House of K-Pop; TWICE performer Dahyun becomes a global ambassador for luxury fashion house Michael Kors

When we here at PeopleWorld first wrote about how K-Pop would not only take over the musical landscape but become an integral part of fashion houses through ambassadorships and endorsements, we were not kidding. No sooner did we go through the deals that NewJeans are involved in, than another K-Pop act has been signed on as a global ambassador for another fashion house.

On this occasion, it’s TWICE’s Dahyun, who has become an ambassador for American fashion house Michael Kors. Before becoming the ambassador, Dahyun attended Michael Kors' spring and fall 2023 collections runway shows during New York Fashion Week and visited the new Michael Kors lifestyle store at Aventura Mall in Florida.

The brand is a well-known luxury fashion brand based in New York. It is one of the flagship brands owned by Capri Holdings, a multinational fashion luxury group. The brand is known for its high-end clothing, accessories, and luxury goods. 

Despite facing a decrease in sales for the Michael Kors brand during the fourth quarter, Capri Holdings aims to boost its presence in the Asian market, where sales have shown signs of recovery, especially in China - with a view that Dahyun’s involvement might capture the South Korean marketplace.

Dahyun is the latest K-Pop star to be involved with Michael Kors, after BLACKPINK appeared in various promotional materials, including photoshoots and advertisements, showcasing Michael Kors' designs in 2020 and popular boy group EXO has been associated with Michael Kors on occasion, donning the brand's clothing for photoshoots and events.

Who is Dahyun (김다현)?

Kim Da-Hyun (Korean: 김다현), known also as Dahyun, was born on May 28, 1998, in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, and grew up with her parents and an older brother. From a young age, Dahyun showcased her passion for music, singing with her Christian church choir and gaining attention in sixth grade for her dance performance called the "eagle dance," which became popular on YouTube.

Dahyun's exceptional dance skills and stage presence caught the eye of talent scouts, leading her to become a trainee at JYP Entertainment for over three years. In 2015, she participated in the reality TV show "Sixteen," where she competed against other trainees to secure a spot in the new girl group formed by JYP Entertainment. Successfully making it through the competition, Dahyun was chosen as a member of Twice, where she took on the roles of both a singer and rapper.

In October 2015, Dahyun officially debuted with TWICE with the release of their EP, "The Story Begins," and the lead single "Like Ooh-Ahh." The group quickly gained immense popularity, becoming one of the most successful and beloved K-pop girl groups worldwide.

Dahyun's dedication to her craft extended beyond her music career, as she graduated from Hanlim Multi Art School in 2017. In Gallup Korea's annual music poll, she was recognized as the seventeenth most popular idol in South Korea, reflecting her growing influence in the entertainment industry.

Outside of her music endeavours, Dahyun has been involved in endorsements and partnerships. In March 2021, she, along with her bandmate Sana, was selected as the face of the skincare brand A'pieu. Their collaboration continued as Dahyun renewed her contract with A'pieu until 2024 in April 2022.

Despite her success, Dahyun has faced challenges and controversies throughout her career. In 2018, she received criticism from a Japanese lawmaker for wearing a T-shirt made by Marymond, an organization supporting comfort women who were victims of sexual slavery during World War II. In the aftermath, the lack of support from JYP Entertainment's founder, J. Y. Park, drew criticism from The Korea Times.