Editor-in-Chief Barbara Koh flies to Seoul for an exclusive interview with K-pop superstar and Urban Decay Global Citizen CL.
CL in a 2NE1 concert in 2014.
She’s a huge K-pop star, one of the OGs - an original. If you’re still in the dark, Lee Chae-Rin, better known as CL, was the leader of K-pop girl group 2NE1, considered one of the biggest girl groups of their time. But even as she started off as an 18-year-old with the YG-managed 2NE1, CL possessed way more swagger, more attitude than her peers – embodying a selfreliant, independent, badass attitude that was way ahead of her time.
It’s no wonder then that when beauty brand Urban Decay decided to shake things up, it turned to a group of celebrities, including the 28-yearold CL, to become its #PrettyDifferent Global Citizens. Urban Decay Founding Partner Wende Zomnir says the launch of this new “Pretty Different” manifesto “is our anthem for fellow makeup junkies who don’t want to subscribe to beauty standards”.
So, when you get to meet a megastar, you want to ask her as many questions as you can. Here's what we got out of her in 10 minutes.
Q: Why do you think you’re #PrettyDifferent?
CL: I mean… can’t you see?! I AM pretty different and I have always been, even as a kid. My personality, the things I liked. Actually I didn’t think I was different, but the other kids thought I was weird. But I didn’t let that bother me. I love making friends and I’ve learnt that when you show interest and start connecting, it doesn’t really matter if you are different.
Q: Which country would you love to visit?
CL: I really want to see the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights. My favourite time of year is winter – sipping a cup of hot chocolate and just taking in the snowy scenery.
Q: What inspires you?
CL: When I see people fighting for something I believe in, for something like #PrettyDifferent, I am inspired. Being a woman, being an Asian woman, being a musician and artist, all these things inspire me.
Q: Name the Urban Decay products you did-die must have.
CL: My die-die – is that how you say it? – is the All-Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray which I have been using since I went on tour. Another must-have is the Urban Decay Naked Cherry Eyeshadow Palette. I love the colours, but my nickname is Cherry, so I think I am being 99 per cent biased! I now have a new favourite, the Naked Honey Eyeshadow Palette. There’s gold and yellow, but very Christmassy, which I love. And definitely, the eyeliner!
CL: I actually start with eye makeup first, then I do the rest of the face. I do my makeup in a super-cold room because I like my pores really tight – I feel this helps my foundation stay on through the day. And, of course, I finish off with Urban Decay's All-Nighter.
CL: I started really late – only after the debut of “To Anyone” in 2010. As I said, I was a tomboy growing up, so I wasn’t interested in makeup at all. But when the album first came out, a lot of people judged me on the way I looked as I didn’t exactly match the typical standard of beauty. That’s when I decided I didn’t want people to judge my music and performance by the way I looked. I began to study my face structure and my outfits, and started playing with makeup. My makeup, outfit and hair are all an expression of my music.
CL: Anything my grandma cooks, obviously! And recently, I really like the Korean pumpkin soup or porridge (hobakjuk).
CL: I love Disney. My mother told me I used to love watching Dumbo and Bambi when I was little. She said I watched those 5,000 times! I love all types of cartoons. And on my playlist these days is Disney music.
CL: I go to myself. I actually go through my old journals. A lot of people look to the outside for solutions, but in hard times, I think it’s best when you look within yourself and that’s where you’ll find the answers.
