Although our May 2020 issue features Jihyo, of Korean girl group TWICE, on the cover, she is one of nine members. All stopped by the photo studio to not only try out vibrant makeup and nail art but also chat with me.

I had 20 minutes with Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu, one after another, like someone's dream version of speed dating. Each briefly brought me into their individual parcels of the sparkly TWICE world they've occupied since debuting in 2015. As a group, they've achieved worldwide success over the past five years — most recently, partnering with American record label Republic Records, and soon, launching a YouTube Originals series — so these rare, one-on-one glimpses into their individual paths to this point felt particularly special. (Pun intended.)

Mina Jooyoung Ahn

First, I meet Mina. Her demeanor may seem demure, but the thoughts she shares with me are as bold as the mesmerizing star-shaped glitter sprinkled around her eyes. "Even though we work, we sing and perform as one group, we are different individuals with different characters," she reveals, setting the tone for the rest of the interviews.

Chaeyoung, follows. As she tells me about all the ways she seeks out ways to express herself and escape boredom — namely drawing and vintage shopping — I notice the one thing she doesn't bring up: tattoos. Colorful ink decorates the 20-year-olds fingers and arms. She's also known for having equally as bright hair. (At the moment, her ends are electric teal.) I ask Chaeyoung if she gets bored easily. "Oh yeah, totally," she remarks.