"MZ wannabe icon" IVE's Rei was recognized as an all-time trendsetter.
Rei attended the TikTok Awards Korea 2025 held at Hwajeong Gymnasium at Korea University in Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, on the 25th and, by taking home the Best Trend Leader award, proved she is an icon leading global short-form trends.
Through her agency Starship Entertainment, Rei said, "Thank you to the global fans who loved my various sides this year, including the 'rampaging guinea (rampaging guinea pig)'. I'm so happy and amazed that the TikToks I made for fun have come back as such a big gift."
She added, "I hope many people won't be afraid to share what they like with others. Whether it's music or fashion, showing what you like can become a trend for someone. As the winner of the Best Trend Leader award, I will continue to bring fresh enjoyment in my own way," and she added, "From Oct. 31, IVE will begin their second world tour. We'll show you great performances, so please continue your support and interest."
Since her debut, Rei, who earned the nickname "pose master" by popularizing a variety of signature poses such as the ribbon peace and the Kongsuni pose, quickly captured trends on the global short-form platform TikTok and reinterpreted them in her own mood or created new short-form trends with novel ideas, capturing the attention of fans and the public.
In particular, she received wide love for challenges such as the Tiramisu Cake Challenge, Real or Fake, Sorry I'm Cute, and Iraira Challenge, and this year IVE's "Rampaging Guinea" challenge, linked to the group's ATTITUDE activities, spread amid participation from various K-pop artists and struck the challenge market. Among fans it even became memefied with variations like "rampaging OO" and "OO-guinea," and fittingly as a trendsetter, Rei officially received recognition for that influence by winning the Best Trend Leader award at the TikTok Awards Korea 2025.
Beyond TikTok, Rei has received love calls across beauty, fashion and entertainment, exuding her natural charms and establishing herself as an icon representing Millennials and Gen Z. She continues to share a colorful daily life and communicate with fans through her weekly Thursday solo YouTube content Try This Rei, and expectations are growing for the new wave the all-time trendsetter Rei will bring.
Meanwhile, IVE, which includes Rei, will open the second world tour Show What I Am with a three-day run from Oct. 31 to Nov. 2 at Seoul KSPO Dome (formerly Olympic Gymnastics Arena).
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