Recently, on 27 November 2023, BabyMonster made its debut with “Batter Up,” making numerous headlines. To be more precise, it has garnered more than 68 million views on YouTube in a very short time. Naturally, it has made history in the Kpop field. But, on the other side, BabyMonster also sparked controversy for having a minor as its member. The youngest one of the new girl group is just 14 years old. Who is she?
As you may all know, Ahyeon, who was supposed to be a part of the group, left it for medical purposes. Her exact health issue is not yet disclosed, though. Besides her, BabyMonster comprises six members- Ruka, Rora, Pharita, Asa, Chiquita, and Rami. Each of these singers is talented in their respective ways.
To be a part of the Kpop industry, one must be good in vocals, music sense, and dancing. The latter plays an integral part of the group’s performance, be it on stage or even in a music video. All six members of the BabyMonster proved themselves in their debut music video, Batter Up.
But there is another side, too. Some people claimed that the youngest 14-year-old member has a resemblance to Blackpink’s Lisa. No wonder she holds a unique position in the Kpop industry at this young age. Here is what we know.
BabyMonster Made Its Debut With Minor Members: How She Is Compared To Lisa?
Even though millions of people across the globe are happy about BabyMonster’s debut with “Batter Up,” not everyone is fully satisfied. Well, it’s not about their work but having a minor as its member. Who is that alleged member? She is none other than Chiquita, who was born in 2009. On this note, one person claimed, “This isn’t okay.” Guess what? The truth is – it’s not just Chiquita, but many from the group are minors.
The BabyMonster controversy initiated speculation about the industry’s obsession with debuting younger idols, always.
Not just Chiquita, the eldest member of BabyMonster, is also reported to be 17 years old. Because of this, the new K-pop group has already earned criticism from some people. Some even sarcastically shared that the agency, YG Entertainment, took the “baby” in the “BabyMonster” name quite seriously.
After knowing this, some people took the discussion to social media. One person wrote, “I think the most shocking part of baby monsters to me is not their age now but the fact that YG has been training them for years. Like, how young were they when they started training?”
Another claimed that she would be okay if BabyMonster’s maknae turned out to be a minor. Otherwise, if all the six members turned out to be below 18, then it would be problematic for her to accept.
One must note it’s not just with BabyMonster. Last year, another Kpop group- New Jeans, also made its debut with a minor member, Hyein. At that time, Hyein was 14 years old.
The BabyMonster controversy was further fueled after the YG NEXT MOVEMENT released a statement that said the members had been training for the last four years. So, when did they even start?
Talking about Chiquita, the alleged 14-year-old maknae of BabyMonster, she hails from Thailand. Just like Lisa from Blackpink, yes! Neither of them are Korean but Thai. Some fans claimed that Chiquita is “too young” to debut. But, the way she styles herself, it seems like the agency wanted her to look older than her real age.
No doubt, Chiquita is talented, but her age turned out to be disturbing to some people. On the other hand, some of the Kpop fans addressed her as “mini Lisa.” It’s not just because of their Thai roots but also for similar facial expressions, styling, and smiles. Fans wonder if it’s intentional or natural. What do you think? How much do you support and like Chiquita from BabyMonster?
