Content creator Leah (@mizchiefmagik) has seen K-pop girl group TWICE ten times since their Ready to Be World Tour stop in Melbourne in 2023. At every show, she holds up a sign that reads, “It’s our Xth date,” referring to her bias, Chaeyoung. It has become a small but endearing ritual that’s become part of her concert routine, and the gesture has even caught the attention of the group’s main rapper.
But her journey to become a ONCE (the official fandom name for TWICE) started as recently as 2019 when the group dropped their lead single, ‘Fancy’.
From ‘Fancy’ to Fandom
Featured on their EP Fancy You, the release introduced a mature, sleek, and confident concept that departed from the cute, bubbly image of earlier hits such as Cheer Up and TT.
“When they started doing more chic and mature concepts, I started to get more invested in their music,” she said, adding that the family-like dynamic within the nearly decade-old girl group made her feel even more connected to them.
As for her bias, Chaeyoung, it was her standout pastel pink bob that drew Leah in.
Chaeyoung’s Charm
“She also has a lot of artistic, fairy tale-like tattoos and is really fashionable as well. She’s introverted but also really funny at the same time. I really like that contrast between her personality and visuals,” she said.
The content creator who produces fashion-related content on her platforms is also a fan of the range of styles the idol can pull off.
“She plays with a lot of patterns and colours. I feel that she’s not afraid to dress how she wants,” said Leah, who added that her boldness is something that she can relate to in her work as a content creator. “She’s different from the other members. For myself, I do like to stand out in the way I dress and the content I do.”
A Fancall to Remember
Recently, she even had the rare opportunity to speak to Chaeyoung over a fancall, a virtual meet-and-greet event where K-pop fans get to talk directly with their idols briefly.
In order to make the most of it, Leah, who has been learning Korean for close to two years, made sure to practise her script with her teacher and even timed her script to ensure she could stay within the time limit.
“I wanted to support her solo, and I felt like this was the best time for me to do so with a fan call,” she said. “The call ended really fast, so I couldn’t convey a lot of things to her, but she was really nice on the call.”
But the experience left her wanting more, and the superfan has already lined up another fancall in the future, hoping to bring up their chance encounter in the basement of a Seoul shopping mall in 2022, when she was on vacation.
Following TWICE Across Asia and Australia
In the meantime, Leah is focused on her personal content series, following TWICE across Asia on their fourth world tour, This is For.
In 2023, she caught seven concert nights across Singapore, Bangkok, Melbourne and Seoul. This year, she’s already made stops in Seoul and Tokyo, with plans to travel to Melbourne, Taipei and Bangkok, alongside TWICE’s two-night show in Singapore at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.
Her time at the Tokyo stop was the most memorable, she said. “The Japanese fans are on another level. I really wanted to be in that environment. Experiencing it was really fun.”
“They have a really big Japanese audience, so they cater a lot of their merchandise to them. The fans are usually fully decked out, and it is a visual experience. When you buy albums, you can also stand a chance to meet them or be part of an autograph session. It’s like a lucky draw, which I really like because I am a bit of a blind box addict,” she added, revealing that she spent 27 tries on a claw machine to get an exclusive Chaeyoung merchandise item.
Connecting Fans Around the World
Her TWICE-themed travels have also resonated with her followers, who have messaged her asking what’s next on her itinerary.
“I have fans asking me if I am heading to different countries. And when people from different countries watch and follow my series, I am motivated to continue what I do.”
She has even formed international friendships through her content. “I made friends with a Japanese girl at a TWICE event in South Korea, and we were trading photocards. She came across my video on Instagram and even offered me tickets to their concert in Fukuoka, but I couldn’t make it. But these are things that happened that were really sweet.”
Even as early as 2023, Leah had other ONCEs from Malaysia and Indonesia recognising her from her videos when she was attending the group’s concert in Melbourne.
“I just hope they enjoy watching it. Not everybody gets the chance to experience the concert, so to be able to share videos for people to resonate with it or become a fan of TWICE, that’s all that matters. I also want to create memories of my experience and to share them with others. This forms a little community and allows fans to show support to each other,” she said.
The Thrill of the Tenth Time
With the girl group set to grace the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Oct 11 and 12, Leah has been preparing thoroughly for the occasion.
“I am planning my outfit to match her solo, Lil Fantasy Vol. 1, something dreamy and whimsical,” she said.
Along with her outfit, she has planned what to write on her fan signs, though she will be skipping her usual Chaeyoung-themed nail designs this time.
Even as she prepares for her tenth TWICE concert, the thrill and charm of seeing the group live shows no sign of fading.
Eager to see the K-pop sensation live? TWICE < THIS IS FOR > WORLD TOUR IN SINGAPORE is happening at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on Oct 11 and 12. Be part of the excitement - tag us on Instagram when sharing your best memories during the concert!
