Here are some nostalgic pre-debut and debut photos of BLACKPINK—capturing early moments like teaser posters, trainee group shots, and behind-the-scenes glimpses that foreign fans often find fascinating.
Agency & Pre-Debut Journey
- Label: BLACKPINK is under YG Entertainment, one of South Korea’s top entertainment companies. They were the first girl group debuting under YG since 2NE1, receiving strong support and resources from the start yg-entertainment.fandom.comThe New Yorker.
- Member Reveal (2016):
- Jennie was revealed on June 1
- Lisa on June 8
- Jisoo on June 15
- Rosé on June 22
YG officially announced “BLACKPINK” as the group’s name on June 29, and they debuted on August 8, 2016 with the single album Square One Kpop Wiki위키백과populartimelines.com.
Trainee Experiences: Raw, Competitive, & Creative
Training under YG was famously intense and competitive:
- Every month, trainees had to prepare:
- A solo song
- A group song
- A dance performance
- Jennie described it as a “survival audition show without cameras,” and credited these trials for forging BLACKPINK’s bond and strength SBS StarKoreaboo.
⏳ Training Periods for Each Member
| Member | Training Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jennie | ~5 years 11 months | Longest trainee period; joined in 2010 Yaayyg-entertainment.fandom.com위키백과 |
| Lisa | ~5 years 3 months | Joined in 2011; YG’s first non-Korean trainee Yaay위키백과+1 |
| Jisoo | ~5 years 1 month | Joined mid-2011; initially wanted to act Yaay위키백과 |
| Rosé | ~4 years 2 months | Joined after winning YG audition in Australia in 2012 Yaay위키백과+1 |
How Each Member Was Discovered
- Jisoo: Auditioned in South Korea; family noted her vocal potential and visuals Yaay. Appeared in music videos and a drama cameo before debut 위키백과.
- Jennie: Auditioned in 2010 after returning from New Zealand; impressed the company and was featured in early music videos and photos as a ‘mystery girl’ 위키백과+1.
- Rosé: Auditioned in Sydney, ranking first among 700 hopefuls in 2012. She then moved to Seoul and began extensive training 위키백과+1.
- Lisa: Auditioned in Thailand, stood out among 4,000 applicants, and became YG’s first foreign trainee in 2011; began official training in Seoul thereafter 위키백과+1.
Debut Build-Up & Behind-the-Scenes
- YG released individual teaser photos and videos leading up to debut starting May–June 2016, then posted a group name reveal on June 29 Kpop Wiki위키백과.
- Their first dance practice video—built public anticipation—was released July 6, 2016, followed by teaser singles and then their debut on August 8 Kpop Wikipopulartimelines.com.
- Within just 13 days, they won their first music show award on SBS Inkigayo—an impressive feat for any rookie group Kpop Wiki위키백과.
Why Foreign Fans Find These Stories So Engaging
- Global diversity: Lisa is Thai, Rosé has lived in New Zealand and Australia—highlighting international representation in K‑pop.
- Intense training: The rigorous and creative process adds dramatic depth behind their success.
- Individual talent shine: From auditions to MV features and acting cameos, each member’s path to BLACKPINK was unique and compelling.
- Teaser buildup: The strategic drip of teaser content created a world‑wide buzz before their debut.
Would you like a fun angle with anecdotes from each trainee’s personal stories, or more about specific debut photos or early performances? I’d be happy to dive deeper!