Momo Hirai facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Momo Hirai
Momo in 2024
Born	(1996-11-09) November 9, 1996 (age 28) Kyōtanabe, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Occupation	Singer dancer rapper
Musical career
Origin	Seoul, South Korea
Genres	K-pop J-pop
Instruments	Vocals
Years active	2015–present
Labels	JYP Warner Japan Republic
Japanese name
Kanji	平井 もも
Romanization	Hirai Momo
Korean name
Hangul	모모
RR	Momo
MR	Momo
Signature

Momo Hirai (平井 もも, Hirai Momo, 平井 桃; born November 9, 1996) is a Japanese singer, dancer, and rapper. She is known by her stage name Momo (Hangul: 모모; Japanese: モモ). Momo is a member of the popular South Korean girl group Twice. She is also part of its special group called MiSaMo.

Momo's Journey to Stardom

Early Life and Dance Beginnings

Momo Hirai was born in Kyōtanabe, a city in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. She started dancing when she was just three years old. Her older sister, Hana, also danced with her.

Momo became interested in the South Korean music scene early on. She appeared in a music video for a singer named Lexy in 2008. Later, in 2011, she was on a talent show called Superstar K.

Joining JYP Entertainment

In 2012, Momo and her sister were noticed by JYP Entertainment. This happened after the company saw an online video of them dancing. Both sisters were asked to audition, but only Momo passed. She then moved to South Korea in April 2012 to become a K-Pop trainee.

Before joining Twice, Momo danced in many music videos. She was originally supposed to join a four-member girl group in Japan in 2012. However, JYP Entertainment put this plan on hold.

In 2015, Momo took part in a South Korean reality TV show called Sixteen. This show was created by JYP Entertainment. Momo was first eliminated from the show. But, the head of JYP, Park Jin-young, brought her back. He chose her to be part of the final group, Twice, because of her amazing dance skills.

Debuting with Twice and MiSaMo

Momo in November 2015

In October 2015, Momo officially became a member of Twice. They released their first extended play (EP) called The Story Begins. Their first main song was "Like Ooh-Ahh".

On February 9, 2023, JYP Entertainment announced something exciting. Momo, along with her bandmates Sana and Mina, would debut in Japan. They formed a special group called MiSaMo. Their first EP, Masterpiece, was released on July 26, 2023. Before this, on January 25, 2023, they released a song called "Bouquet." This song was part of the soundtrack for a TV show.

Momo's Artistic Style

Momo shared that her older sister, Hana, greatly influenced her. She started dancing with her sister at age three. Momo also looks up to the J-pop singer Namie Amuro. She said she "wanted to be like her someday." She also loves the groups 2NE1 and Rain. Momo explained, "I always wanted to thrill people with my dance, and K-pop dance thrilled me."

Brand Partnerships

Momo has worked with several brands. In 2022, she became the face of Wonjungyo. This is a makeup brand overseen by Twice's makeup artist. In October 2022, she was announced as the ambassador for the Japanese sports brand, Onitsuka Tiger.

In May 2023, Momo appeared as a model for the Japanese news app SmartNews. In June 2023, she was chosen as the Japanese ambassador for the Italian fashion brand Miu Miu.

Influence and Popularity

Momo is well-known for her amazing physical fitness and dance moves. Fans often call her the "Dance Machine." She is considered the best dancer in Twice.

Momo at the 2018 Asia Artist Awards

In a 2018 music poll by Gallup Korea, Momo was voted the 20th most popular idol in South Korea. She was the second-highest ranked Japanese person in the poll, right after her bandmate Sana. Since her debut, Momo has been one of the most popular non-Korean K-pop stars. Some believe her popularity has helped improve relations between South Korea and Japan.

In 2019, a video trailer of Momo for the song Feel Special gained a lot of attention on Twitter. She was also ranked as the tenth most popular female K-pop idol in a survey of soldiers in South Korea. In 2023, Momo made history by becoming the first Japanese person to reach 10 million followers on Instagram. She achieved this in just eight months after opening her page.

Music and TV Appearances

Songwriting

Momo has helped write lyrics for several songs.

Television Shows

Momo has appeared on various TV shows.

Hosting

Momo has also been a host for events.

See also

In Spanish: Momo Hirai para niños