BLACKPINK’s Lisa Manobal’s story from a dream to superstardom
Do you know her as Lisa BLACKPINK or simply as Lisa Manobal from her solo career? Either way, I’m sure that it’s certainly a name that you have come across before as she has exploded into the limelight with such vigour in recent years.
But just like any other success story, it all began with a just dream.
Born Pranpriya Manobal on March 27, 1997, in Thailand’s Buriram province, Lisa was raised by a Thai mother and a Swiss stepfather as an only child.
In her early years, a fortune teller advised her family that changing her name would bring her good luck, which led to the shift from Lisa to Lalisa, meaning the one who is praised. Given that she’s gone on to be one of the most influential figures in entertainment today, this advice was almost prophetic!
Early years
The future BLACKPINK star’s love for dancing was apparent from an early age, having started taking lessons at just four years old. By the time she was in elementary school, Lisa was already competing in national dance competitions, winning numerous accolades and awards.
Before headlining for BLACKPINK, Lisa was part of the We Zaa Cool group, where she performed alongside 11 others, including BamBam, who later debuted as a member of GOT7. During this time, Lisa and the group represented their school in numerous competitions across Thailand, often winning awards.
It is the exposure to a multitude of styles, hip-hop, K-pop, and street dances in addition to her earlier We Zaa Cool group that has shaped her into the star that she is today. But of course, none of her successes would have been possible without hard work and determination.
Needle in a haystack
Lisa was deeply inspired by K-pop artists, especially BIGBANG and 2NE1, who were under YG Entertainment at the time. Watching their performances ignited her dream of one day becoming a K-pop idol. At the dawn of her teenage years, at just 13 years old, she auditioned for YG Entertainment’s Thailand auditions in 2010, competing against over 4,000 hopefuls.
Lisa was the only person selected.
She moved to South Korea a year later to join the agency’s half-decade-long training programme. This marked somewhat of a lonely chapter in her path. Moving to a foreign country alone, not knowing the language, and being the first non-Korean trainee in YG history; grit, perseverance, and determination propelled Lisa forward in enduring YG’s notoriously tough training system.
Diamonds are made in the rough, and her perseverance did not go unnoticed. Lisa’s experience in dancing proved to be fruitful, but she also excelled in vocal training among other areas. By 2013, having appeared in Taeyang’s Ringa Linga music video, and making her modelling debut for YG’s fashion brands, she was destined for stardom.
The BLACKPINK chapter
Lisa officially debuted as BLACKPINK’s main dancer, lead rapper, and sub-vocalist on August 8, 2016. The group’s debut singles, Whistle and Boombayah, were instant hits, topping the Gaon Digital Chart and Billboard World Digital Songs Chart. It was Lisa’s dances and unique style that captured the hearts of many, quickly making her a fan favourite.
Other hit singles soon followed, Playing with Fire, As If It’s Your Last, and Ddu-Du Ddu-Du continued BLACKPINK’s ascent into superstardom, with the latter single garnering over one billion views on YouTube alone, marking a first for women in K-pop. Lisa and BLACKPINK continued to make history, performing at Coachella in 2019, also marking a first for K-pop girl groups.
Solo career
Lisa made her long-anticipated solo debut on September 10, 2021, with the album LALISA. The self-titled track Lalisa shattered records, gaining over 73.6 million views on YouTube in just 24 hours, the highest for a solo artist at the time.
The song debuted on Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Global 200, while the album sold 736,000 copies in its first week, another record for the highest for female solo artists in Korea.
Her B-side track Money went viral on social media, securing a spot on the Billboard Global 200 Top 10 and breaking multiple streaming records. The song became the first by a female K-pop soloist to chart for multiple weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart.
Lisa Manobal continued her success by collaborating with DJ Snake, Ozuna, and Megan Thee Stallion on SG at Le Gala des Pièces Jaunes in France. Later that year, she made history as the first K-pop soloist to perform at the MTV VMAs, where she delivered a performance which secured her second win for the Best K-Pop category award.
By 2023, she had secured nine Guinness World Records, dethroning Psy, whose stardom was ignited by Gangnam Style, as the most-awarded K-pop soloist.
Her latest album, Lisa’s first full-length solo album, Alter Ego, was just released on February 26. This marked her first solo release after having departed from YG Entertainment. The album’s pre-release single Rockstar debuted at no.1 on the Billboard Global (excluding the US Chart).
Beyond music
Lisa launched her YouTube channel, Lilifilm Official, in 2018, sharing dance covers and travel vlogs that amassed millions of views and a subscriber count nearing 12 million. She also served a brief stint as a dance mentor on the Chinese audition show Youth With You from 2021 to 2022, coaching aspiring young fans.
To top it all off, following the amicable departure of BLACKPINK from YG Entertainment as the group’s contract has concluded, Lisa launched her own management company, Loud (Lloud) in late 2023.
Many fear this may mark the end of BLACKPINK, but the truth is we are far from that. We are yet to see the best of what the group has to offer as this move has allowed for more creative control and self-management for the group and their respective solo careers.
Lisa also tried her hand at acting, making her debut with a role in the recently released season three of the White Lotus, to the adoration of many fans worldwide.
Given her stardom and commanding influence globally, Lisa Manobal has been one of the most sought-after faces in the fashion industry, recognised as an ambassador for some of the most well-known brands around, including:
- Celine (2019): Chosen personally by designer Hedi Slimane as the face of the brand.
- Bulgari (2020): Featuring in high-profile campaigns for the luxury jeweller.
- MAC Cosmetics (2020): Launched her own MAC x L makeup collection.
- Louis Vuitton (2024): Attended Paris Fashion Week, causing the Lisa Effect, where her outfit choices sell out within hours.
Lisa has also graced the covers of prominent magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, and W Magazine, proving that the homegrown K-pop stardom isn’t just limited to the music industry.
Personal life
In her spare time, Lisa enjoys photography, travelling, and taking care of her five cats, Leo, Luca, Lily, Louis, and Lego. She also practices Pilates and boxing to maintain her fitness. As a self-proclaimed foodie, she loves Thai food and her favourites include classics such as pad Thai and mango sticky rice.
Despite a busy schedule, Lisa Manobal actively gives back to the community, particularly in her home country of Thailand. Her recent efforts include:
- Quietly donating 100,000 baht to flood victims in Thailand in 2019.
- Partnering with the Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange and YG Entertainment to fund the construction of a cultural and dance education centre in Buriram in 2021.
- Joined BLACKPINK in advocating for climate change awareness as ambassadors for the UN Climate Conference (COP26) in 2022.
- Headlining the Global Citizen’s campaign in New York to end extreme poverty in 2024.
In the end, Lisa has transcended just being a K-pop star. She is now a global icon, uniting people through not just music, but also through fashion, lifestyle, and her gestures of goodwill to give back to the community. With over 105 million followers on Instagram, she is undoubtedly a cultural figure and a generational talent.
Given her reach and cultural impact, in 2023, the Thai Ministry of Culture honoured Lisa Manobal with the Wattanakunathorn Award (Cultural Ambassador Leader) for being a “leading force promoting Thailand to the world through soft power.”
The successes that the superstar holds today, however, aren’t just pure luck. Instead, it’s a result of hard work, dedication, and sacrifice from a very young age. Perhaps it is this factor that has resonated with Lisa’s fans so profoundly. To give them a beacon of hope. To prove that a dream, no matter how far-fetched or rough the terrain towards that goal may be, everything is possible.
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