The Parasocial Relationship Between Jennie Kim and Her Fans

Written by: Angelica Chiw (22-I6), Lok Qi Ern (22-O1)

Designed by: Marissa Tan (23-O1)

The parasocial relationship between Jennie Kim and her fans: Why the breakout Hollywood star has amassed such a following.

Jennie Kim, world renowned K-pop icon, has captivated the hearts of many. With over 77 million Instagram followers, she is definitely one of the most influential celebrities of our time. 

Having stepped foot into the industry for about 7 years, Jennie Kim has already gained a large following. Not only does this include a massive international fanbase, it also includes many famous celebrities  such as Jung HoYeon, the prominent actress from Squid Games, and  musical favourites, such as Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa and Selena Gomez. 

What makes Jennie so appealing? Seeing how she has achieved international fame so quickly, it’s easy to question her characteristics. 

1. Jennie’s ability to immerse herself in the fashion industry

Jennie has been thriving in the fashion scene for a while now, with the idol being at the forefront of many luxury fashion brands. Furthermore, she has been the ambassador of the house of Chanel since 2017 and has just been named the fourth and newest face of the Chanel 22 bag. As an elegant figure, Jennie has definitely drawn the attention of many fashion houses, seeing how she became the first Korean celebrity to model for luxury jewellery brand Boucheron. Moreover, she always puts a lot of thought into her work. In her Solo music video, Jennie prepared 20 outfits for her dancers and herself, to capture the essence and detail of every scene. With such versatility, it is no surprise that the fashion market is in awe of this star-spangled celebrity. 

Jennie Ruby Jane amassed a cult-like following (as with all Korean pop groups) following her debut as a member of YG Entertainment’s girl group, Blackpink. But how exactly does this enigmatic character leave us all gaping at her grandiose Chanel poster in the local shopping district? How has she attained such unprecedented popularity, such that even my pop culture-illiterate sister sends me ten-month old Facebook reels of Jennie?

The answer may lie in her scrupulously curated “it girl persona”, a promulgating term referring to “a young woman who has achieved celebrity because of her socialite lifestyle.” (Oxford Languages) Other widely recognised 21st century ‘it girls’ include (but are not limited to) fellow ‘The Idol’ star Lily-Rose Depp for her heroine chic persona, Isabella ‘Khair’ Hadid for being a supermodel and wellness guru, Alexa Demie for starring in Euphoria and her mysterious aura and most recently, a slew of other Korean girl group members who all behave like mini Jennies (unverified). What is it, anyway? Perhaps only Jennie Ruby Jane knows, with her mysteriously arising middle name which only serves to propel her star power and allure.

But what sets Jennie apart vis-a-vis her famous counterparts? Using Instagram as a mode of comparison, she has ten times the number of followers as Lily-Rose, and seven times that of Alexa Demie. The answer may lie in her record-breaking albums as a member of Blackpink (the first ever Korean act to headline at Coachella, the most streamed female group on Spotify, the most viewed Korean music video of 2018 and counting) yet she remains the most famed out of the members. Could it be, then, her effortless and versatile manner of dressing that surpasses any other idol out there? Her (we mean her stylist’s) knack for determining the appropriate formula to be best-dressed under any circumstance is highly laudable. This golden ratio consists of picking an outfit befitting her physique, fitting her aura, and paying homage to a delicate balance of uniqueness and tribute to her innermost sanctum. 

Therefore, there is no question that Jennie Ruby Jane is a phenomenal style trendsetter, owing to a quintessential ‘Jennie’ look and aesthetic others can only strive to emulate. The barriers to entry are too high, including being on Chanel’s VVIP list shortly after she was affectionately dubbed ‘Human Chanel’ by fans and not-fans alike. The great powers of manifestation only prove to work in the form of heavenly bodies such as hers, as she was quickly named brand ambassador by Chanel Korea and graduated to become the brand’s global ambassador, which she has remained as thereafter. She now has portraits taken by Inez and Vinoodh, and was seen conversing with Anna Wintour on one occasion. Her rise to fame culminated in becoming an official Hollywood starlet, after quickly adopting the mannerisms and star quality of the standard white Hollywood breakout star. Starring in the sleazy HBO Euphoria ripoff that is ‘The Idol’, alongside icons like The Weeknd, Lily-Rose Depp, and Troye Sivan, Jennie adds an acting gig to her ever-growing belt of accolades.

Yet, for this risen (and still rising) starlet and her acceleration to fame, nothing much is known about her other than her typical riches-to-riches story; she was born rich, had a sudden spur of motivation to be an idol and, lo and behold, became one eventually after five years and eleven months of rigorous sculpting to become the latest beloved Barbie. Nothing else is revealed about her– her favourite authors, her political compass, her family history are all questions forgotten in the void and best left unknown. Parallel to the Alexa Demie mystique, perhaps this contributes to her enigmatic character. A wise path, indeed, as Lily-Rose Depp was de-mystified after that one interview about nepotism. One cannot critique what is cleverly left unknown. 

What else could it mean? The additional X-factor that comes with a middle name Ruby, and last name Jane? Her allure, her grace and wit, her voice that could calm the disturbed and appease Artemis above? Her immaculate taste? Or, could she be it? Perhaps Jennie Ruby Jane, the X-factor, is the answer the world has been looking for.