5 times Blackpink’s Lisa proved she’s Thailand’s unofficial princess as she arrives home for the first time in 3 years – just in time for her birthday

Mar 27 , 2022

Blackpink’s Lisa delighted fans back home when she dropped her Thai-inspired music video for Lalisa. Photo: @sooyaaa___/Instagram

The Lalisa star wore a Swarovski-studded Thai-inspired outfit complete with pointed gold headdress for her first solo music video – and fans were in raptures

When she mentioned the meatball vendors in her hometown of Buriram, they saw a 1,000 per cent spike in sales – now one stall is giving away free food on her birthday as a thank you

Blackpink’s Lisa flew back to Thailand for the first time in almost three years recently, and fans were overjoyed to learn that she’d be spending her birthday there. The singer has said that she’s missed her hometown, and it was heart warming to hear that she’d be able to spend her special day with family and friends.

So, to celebrate, we’re taking a look at five reasons Lisa Manobal has more than proved herself to be Thailand’s most beloved (unofficial) princess.

1. She wore an extravagant traditional Thai outfit for her first solo music video

Blackpink’s Lisa Manobal has returned home for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. Photo: IG @lalalalisa_m

The dazzling traditional Thai outfit that Lisa wore for her solo Lalisa music video stole the spotlight big time – and every aspect of it was infused with Thai culture. Hand-embroidered with Thai brocade golden silk, adorned with Swarovski crystals, and designed specifically for Lisa by Bangkok-based designer Polpat Asavaprapha, the outfit was truly unforgettable.

Lisa was keen to honour her Thai roots in her debut solo MV for Lalisa. Photo: YG Entertainment

Draped head to toe in glittering gold silk, complete with show-stopping traditional headdress, she really did look like Thai royalty. In the song, she even raps the line, “From Thailand to Korea and now here, went for the throat” in a nod to where she came from.

2. She’s probably Thailand’s most popular export ever

When you’re Lisa, one fourth of Blackpink, the biggest girl group in the world, you tend to have an outsize impact. Photo: @lalalalisa_m/Instagram

We all know that when it comes to female K-pop groups, Blackpink is in a league of its own, but Lisa’s individual appeal is also undeniable. When she got her first solo magazine cover for Harper’s Bazaar Thailand, all 120,000 printed copies sold out.

Selling out isn’t surprising for the singer, but when you consider that only 30,000 copies of the magazine are printed on average – and sometimes 60,000 for more popular celebrities, according to Koreaboo – it really puts her popularity in perspective.

It’s testament to the fact that Lisa is a source of inspiration for many young Thais, and a strong role model for those that dream of working in music.