Girls' Generation hasn't released new music for a couple of years now, but one member's solo career is just beginning. Tiffany Young has already released two albums and recently ended a tour in Asia. Now, she says she's back in the studio to work on more music. She's become the breakout star of the iconic K-pop girl group and while she's grateful for that time in her life and loves her bandmates, she's making a big name for herself as a solo artist. Here are 10 facts about her that will make you fall back in love with K-pop.
Tiffany Young is her stage name.
Her real name is Stephanie Young Hwang.
Tiffany moved to South Korea to be in Girls Generation.
Tiffany was born in America and was raised in California, but when she was discovered by SM Entertainment at 15, she moved over 5,000 miles away to Seoul to join Girls' Generation. Although, back in 2017 after 10 years of being in the group, Tiffany, Seohyun and Sooyoung decided not to renew their contracts with the group's label.
She's "obsessed" with Ariel.
Tiffany is a big Disney fan and told Interview Magazine she loves The Little Mermaid. She said the whole story of the movie "speaks to me." She said she can relate to the movie's different themes like using your voice (poor Ariel struggled on a literal level 😔) and going after a love you believe in.
She's got at least 30 new songs recorded right now.
In that same interview, Tiffany said she's been in the studio working on new music. "I have been in the studio and I have recorded 30 songs," she said. "I am ready to go back into the studio and experiment with more incredible producers, search for the right lyrics and emotions." Tiffany said she would go right back in the studio to work on more music after her Asia tour ended.
Tiffany wants her music to be a blend of K-pop and pop music.
She told Elite Daily that, her music has "always been about bridging worlds. I grew up here in California, and now that I'm back here, I hope I can be a bridge and merge both worlds together."
She thinks in both Korean and English.
In an interview with Buzzfeed, Tiffany was asked, "do you think in Korean or English?" She said, "I guess I'm getting both worlds where I get to come here and say 'I'm thinking in Korean!' Because I was always thinking in English when I was in Korea, but I guess I'm flexing both muscles."
She loves Madonna.
In her interview with Paper Magazine, Tiffany calls Madonna, Cher and Donna Summer, "leading ladies who had such a bold and passionate statement."
She is the only member of Girls' Generation who speaks English.
Tiffany told The Zach Sang Show that K-pop groups are typically made up of Korean people from around the world so that the group can reach a wider audience. At the five minute mark she says, "Now more than ever there's always a Korean-American member, but there's also Canadian-Korean or Canadian Chinese... They're always looking for an English speaking member or a member who can speak a foreign language so [the group] can reach more fans. So that we can start talking for ourselves, not with a translator."
Tiffany is estranged from her father.
Back in 2018, Tiffany's father was accused of fraud. She released an official statement that same year saying that she hadn't spoken to her father for multiple years by that point and had been pressured by him to pay off his "various debts."
She loves Carrie Bradshaw's style.
In an interview with Elle, she was asked if she had any style icons. "Of course," she said. "Carrie Bradshaw—Sarah Jessica Parker." She also said that she "loved" Blake Lively in Gossip Girl.
