Mina from Twice isn’t afraid to speak out about mental health, and K-pop star knows a thing or two about hard work

The girl band member, born in the US to Japanese parents, first became interested in K-pop when she performed a Girls’ Generation song with a friend

The singer and dancer, who has taken a step back from group activities, has been vocal about the mental health issues that artists face in the music industry

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Mina, of K-pop girl band Twice. She has always been determined to excel in the music industry, but has had to take a break from group activities while she deals mental health issues.

Published: 10:00pm, 18 Mar 2020Updated: 5:56am, 19 Mar 2020

Natalie Portman’s character in the award-winning film Black Swan has taught us that performers can feel all sorts of psychological and physical pressures in their pursuit of perfection.

While K-pop star Mina’s life is not anything like that of the psychological thriller, the member of girl band Twice knows all about the commitment needed to succeed in the worlds of dance and music – and how that can affect an artist.

Here’s why Mina is helping inspire new conversations among K-pop stars.

Her early life

Mina Myoui was born in San Antonio, in the US state of Texas, on March 24, 1997 to Japanese parents. When she was a toddler, she moved with her parents and older brother to Kobe, Japan. She took ballet lessons for 11 years and eventually modern dance classes, too.

Mina was born in San Antonio, Texas, to Japanese parents.

Mina’s interest in K-pop started when she performed a Girls’ Generation song with a friend. “I didn’t understand what any of the lyrics meant, but I liked the music,” Mina said during a 2018 interview. “Dancing to the song made me feel happy.”

She was spotted by talent scouts while on a shopping trip with her mother, auditioned for K-pop super label JYP Entertainment in Japan, and joined the company’s training programme in January 2014.