If you ever get the chance to sit across from Lakshmi Menon—an experienced healthcare professional, strong supporter of fertility awareness, and current CEO of TMC Fertility Holdings (soon to be called Thomson Fertility)—you’ll quickly notice two things. First, she’s not just someone who knows her field well; she’s someone who truly lives and breathes it. Second, behind her calm manner and thoughtful words lies a strong sense of purpose—the kind that comes from over 25 years of working in healthcare (and likely hundreds of high-level meetings).
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42MAY/JUNE 2025 TRENDPhoto by www.pinterest.comTHE MAKING OF A STARBorn Pranpriya Manobal on March 27, 1997, in Buriram, Thailand, Lisa’sdestiny as a performer was evident from an early age. Encouraged byher passion for dance, she began training in various styles, winningcompetitions and earning accolades even before her teenage years.She later changed her name to Lalisa, meaning “the one beingpraised,” following a fortune teller’s advice—and it seems that fatewas on her side.Photo by cdn.decohere.aiLisa’s big break came in 2010 when she auditioned for YGEntertainment in Thailand. Out of 4,000 hopefuls, she was the onlyone selected, making history as the first non-ethnically Korean traineeunder the label. In 2011, she moved to South Korea and began herrigorous training, perfecting her rapping, dancing, and singing skills.A BLACKPINK PHENOMENONLisa debuted with Blackpink in August 2016, joining Jisoo, Jennie,and Rosé to form what would become one of the most influential girlgroups in the world. With hits like Boombayah, DDU-DU DDU-DU,and Kill This Love, Blackpink took the industry by storm, dominatingcharts, breaking records, and amassing a massive global following.Lisa quickly became a fan favourite, known for her unmatched stagepresence, killer dance moves, and charismatic personality. She alsocarved her niche as a fashion icon, gracing the covers of majormagazines and becoming the face of luxury brands such as Celine,Bulgari, and MAC Cosmetics.Her successdidn’t stopthere. Lisabecame the firstK-pop soloist toreach 1 billionstreams onSpotify, furtherproving herglobal appealGOING SOLO: BREAKING RECORDS AND SETTING TRENDSIn September 2021, Lisa made history with her debut solo album,Lalisa. The album sold over 736,000 copies in its first week, making herthe first female K-pop artist to achieve such numbers. The title track’smusic video became the most-viewed video by a solo artist within 24hours on YouTube. Meanwhile, her second single, Money, became aviral hit, breaking records as the longest-charting song by a femaleK-pop soloist on the US Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart.Her success didn’t stop there. Lisa became the first K-pop soloist toreach 1 billion streams on Spotify, further proving her global appeal.A NEW ERA: ACTING AND ENTREPRENEURSHIPLisa is not one to rest on her laurels. In 2024, she established her ownmanagement company, Lloud, allowing her to take full control of hercareer. She also signed with RCA Records and, in 2025, released AlterEgo, her debut studio album, featuring chart-topping singles likeRockstar and Born Again (featuring Doja Cat and Raye). The album’srelease cemented her position as one of the biggest names in theglobal music industry.
TROPICANA LIFESTYLE43Lisa also made her acting debut in the HBO hit series The WhiteLotus, further expanding her artistic range. Her involvement in theshow added another layer to her already impressive portfolio, provingthat she is more than just a musician—she’s an all-around entertainer.Having catapulted to popularity royalty, Lisa was made an ambassadorto Louis Vuitton and is the face of its latest Biker Bag campaign.A LEGACY THAT TRANSCENDS BORDERSBeyond music and acting, Lisa’s impact extends to fashion,business, and cultural representation. As the most-followed K-popartist on Instagram and Spotify, she continues to inspire millionsworldwide. Her efforts in promoting Thai culture globally earned herrecognition from the Thailand Ministry of Culture and even a specialacknowledgment from Thailand’s former Prime Minister.From the girl next door toedgy pop princess, Lisa hasjust begun serving fashionand chart topping hits!Photo by https://parade.comFrom her breathtaking performances at the Victoria’s Secret FashionShow and the Global Citizen Festival to becoming the first K-popsoloist to perform at the Academy Awards, Lisa is not just rewritingthe rules—she’s creating her own.As she continues to push boundaries and break records, one thing isclear: Lisa is not just a superstar. She’s a phenomenon, and the worldis eagerly watching what she’ll do next.Photo by https://explore.airasia.com
