What happened to the legendary JYP Entertainment trainee Natty? Seven years after joining "SIXTEEN," here's the current status of the Thai-born K-pop star.
Natty 2014-2017: JYP Trainee, TWICE's 'SIXTEEN,' 'Idol School' Created fromis_9
Ahnatchaya Suputhipong, also known as Natty, was born in Thailand on May 30, 2002. Before becoming an idol aspirant, she worked as a child model in her hometown.
At 12, she started training under JYP in Entertainment in Korea. Initially, she wasn't familiar with K-pop but eventually fell in love with it after watching J.Y. Park videos and learning from her sister trainees (now members of TWICE).
In 2015 then, she was given a chance to join the reality show "SIXTEEN," launched by JYP, who will give birth to a new girl group called TWICE.
During the competition, Natty became famous for her incredible dance skills among viewers and was recognized by J.Y. Park himself.
ALSO READ: Where are the Eliminated 'SIXTEEN' Contestants Now? The Aspiring Idols Who Didn't Debut in TWICE
Unfortunately, she was only 13 years old at that time, which became a hindrance to her debut. Although the idol aspirant made it into the final episode, Natty was eliminated and her age became one of the factors she wasn't able to debut with TWICE.
Later on, she left the agency.
In 2017, she joined another survival program Mnet's "Idol School," looking more mature and beautiful than she was two years ago.
Her dance skills upgraded, but on top of that, her vocals were strongly praised, even ranking #1 among participants in regards to singing abilities.
Unfortunately, she was also eliminated in Episode 11, losing the chance to debut with fromis_9. Later on, it was revealed that there was voting manipulation that happened during the competition. According to fans, Natty could have debuted if the results were not rigged.
Natty in 2020: Idol Signed With Swing Entertainment, Solo Debut, First Comeback
After failing to debut twice, people are curious if what will be the idol aspirant's next move. It took about two years when Natty announced in April that she finally found her new nest, Swing Entertainment.
On the 20th of the same month, fans were delighted after Natty's solo debut news. After about six years of being a trainee, the Thai star became a K-pop idol after she released her single, "NINETEEN," on May 7.
In November, she made a speedy return with her second single, "Teddy Bear." During her first comeback, the idol announced her fandom name, "TwiNny."
Where is Natty in 2022? Fans Express Curiosity If When She Will Return to K-pop Scene
Although fans thought that Natty's debut would start her limelight in the K-pop industry as a Thai-born star, the female idol suddenly "disappeared" from the music scene after 2020.
Since that year, Natty hasn't made a comeback or dropped any release. Her last tracked official activities reported by the K-media was also in November 2021, when she joined the "MIC ON5" online concert held in U+Idol Live.
There's a rumor that she's preparing for a debut under a new girl group, but it's only speculation from fans and internet users.
Her only way of updating fans about her current status is through her social media accounts, particularly on Instagram. Based on her posts, Natty is enjoying her time in Thailand and other countries in 2022, visiting popular tourist spots.
She also conveyed her longing for fans by adding hashtags such as "miss you" and "thank you."
READ MORE: Natty Reveals How Difficult Training Was To Become An Idol + Shares How She Survived It
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Written by Eunice Dawson
