Annie recently opened up about the challenges she faced and the dedication it took to debut with ALLDAY PROJECT.

On August 5, she appeared alongside Tarzzan as a special guest on the YouTube variety show Salon Drip 2, hosted by Jang Do Yeon on channel TEO, where she candidly shared her journey to becoming an idol.

When asked how she connected with THEBLACKLABEL’s Teddy and eventually joined ALLDAY PROJECT, Annie reflected on her longtime admiration for 2NE1 and BIGBANG. “I’ve always wanted to follow in their footsteps, ever since I was young,” she said. “When ‘Lollipop’ came out and 2NE1 debuted, I’d always take on CL’s part and assign the other roles to my younger sister.”

Annie also spoke about convincing her parents to support her dream of becoming a singer. “At first, they didn’t take me seriously. They thought it was just a phase, something that would pass like the wind,” she admitted.

Addressing assumptions about her background and how she joined the group, host Jang Do Yeon mentioned that many people believe the label recruited her because of her family connections. Annie clarified, “I actually auditioned to get into THEBLACKLABEL. I joined as a trainee and worked hard before becoming part of the group.”

She went on to describe the unique training process she underwent while studying abroad. “I wasn’t in Korea, so I trained online. I’d take lessons virtually, record my performances, and send them in for feedback,” she explained. “I did that for four years. Whenever I visited Korea during vacations, I would go straight to the company to practice.”

Jang Do Yeon praised her perseverance, saying, “You’re incredibly determined.”

Despite coming from a high-profile family — as the granddaughter of Shinsegae Group chairwoman Lee Myung Hee and the eldest daughter of Shinsegae president Jung Yoo Kyung — Annie emphasized that her debut was earned through passion and persistence, not privilege.