It’s soundcheck and we’re in the green room at New York City’s famed Radio City Music Hall with Jennie Kim. She’s listening to the first track on her debut album Ruby, “Intro: Jane with FKJ,” to calm her nerves. You may be wondering why the pop star who’s already reached global recognition might be nervous about performing, but it’s her first tour without her Blackpink members. To make sure she puts on the best performance, she’s trying to remain as chill as possible. “This is my third show [for the album],” says Jennie. “The rituals are coming together, but for me, it’s about feeling good, my body being healthy, and doing things to take care of myself before I go on stage.” She’s a bit groggy when we speak, having only gotten a few hours of sleep on the flight from LA, where she performed for two nights in a row at Peacock Theater. Nonetheless, the singer shows up in a stylish fit, dressed in an oversized jacket and a Chanel beanie—fitting given that the K-Pop sensation is a longtime Chanel ambassador and the newest face of the Chanel 25 handbag.
The 29-year-old singer first rose to fame in 2016 as a member of the K-Pop sensation, Blackpink. An instant fan favourite, she struck out on her own two years later and, in 2019, was named an official Chanel ambassador by the late Karl Lagerfeld. Jennie’s superstardom was so evident that she soon became known as Korea’s “sell-out queen”—in a good way. Anything Jennie touches, wears, or holds will likely sell out instantly, no matter the price tag.
Usually, in early March, you’ll find Jennie in Paris at fittings ahead of Chanel’s fall ready-to-wear show. But this season was different. For the first time during her ambassadorship, rather than sitting in the front row at the Grand Palais,…
