Twice's Jihyo stands firm on stage attire: 'Heavy, but it was my choice'

Twice's Jihyo revealed her firm convictions regarding her stage presence by choosing an outfit that deviates from the conventional 'exposure formula' at a Waterbomb stage. Given the nature of Waterbomb, which combines water, music, and performance, bold swimwear styling for female artists has become a standard practice. However, Jihyo opted for jeans and provided a brief but clear explanation for her decision.

Jihyo appeared as a headliner at 'WATERBOMB KAOHSIUNG 2026' held at the Dream Mall in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, on the 12th. On this stage, Jihyo paired a pearlescent silver metallic crop top with washed denim pants. While the glamorous metallic material of her upper body maintained the intense stage atmosphere characteristic of Waterbomb, the standout feature was her choice of denim—closer to everyday wear—instead of the typical swimwear or bikinis used for the lower body.

Setting the outfit aside, Jihyo fully demonstrated her signature energy and performance capabilities during the stage itself. She delivered a stable live performance while handling intense choreography, drawing enthusiastic responses from the local audience with stage presence worthy of a headliner.

However, some reactions suggested that denim pants were a somewhat unusual choice given the Waterbomb performance environment, as wet jeans can become significantly heavier than typical performance attire. In fact, local online communities saw comments such as, "The most refined outfit I've seen at Waterbomb," alongside evaluations like, "Regardless of the outfit, Jihyo's performance was truly outstanding."

The reason Jihyo's choice drew even more attention is that it intersects with the unique visual grammar of the Waterbomb festival. Moving beyond a simple music festival, Waterbomb has evolved into a type of experiential performance culture that combines water guns, water cannons, wet clothing, intense lighting, and performance. In particular, for female artists, outfits with high physical exposure, such as swimwear, bikinis, or short shorts, have become established as a style integrated with the Waterbomb image.

In this context, Jihyo's choice of denim pants goes beyond simply wearing a 'less daring outfit.' She demonstrated in her own way that appearing on a specific stage like Waterbomb does not mean one must necessarily follow a predetermined dress code. It can also be interpreted as a choice to place the core of the performance on the music and performance rather than the degree of exposure in the clothing.

Jihyo herself directly confirmed that it was her own decision when responding to fans' questions. When a fan asked through a fan communication platform, "It's my first time seeing someone wear jeans at Waterbomb. Wasn't it heavy?", Jihyo replied, "It was heavy, but it was my choice."

The answer was short, but the meaning was clear. It was not a choice made without knowing that wet denim could be a burden during the performance; rather, it was an explanation that she chose the outfit she wanted despite that discomfort. She prioritized the image and style she wanted to embody on stage over the gaze of others or existing conventions.

Jihyo has established herself as a member of Twice who simultaneously handles intense performance and solid vocals. Since debuting with Twice in 2015, she has worked as a core vocalist and performer for the group through numerous hits such as "CHEER UP", "TT", "LIKEY", "FANCY", and "Feel Special". In 2023, she showcased a different musical color from her group activities by releasing her first solo mini-album, "ZONE".

In particular, Jihyo's stage image has been built toward showing healthy beauty, strong energy, and stable live vocals. Therefore, choosing styling that emphasizes movement and performance rather than physical exposure itself at this Waterbomb event is also partially connected to the image she has built over time.

Waterbomb imposes physical constraints on artists that differ from typical music shows. Because artists must simultaneously handle wet clothing and equipment, slippery stages, intense lighting, and direct interaction with the audience, clothing is an element directly linked to performance capability beyond mere fashion. In such a situation, the denim Jihyo chose, even while enduring discomfort, paradoxically made the message that she decides her own stage outfits even clearer.

While stage outfits are directly linked to a star's image, they are also an area where an artist decides their own body and way of expression. Choosing a daring outfit or choosing an outfit with less exposure should both be respected as the performer's choice. The elements that constitute the heat of Waterbomb cannot be reduced solely to the degree of exposure.

This is why Jihyo's words, "It was heavy, but it was my choice," garnered attention. Her attitude of wanting to complete the stage in her desired way, rather than changing herself to fit the standards of a flashy festival, was captured in those few words. Ultimately, what Jihyo demonstrated was not just the novelty of wearing jeans at Waterbomb, but the clear principle that the artist remains the one who decides what to wear on stage.