hide and seek

Jennie, who finally discovers herself. Without hesitation, she walks boldly, yet gracefully and freely. The reason every story always begins with her

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Few artists today wield the kind of influence Jennie Kim commands.

As part of BLACKPINK, she helped catapult K-pop into a global phenomenon, smashing records and rewriting the rulebook along the way. Her solo career has only turned the volume up: songs like 'You & Me' and 'like JENNIE' don't just top charts, they get the whole internet dancing, spark trends, and turn every release into a cultural event.

This year, she raised the bar with her debut solo album 'Ruby,' a dazzling, sharp-edged project that lives up to its name. Packed with glitter, grit, and vulnerability, it reveals Jennie at her most unfiltered, inviting fans into the world behind the icon. Add her status as a CHANEL ambassador, beauty entrepreneur, and pop culture tastemaker, and it's clear: Jennie isn't just making music — she's making history, and we're all here for it.

ELLE: BLACKPINK's full-group activities have started, so you must be busy. Do you think the time you spent alone was enough nourishment for the team's activities?

Jennie (J): Each of us has completed our own wonderful activities and come back together. While preparing for my solo album 'Ruby,' I learned and felt so many things. I constantly wondered what I was lacking and how I could grow in a better direction. I kept pushing myself to improve and went through trial and error. Then, at some point, I felt I had become a little stronger. The other members have also gone through their own journeys and returned, so we understand each other more deeply and have become a more mature team. It feels like we're working just as hard as before, but now we look at each other with a more relaxed mindset. So this comeback feels special, not just for me but for the members as well.