MJ lingered over a signed group photo, eight passionate faces igniting bittersweet memories. Ateez's bold performances had awakened something in her soul again after the suffocation of her former label. Their fearless artistry sparked a fire she thought long extinguished - the passion for versatile expression through her fluid fusion of dance styles.
As these rekindled emotions swirled within her now in KQ's dim-lit halls, darker recollections arose as well. She recalled fleeing the clutches of her former label, disgusted by their ploys to exploit her rich culture as a gimmick and barter her dignity for fleeting popularity. "Money-grabbing misogynist assholes", she murmured, the memory of them making her feel nauseous. Ever since her debut in 2016, restrictive concepts had stifled her fluid freestyle of ballet, hip-hop, and beyond, aiming to play it "safe" with girly and cute concepts. The only time the label actually went through with her suggestion was when she released the single "Dream of You", the concept being mature yet elegant, and that was what made her known to the public for a short while. However, that didn't seem to be enough for them, and they started pushing her for a mature and sexy concept, trying to take advantage of the fact that she seemed "exotic" to the Korean audience.
When the severe loss of a dear friend shook her soul, returning to her home country briefly seemed her lone refuge. But Greece could not fulfill her true calling and lingering dreams of inspiring global audiences with her versatile talent kept her wandering spirit restless. She adored the stage, seeing the faces of her dear fans -called Jellies- calling her name as she performed for them. It felt healing for her, as it surely felt for them.
Her KQ audition had poured out pent emotions unleashed - from grief over her friend Kim Jonghyun, to frustration over narrow roles foisted upon her as an outsider. Their warm praise rekindled long-faded hope that authentic artistry might at last shine through. Now, taking a steadying breath, MJ was ready to face the CEO who'd shown his vision to see beyond prejudice. Determined to write her own story at long last, she embraced the future and opened the door.
A/N
Well...here we are! This world ain't an easy place... :( The events of our main story begin now! Also, check out the outfits!
Debut days (2016-2017)
Dream of You era (2021)
Everyday look?