The black hole that is WINNER

BLACK HOLE - "A black hole is a region of spacetime where gravity is so strong that NOTHING - no particles or even electromagnetic radiations such as light can escape"

No other word can be used as to how I got sucked in. Very fitting of their color, Nebubla Blue, right?

The experience started a few months ago when my best friend showed me a drunk rapping MINO in an episode of Spring Camp. 

Knowing WINNER as a group wasn't enough. I had to look up each member and find out more about them.  And just as the drunk MINO ate me whole --- I spent a full week staying up late watching his fan cams, music shows, variety show cuts and live shows.

And it led me to "Who is next? WIN", when I started watching the survival show I immediately fell for their individual stories before they even won the survival reality show produced by YG. 

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Team A and Team B rooftop dinner. Photo from WIN:WHO IS NEXT Official FB Fanpage

After watching WIN, I watched WinnerTV and RealNow -- which to be honest was an emotional rollercoaster ride. After which, I discovered Half Moon Friends (Bandal Chingus), and damn! It was my real black hole!

I had different feelings on every episode. Every move they make, every word that comes out of their mouth reveals the real them. I cried and laughed with them in all 12 episodes. They have a good heart and while watching this I felt that I truly have become a certified INSEO (Inner Circle)!

This Teacher Monster-Hayul moment! @raya_za

Birthday surprise for Teacher Candy @raya_za

     

Ji Woo: Teacher Cap made this rascal baby to the hyung of the kids @raya_za

This daddy moment of Teacher Yooni is picture perfect
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These little girls fighting over Teacher Juju's attention @raya_za

It made me long for more, so I continued watching their shows and Youtube videos. The three-day vacation they had in Palawan, Philippines with a whole variety show to cover it is probably my favorite! Oh, my Filipina and once a palawan resident heart is so proud. The innocence, disbelief, and happiness in them that Palawan locals knew them is just so cute! I also like the fact that after a day of doing things separately, they would have heartfelt conversations over dinner and alcohol. 

Winner's three-day vacation in the Philippines

My YouTube algorithm, of course, has them already so I also found some of their concerts, festivals, and variety shows too. There are MILLIONS of reasons to love them. 

My favorites winner guestings: Their appearance in JYP Party People and YHY Sketchbook! That is just a confirmation that they are good at doing their thing LIVE.

Had to follow them and their fan accounts on social media and that made me realize how talented they are with their singing, songwriting, showing off who they are to people, and creating content to keep them out in the market. Hello, Hoony -- yes you are content creator of the year!

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Before I stan a group, I don't just base it on looks, talent is what I consider ALL THE TIME. Stanning because of their looks is not my thing, but it is a PLUS. When it is the talent that you first appreciate in an idol you can never go wrong. I'm no professional, but I am very particular with artists singing and playing live simply because artists doing their shows live, prove their versatility and spontaneity. Their live performances kept me in awe and finding myself falling in love with them all over again.

These guys are VERY talented (as a group and as individuals) and for whatever it is, they have a good heart  --- and that my friends is the gravity that pulled me in.

- R