The Girl Group Star Who Worked Part Time In A Restaurant Before Debuting
K-Pop idols come from all types of backgrounds, especially financial ones. But considering the amount of training most aspiring idols undergo, fans don’t encounter many of them who have previously worked as part-timers before enjoying the fame of debuting in a K-Pop group.
Such is the story of TripleS‘s Mayu, one of the group’s Japanese members who, before debuting, worked part-time in a Korean restaurant.
Born Kōma Mayu on May 12, 2002, in Tomioka, Japan, Mayu harbored dreams of becoming a K-Pop idol from a young age. Despite her strong passion, her parents were initially against the idea, so she continued her education in college.
📍in Bangkok🇹🇭❤️#tripleS #트리플에스#Mayu #마유 pic.twitter.com/uNaGY5A5c5
— tripleS official (@triplescosmos) May 13, 2024
However, Mayu couldn’t let go of her dreams. Determined to pursue her passion, she joined Bloom Academy, a Japanese talent academy, in the early 2020s. Her dedication soon paid off when she was scouted on Instagram. Although she was already in talks with another company, a second scout from MODHAUS (TripleS’s agency) reached out to her academy, and after auditioning, she decided to join MODHAUS.
Recently, a video surfaced of Mayu allegedly working as a part-timer in a Korean restaurant in Japan, gaining admiration from fans who praised her dedication and hard work. In the video she can be seen working diligently while plating up food for customers while wearing a nametag with her name written in Korean.
tripleS S16 Koma Mayu working at a part time job at a restaurant poor era we are so happy she debuted works working predebut korea japan japanese korean with a mask and blue shirt ASSEMBLE24 Girls Never Die objekt pic.twitter.com/AtWEHRyfar
— tripleS videos i have saved on my phone (@LOVEIution) May 20, 2024
Mayu herself confirmed the part-time worker rumors when she mentioned having a job during her university days in a recent vlog, revealing a glimpse of her humble beginnings before she achieved her dream of becoming a K-Pop idol.
After being successfully scouted, Mayu’s journey with TripleS began officially on April 20, when she was confirmed as the eighth and final member of the newly announced sub-unit, EVOLution. Her initial teaser image dropped on July 15, and she was introduced as the group’s sixteenth member through an introductory video on July 19. By July 24, she had moved into the dorm, where she became roommates with fellow members Kaede and Nien.
Her official debut with EVOLution came on October 11 with the release of their mini-album <⟡> and the title track “Invincible.” Mayu and EVOLution participated in the Australian leg of the <Authentic> Tour in December, and she joined the Seoul leg of the tour in February alongside members of LOVElution and NXT.
Since then Mayu continues to be one of the most loved stars in the 24-member group, having defied all odds to make it in the harsh K-Pop industry.
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