The return of 2NE1: Upcoming tour, what the members have been up to, and iconic looks

2NE1’s return to K-Pop as a group of four came like a bolt of lightning at midnight, July 22, when YG Entertainment confirmed the girl group’s comeback on their official Instagram page. The legendary second generation K-Pop group made up of CL, Sandara Park, Minzy, and Park Bom, are reuniting to commemorate their 15th anniversary since their debut in 2009.

At the same time, the spokesperson of YG Entertainment, Yang Hyun Suk, announced the company’s plans for 2NE1, which includes a concert tour that will begin in early October in Seoul, South Korea. The tour is confirmed for two other locations—Osaka and Tokyo, in November and December of 2024. Other locations have yet to be announced, but the tour is said to continue into 2025, so it’s likely that more stops will be announced in due time. Meanwhile, Sandara Park and CL are among the star-studded lineup for Singapore’s 2024 Waterbomb, happening on August 24 and 25.

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In light of the announcement, catch up on what the 2NE1 members have been up to after disbanding in 2016, and look back on some of their iconic fashion choices.

What the members have been up to since disbandment

CL’s last solo album, ALPHA, was released in 2021. However, she’s been performing every so often, with one of her more recent stages being Psy’s Summer Swag show in Busan in 2023.

Like CL, Minzy has been active in the public eye, performing in her 2023 Glee Tour in Manila, Philippines. She was also a participant in the 2022 Korean reality show Double Trouble, which was a competition to find the best duet.

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Minzy also appeared on Sandara Park’s YouTube channel, where the pair went on a trip to the Philippines.

Besides being on YouTube, Sandara Park has appeared on Korean reality shows such as I Live Alone. More recently, she performed at the One Tone Concert in Taiwan on 20 July.

Park Bom has been more discrete with her public appearances, but the main vocalist of 2NE1 did release a single in 2023 titled “I”.

That’s not to say 2NE1 hasn’t had surprise reunions. 2022 Coachella saw the full team on stage singing their hit “I Am The Best”, as the closing performance of CL’s solo set.

2NE1’s iconic looks

Out of many factors, 2NE1’s unique identity could partly be influenced by their distinctive style. In an industry filled with cutesy dresses and an obsession with natural-looking makeup, 2NE1’s fashion choices certainly stood out from the K-Pop crowd at the time. Check out some of the iconic looks the band has dabbled in below.

Bold hairstyles

Sandara Park’s daring approach to trying out different hairstyles has landed her with one truly remarkable hairdo—the antenna. The gravity-defying hairstyle was a fan-favourite, and she has since recreated it on several occasions.

As if a wacky antenna hairdo wasn’t enough, the members were at times spotted with brightly coloured hair in their music videos that made them look like fictional characters—a bold choice that was less common in the second generation K-Pop world than it is now.

Hip-hop influence

A reflection of their music, their style was heavily influenced by the fashion commonly seen among rappers and hip-hop dancers. High-cut sneakers, hoods, caps, and chains were a regular occurrence for the girls.

Heavy eye makeup

2NE1’s makeup was definitely a statement in itself. Their heavily lined eyes contrasted jarringly against bleached brows, but the look worked perfectly for the girls, nonetheless.

Baddies in prints

Animal prints and furry coats were at times part of their stage outfits, and this fashion choice only conveyed one message—the 2NE1 girls were baddies who were not at all afraid to don daring pieces.

Fashion Week looks

And lastly, in true Sandara Park fashion, the star attended the Vivienne Westwood show in 2022 with her head (and hair) held up high.

This article was originally published in Harper’s Bazaar Singapore.