ArtistJYP Entertainment
Momo
Hirai Momo (平井 もも) is one of K-pop's most technically accomplished dancers. Born November 9, 1996, in Kyotanabe, Kyoto, she relocated to Seoul after JYP Entertainment recruited her through a street audition in 2012. Her Sixteen challenge performance, a freestyle to Beyonce's Crazy in Love, immediately set her apart. She survived the on-air elimination twist and debuted as main dancer and sub-vocalist in TWICE on October 20, 2015.
As a performer, Momo's technical baseline is extraordinary: isolations, rhythmic precision, and full-body control that makes group choreography look frictionless. JYP himself publicly cited her as a natural talent the company was compelled to keep. She has since been consistently named among the industry's strongest dancers by peers and critics alike.
Beyond TWICE, Momo is one-third of Japanese sub-unit MISAMO. Their debut Japanese mini-album Masterpiece (2023) opened at No. 1 on the Oricon Weekly Albums chart. Their first full-length album HAUTE COUTURE (November 2024) featured her solo track Money in My Pocket, a rhythm-forward cut spotlighting her instinctive relationship with groove.
Momo holds dual Japanese and South Korean residency, splits her time between both countries, and has been candid about navigating the specific pressures of being a Japanese member in the Korean idol industry. Her consistency across a decade of TWICE activity underscores why she remains one of the franchise's most respected performers.
1 articles4 creditsDebut: October 20, 2015Japanese
Fans Also Ask
How did Momo get into TWICE?
Momo was initially eliminated from JYP Entertainment's Sixteen survival show in 2015, but J.Y. Park brought her back at the final stage because of her exceptional dancing ability. She debuted as one of TWICE's nine members on October 20, 2015, and has since become recognized as one of K-pop's most technically skilled performers.
What is Momo's real name?
Momo's full name is Hirai Momo (平井 もも), written in kanji as 平井 桃. She was born on November 9, 1996, in Kyotanabe, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. She is known mononymously as Momo in her professional career.
What is MiSaMo?
MiSaMo is a Japanese sub-unit of TWICE consisting of Momo, Sana, and Mina. The unit debuted on July 26, 2023, with the EP Masterpiece. The name combines the first two letters of each member's name: Mi (Mina), Sa (Sana), Mo (Momo). Their debut release charted on multiple Japanese music charts.
Where is Momo from?
Momo is from Kyotanabe, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. She began dancing at age three alongside her older sister Hana, and has been recognized as a professional-level dancer since childhood. She moved to Seoul to train under JYP Entertainment at 15 after being scouted online.
