Can Indians Become K-pop Stars? | Z-girls & Z-boys

Hey guys I back with another post and I think you we will REALLY like this one!

So I have seem this question many times and I have been asked this several times too and the question is....

"CAN AN INDIAN BECOME A K-POP IDOL?"

And of course, the internet world loves to share their opinions on things. 

The general answer I tend to see the most is, NO! And the reasons are the same trivial reasons that people ALWAYS give 

1. Korea is VERY RACIST they will not accept you 
2. If you are Northeast Indian with pale skin you can probably pass but if you have dark skin there is no way in hell
3. Language barriers 
4. Why are you trying to be a singer in Korea when you got Bollywood? You can do better in your own country blah blah blah

yeah....those reasons  -.-

Here are links as examples:

https://www.allkpop.com/forum/threads/can-an-indian-become-a-kpop-idol.78054/
https://www.quora.com/Can-an-Indian-person-become-a-K-pop-idol

but there are also people (Koreans) who think you can and would LOVE to see you as K-pop idols.

But still even though there are people who say YES or NO we don't REALLY know right? Because its never been done before. No K-pop company has accepted ANY  Indians as trainees or debuted them as idols.....at least until now!

Meet Z-Girls!!!! They are an up-and-coming K-pop girl group that will debut this year! But the special thing about this group is that they have an INDIAN MEMBER!!!!!

Meet Priyanka! 

She is the FIRST Indian female K-pop Idol!!!!

There isn't much about her or any of the members yet but I did some digging and apparently she was on the Changwon 2016 K-pop Festival. She had to win some many rounds and surpass a lot a people to get that spot so she is definitely talented! 

 

Here is a video of her at the festival.

Like I said there isn't that much about her or her group but the girls will be debuting soon! I heard that they will debut at the end of February. I think on the 23rd? I'm not sure though. But IF you want to follow them I will leave links to their Youtube channel the end of the post. 

 

This is a fancam of the girls performing and they look legit!  Priyanka is wearing the sparkly sequin black dress and is it too early to say that she is ALREADY my favorite lol xD. I love her attitude and she seems cool and chic kinda like Jennie of BLACKPINK or Yeeun of CLC.

The company they are signed under is, Z-POP DREAM. The goal of the company is, and I quote, "to replicate the success of K-POP and create global music stars from multiple countries by bringing together the KPOP professionals and voting power of fans!

The Project's business model has star creation business and global online monetisation platform. On one side, the proceeds from the ITO will be used to accelerate creating infrastructure for this star creation business, and on the other hand it will create global online monetisation platform, which will tokenize the revenue opportunities generated by the star creation business, including concert tickets, merchandise, online content and admission to exclusive events". 

"According to a press release, Z-pop Dream also aims to create its own form of cryptocurrency (like bitcoin) called the ZPOP Coin as the method of payment for music, online content, merchandise and concert tickets. One ZPOP coin will be worth USD 0.08 and will be the main form of transaction for content from the idols under Z-pop Dream. The company promises to use a blockchain to maintain transparency and states, “Hundreds of millions of music fans spread across the world will power [the project] to discover talent and join star creation process with decisive voting power granted through Z-POP Online. Z-POP DREAM Project will return on society by giving a realistic chance to youngsters and decentralize star creation by blockchain based voting.”

The company is hoping to create "an intriguing new global idol group project is under way with the title, 'Z-Pop Dream', launched by Zenith Media Contents". 

This is an introduction video to the company and their goals. 

It's pretty exciting

BUT

what's even more exciting is that they don't just have a girl group....THEY HAVE A BOY GROUP TOO!!!!!!!!!

Meet Z-BOYS!!!!!

Z-BOYS is an up-and-coming boy group also signed to Z-POP DREAM and just like Z-GIRLS they also have an INDIAN MEMBER!!!!

Meet SID!!!!

He is the FIRST Indian male K-pop idol!!!!

Here is a video with the rest of his members of Z-BOYS!

Again their isn't much information about he boys individually yet but the boys do have their own variety show that is hosted by their company on the company's YouTube page. 

On the show is centered around the boys introducing themselves to the audience, exploring Korea and learning about Korean culture through fun challenges and games. They have also gotten the opportunity to meet other K-pop idols like VAV, Chung-ha and ATEEZ. 

Both of the groups are supposedly going to debut on the Feb.23rd this month at a live concert Z-POP is hosting in Seoul called, Z-POP DREAM LIVE in Seoul. If you are in the area I will the line below. The tickets are free so if you are in Seoul and have nothing to do than you head on over to the concert ^_^ 

SO....If you ask me "can Indians become K-pop idols?" I will tell you, "YES!" This is why you need to keep trying...THIS IS WHY you shouldn't listen to people on the internet spreading negativity and telling you what you can and can't do. You can do ANYTHING you set your mind to it's all in the matter of are you going to do it. Like I said before what you have right now is enough ...it's enough to start with all you have to do is get started. 

Regardless of whether you are Indian, Indonesian, Hispanic, Black/African-American, White, Native American, etc... and you want to be a K-pop star I hope you found this blogpost encouraging, informative, enlightening....some of you might find it infuriating lol but regardless I hope if gives you something to think about, discuss and consider. 

Z-POP DREAM company website link

Z-POP DREAM YouTube

Z-POP DREAM Twitter link

Rolling Stone India Article about Z-POP DREAM

About Z-POP Auditions and Training system

Do I Experience Racism or Discrimination as an African American Person At K-pop Audtions

Hii Guys! This is Charlese! And I'm back at it again with another post!

