One hip-hop dance audition video... ... AND A SHOT AT K-POP

Many K-pop hopefuls undergo numerous auditions and slog for years for that one chance to make it in the industry.

- Joanne Soh Lifestyle Correspondent

Nicole Bacon did Latin ballroom dancing when she was eight until she was 17. Her interest shifted to K-pop after being introduced to BTS by a friend when she was in Yishun Innova Junior College. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

(ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH)

Singaporean Nicole Bacon, on the other hand, appears to have won the lottery.

After reaching out to numerous South Korean K-pop entertainment agencies, she was finally recruited by Na Entertainment after submitting a one-minute hip-hop dance video on Dec 31, 2024 - at lightning speed, no less.

The 22-year-old - whose father is English and mother Singaporean-Indian - received a call from the company on Jan 2, 2025, and was offered the opportunity to join its six-week training programme that included dance, vocals and Korean-language tests.

On Jan 24, Nicole - who prefers to go by her artiste name - was officially introduced as a trainee of rookie K-pop girl group NWH:I, which stands for New World High teen Idol.

With her family’s blessings, she moved to Seoul in March for full-time, in-person training with other trainees.

What was initially a nine-member act eventually became a septet. The lineup was finalised in August, comprising Nicole; Nina, 26, from the Philippines; Via, 24, from Indonesia; Seungjoo, 24, from South Korea; Alice, 22, from Japan; Mariam, 22, from Germany; and Vanesya, 17, from Indonesia.

Nicole, Alice and Mariam are also part of Na Entertainment’s coed group DNA, which consist of South Korean Seunggi, 26, and Brazilian-Japanese Raphael, 24, from the company’s boy band Dustin.

DNA released their first digital single Change The World on Sept 3, 2025, while NWH:I made their official debut with digital single Like A Flame a month later on Oct 24.