Hwasa. She is a 30-year-old diva singer from South Korea.
When mentioning Hwasa, people often picture a tan-skinned woman with a sexy appearance and a confident personality, which contrasts sharply with the typical image of female Korean idols often confined to the mold of "fair-skinned, slim, and youthful."
In South Korea's entertainment industry, the path to becoming an idol is like selecting a "crown jewel." Thousands of trainees undergo auditions to enter a strict training system covering singing, dancing, acting, personality, and controlling body shape and image to prepare for debut.
But debuting is not the finish line; it is just the start of competing in an industry measured by multiple factors, including talent, popularity, and "image" that must align with market expectations.
In South Korea, it is undeniable that image is not secondary but an essential element almost inseparable from the word "idol." Long-established beauty standards shaped by media and the entertainment industry have created a "model" of clear-cut beauty.
This ideal includes a small, V-shaped face, balanced proportions, distinct double eyelids with doll-like eye bags, softly arched eyebrows, a high straight nose with a slightly upturned tip, heart-shaped lips, flawless radiant skin, and a youthful, fresh image. This ideal beauty is repeatedly produced by the industry.
Yet, in a system striving for uniform beauty, some choose to stand outside that mold.
Hwasa, or Ahn Hye-jin, was born on 23 July 1995 in Jeonju, South Korea. She is a member of the girl group MAMAMOO under RBW. The group debuted in 2014 with four members: Solar, Moonbyul, Wheein, and Hwasa. Since then, she has gained fame as both a group member and solo artist. Currently, she is signed with P Nation after leaving her former label but still remains an occasional MAMAMOO member and participates in group activities.
What sets Hwasa apart is not only her powerful voice or confident performance style but also her appearance, which does not conform
to mainstream standards. With her tan skin, sharp eyes, and curvy figure, she stands out in an industry that celebrates fairness, slimness, and a youthful image. She has said she was criticized for her looks during auditions and was once told to lose weight during training or risk being dropped from her agency.
Her experiences reflect a crucial question: "What is the standard of beauty?" And who truly defines it?
Beauty Standard, or beauty standards, are social expectations defining "what appearance is considered beautiful or handsome." These standards may cover skin tone, body shape, facial proportions, as well as mannerisms and personality.
Although beauty standards change over time and across cultures, when reproduced through media, fashion, and entertainment industries, they gradually become "norms" that many people try to conform to.
In South Korea, the entertainment industry plays a key role in defining and reinforcing a uniform image of beauty, so much so that "difference" is often questioned and pushed aside.
However, Hwasa chose not to surrender or chase those beauty norms. She once shared that after being belittled for her figure during training, she went home crying in front of her computer but then watched concerts of her favorite artist, Beyoncé, and at that moment, she made a decision for herself.
"If I don’t fit the beauty standards of this era, then I will create my own standard of beauty."
This statement was not mere self-comfort but a stance she expressed through her work and stage presence.
When she debuted as a solo artist with the single "Twit" in 2019, the song achieved great success on music charts, and she also co-wrote it. Her later solo work, "Good Goodbye," further confirmed that her success came from both talent and her authentic self.
Over the years, Hwasa has built a global fanbase with her bold fashion style, confident performances, and consistent chart-topping songs.
She has become one of the most talked-about artists despite her appearance not fitting the typical "idol beauty formula." Her success stems not only from talent but also from her choice to remain true to her "identity," proving that the path to success does not always require following the molds set by others.
Hwasa's story is not just an idol biography but also a reflection of the power of "beauty standards" in South Korea's entertainment industry—a system that can dictate the looks of a whole generation but can also be shaken when someone dares to declare that beauty does not always have to fit the old mold.
Sources:nme,abplasticsurgerykorea