This post is based on a comment I got in one of my videos asking me, and I quote,

"How people feel about you at auditions? I mean did someone stares at you in a different way (or laugh etc.) because your not Asian or any racism thing happen?" - neltasticvids

I did a video answering the question here

and I thought it would be a good idea to make a blog post about it as well!

The commenter is basically asking, do I experience racism or discrimination, as a Black/African American girl, at K-pop auditions?

The short answer to this question is.....(drum roll)...............No!

BUT I know you guys want the long answer lol xD

So for the long answer, I'm not going to lie when I first started auditioning for Korean entertainment companies I did experience some awkwardness and feeling like I was out of place like I didn't belong there; kind of like semi impostor syndrome. But those feelings of not belonging and not "fitting in" were products of my own insecurities and lack of confidence in myself no one else EVER made me feel that way.

If anything, everyone has ALWAYS been kind, respectful and welcoming towards me. No one ever really stares at me and when they do it's not mean or unwelcoming stares. Because I live in Korea now and I'm usually the ONLY NON-ASIAN in the WHOLE room of course I will get some stares [from the Korean applicants] but it's never unfriendly or rude.. When they [the Korean applicants] stare at me it's out of admiration or genuine interest! They think it's cool that I'm auditioning for the same things they are.

They even go so far as helping me fill out my application form and showing me where to go, etc....


I have a cute experience to share ^_^

Every time I have gone to a JYP audition some random cute Korean guy is ALWAYS trying to help me! I'm SO SERIOUS!!! I don't know what it is but EVERY TIME I went to a JYP audition [here in Korea] there was always a Korean guy, who was also auditioning for JYP, that would help me. BTW these guys were REALLY good looking! All of the people that audition are all REALLY GOOD LOOKING so....it made my heart flutter all these good looking guys paying attention to me I felt special lol xD hahaha

Also the staff is REALLY nice and welcoming! They  NEVER made me feel like I didn't belong there; they treated me with just as much respect and kindness like they did with the other Korean applicants. I was never made to feel out of place at ANY audition I've gone to. They assisted me to the best of their abilities and made me feel comfortable being there which leads me to the main point of this post.


Being a Non-Asian K-pop fan is hard ENOUGH as it is but being an Aspiring Non-Asian K-pop Idol is seen as you asking to get laughed at, mocked and publicly shamed. For YEARS and until this day I still get comments of people saying that I shouldn't audition [to become a K-pop idol] because Koreans are RACIST and they will be racist towards you so I shouldn't even try and that I would have a better chance in my own country as a singer blah blah blah yeah....okay -.-

Well I'm here to tell you that those opinions are exactly what they are....OPINIONS! they are completely FALSE! and therefore, they don't matter! ^_^ 

And you can take my word for it! As a Black/African American girl who goes to K-pop auditions and has been for the past decade! I can surely say that these people don't know what they are talking about because I have NEVER experienced ANY RACISM or DISCRIMINATION at ANY of the K-pop auditions I went to! And I have been to K-pop auditions in the USA, China and South Korea!

And like I said...I'm a Black/African American girl with an Afro! okay...I look NOTHING like the average Korean applicant. I don't have pale skin, I don't have long straight hair, I am not 43kgs! But despite ALL of that I still go to the auditions and I NEVER have any problems!

Basically what I'm trying to say is don't let someone else's opinion dictate how you should live your life. Because if you do that you're giving that person power to rule over you and persuade you and to make you believe that you aren't good enough when in all actual reality what you have right now IS good enough! You just need to take the first steps! Start where you are! Use what you have! and be consistent! and I promise everything will fall in place.

So...if you I want to audition for a Korean entertainment company my advice to you is to DO IT! JUST DO IT! What's a fail without a try? 2019 is year of DOING NOT SECOND-GUESSING!!! and no more of letting others opinions rule us anymore!

Recap Of 2018!

Hey Guys! Long time no see!

Before we start I just want to say HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! HELLO 2019!!!

I have A TON planned for this year and I'm super excited and pumped about what I want to do this year.

Last year, I had just moved to South Korea as an English teacher and I would be lying if I said it wasn't difficult adjusting to my new life here. I faced and went through many obstacles and challenges. But I just had my triumphs and some mini victories regarding my journey to becoming a K-pop idol!

This post is just gonna be a recap of all the things I did working towards my goal last year.

I attended SEVERAL auditions for Korean entertainment companies such as; SM, JYP and Pledis entertainment

SM entertainment Audition

Pledis Entertainment Audition

JYP Entertainment Audition

I reached over a HUNDRED subscribers on my YouTube channel ^_^

I enrolled at YGX Academy and have been taking classes there

I met EXP Edition

I lost over 30lbs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then

Now

The year was pretty good for me! but now that it's a NEW YEAR it's a NEW ME lol xD

But in all seriousness, a good friend of mine said this to me and it will stick with me this entire year. "Last year was the year of adjusting but THIS YEAR is the year of DOING!!!" 

So with that being said there is a LOT I want to do!!! and I am going to DO IT!!! No more holding back I'm gonna stay consistent and focused!!! This year is going to be my year!!!

I also encourage ANYONE & EVERYONE to let this be their year of DOING!!! What is it that you have ALWAYS wanted to do???  And ask yourself, "Are you doing it?" If not, why? Believe in yourself, trust yourself, you have everything you need to start all you have to do now is...just start.