As I write this, a little more than two weeks have passed since K-pop phenomenon NewJeans rebranded as NJZ. In that short span of time, the quintet’s new Instagram account (@njz_official) has managed to garner more than 5 million followers. There is no doubt that this number is set to grow—especially since the girls will be headlining ComplexCon Hong Kong, taking place later this month, with a performance that includes new music.
Related article: Breaking News: NewJeans Joins Calvin Klein As Brand Ambassadors
The stans, or rather, Bunnies (as NJZ fans are collectively known) have spoken and they stand strong with the group. So it was with no small excitement that the ELLE team headed up to Seoul to shoot Danielle Marsh for our March cover. And if we weren’t fans before, we certainly are now. She’s unassuming, refreshingly down to earth, and as sweet, bubbly and thoughtful as the Bunnies think she is: Our shoot was scheduled on Valentine’s Day, so she turned up on set with a box of chocolates for everyone. Needless to say, after that gesture, resistance was futile. Of course, it also helps that she looks amazing in photographs. Within minutes of the shoot, everyone on set started thinking of her as a one-take wonder. Read our interview with her to find out when she knew that music was her calling and what excites her most about the future.
With this being the start of spring/summer, we’ve also packed our pages with the best that the fashion season has to offer. From the biggest trends to note in our concise 18-page trend report, to more than 50 pages worth of beautifully shot fashion editorials spread across the issue, we’ve curated the season’s highlights so that you’ll have it all in your hands for easy reference.
As much as fashion is this month’s raison d’etre, we’ve not forgotten our promise to deliver news and updates across the board for a rounded perspective. There are behind-the-scenes glimpses and interviews with taste-crafters across beauty, jewellery, and lifestyle, complemented with reports on global phenomena such as the resurgence of “dumb” phones and the ever-widening Global Gender Gap.
And to salute International Women’s Day, we throw the spotlight on 18 impressive women in Singapore who are shattering glass ceilings and remoulding perceptions across artificial intelligence, health, travel, and even wrestling.
Enjoy the read and remember to always celebrate fresh starts. Today is the first day of the rest of your life.