I Said I Will Never Become a K-Pop Fan, Then I Discovered BLACKPINK | #BenchPaylaBlog

BLACKPINK [DEADLINE] Pop-Up Store, Mall of Asia, PH

There are some things in life that you are so sure you will never do, until something unexpectedly changes your mind.

For me, becoming a K-pop fan was definitely one of those things. I was never really into K-pop, and honestly, I never imagined myself following a Korean girl group, learning their songs, watching their performances, and eventually becoming part of a fandom. Then my co-blogger Jexx introduced me to BLACKPINK, and everything changed. The first BLACKPINK video I watched was “DDU-DU DDU-DU,” which was released way back in 2018, and I remember being amazed by the girls. I did not know it at the time, but that music video would eventually start my journey as a BLINK.

What started as simply watching one music video slowly turned into discovering more of BLACKPINK’s music, performances, personalities, and individual members. Something about Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé, and Lisa made me want to know more about them, and before I knew it, I was no longer just someone who happened to listen to BLACKPINK. I became a fan.

Looking back, it is actually funny because I used to think K-pop was something I would never get seriously interested in, yet years later, BLACKPINK became one of those artists that I could genuinely say had become part of my life. And, of course, if you know me, you already know that JENNIE is and will always be my bias.

BLACKPINK [DEADLINE] Pop-Up Store, Mall of Asia, PH | JENNIE

Being a BLINK has also given me memories that go beyond simply listening to music. BLACKPINK became part of different moments in my life, from random playlists and late-night listening sessions to following their new releases and watching their performances online. One of the biggest things I never expected was that I would actually see BLACKPINK live.

Watching them through a screen was already exciting, so the idea of being inside an arena filled with thousands of BLINKs and seeing the girls perform right in front of me felt completely different. Eventually, that became a reality when BLACKPINK brought their Deadline World Tour to Manila, giving me an experience that I will always remember.

I wrote about that unforgettable experience here on my blog because I knew I wanted to preserve more than just the setlist and concert highlights.

BLACKPINK [DEADLINE] Pop-Up Store, Mall of Asia, PH | LISA

My BLACKPINK Deadline World Tour Manila Day 2 experience was about the excitement, the crowd, the anticipation, and that incredible feeling when the lights finally went down and BLACKPINK appeared on stage. There are concerts that you enjoy and then move on from, but there are also concerts that become personal memories you know you will talk about for years.

For me, this was definitely one of them. You can read my full experience here: BLACKPINK Deadline World Tour Manila Day 2 Review: Highlights, Setlist, and My Concert Experience.

Another special part of my BLINK journey was writing my reaction to BLACKPINK’s “JUMP.” I called it my “BLINK-FOR-LIFE” reaction because by that point, there was really no denying how much BLACKPINK had become a part of my music journey.

I was no longer the person who said, “I am not into K-pop.” Instead, I was the person excitedly waiting for new BLACKPINK music and wanting to share my thoughts about it here on my blog. Writing about “JUMP” allowed me to capture another moment in my journey as a fan, and it remains one of those posts that feels very personal to me.

You can also read that story here: MY “BLINK-FOR-LIFE” Reaction to BLACKPINK’s “JUMP”.

BLACKPINK [DEADLINE] Pop-Up Store, Mall of Asia, PH | JISOO

So here I am, years after watching “DDU-DU DDU-DU” for the first time, still proudly calling myself a BLINK. Something I once said I would never do- become a K-pop fan- ended up giving me some of the most unexpected and memorable experiences, including seeing BLACKPINK live in Manila.

It also reminded me that we shouldn't be too quick to decide what we will or will not enjoy, because one recommendation, one song, or one random moment can completely change our perspective. For me, that recommendation came from Jexx, and I will always be thankful for it.

BLACKPINK [DEADLINE] Pop-Up Store, Mall of Asia, PH | ROSE

From that first BLACKPINK music video in 2018 to the Deadline World Tour, my journey as a BLINK has become a story that will always have a special place in my heart—and yes, JENNIE remains my girl.

Ending this blog by shouting this hashtag now, literally! #BLACKPINKInYourArea🖤💗

Thank you for reading. Catch you in the next one!