As one quarter of the record-breaking K-pop girl group BLACKPINK, Lisa has firmly established herself as a global icon. Born in Thailand, she now calls Seoul home, but her career has taken her far beyond the music world. The rapper is busy in her home country filming the highly anticipated third season of HBO’s The White Lotus, and can also often be found in Paris at fashion shows as the new house ambassador for Louis Vuitton. With a strong presence in fashion, television and even film, Lisa’s rise to superstardom has been a fascinating journey. Since she was recently interviewed by Billboard, here are some intriguing facts about the multi-talented artist that you might not know.

She likes to collect Pop-Mart figurines

When she’s not making headlines with her music, Lisa enjoys a quirky hobby: toy collecting. Lisa is a fan of Pop Mart, the international toy store chain known for its adorable collectible figures, and is so obsessed that she once visited three different locations in Paris in one day in search of a rare figurine.

She likes Thai food

While many stars love to try new dishes, Lisa’s love for Thai cuisine runs deep. She lives in Los Angeles and is often advised by locals to try places like Anajak or Jitlada, two well-known Thai restaurants in the city. However, Lisa insists that they don’t quite reflect the ‘OG’ flavor she craves. “It doesn’t taste like home,” she says. For her, the flavors are different from the authentic Thai food she enjoys at home, and she prefers Ruen Pair, a local Thai restaurant where she can find the true taste of Thailand.

She is part of the first KPOP group to headline Coachella

As part of BLACKPINK, Lisa has helped the group achieve record-breaking milestones. In 2019, BLACKPINK made history as the first Korean girl group to perform at Coachella, and in 2023, they became the first Korean act ever to headline the festival.

She became the first K-pop artist to chart on Billboard’s Top 40 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart

In addition to her success with BLACKPINK, Lisa has also made waves as a solo artist. Her 2021 song Moneywhich merges hip-hop and pop, was a huge hit, reaching No. 36 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. This achievement made Lisa the first K-pop artist to enter the top 40 of the charts, setting her apart as a force to be reckoned with on the global music scene.

She changed her name for luck

Lisa’s name change is an important part of her journey to stardom. Born Pranpriya Manobal, she auditioned for YG Entertainment when she was just 13 years old but didn’t hear back. Concerned about her lack of success, her mother took her to a fortune teller, a common practice in Thai culture; the narrator advised her to change her name for luck. Shortly after giving herself the name Lalisa, which roughly means “one who is praised,” YG invited her to train in Seoul. The rest, as they say, is history.

Looking back on her past, Lisa says there is one thing she would say to her younger self: “Whatever you do now? Just keep going.” Wise words.