Angelina Chai grew up during the second wave of Hallyu, when K-pop began taking over Southeast Asia’s pop culture landscape. It was a time when Big Bang’s “Fantastic Baby” blasted through HITZ FM, “Gangnam Style” made YouTube history, and SHINee posters decorated the walls of Korean restaurants in local malls. Her first K-pop love was SNSD, and her first K-Pop concert experience was BLACKPINK’s 2019 In Your Area World Tour. Years later, Angel found herself on the other side of the stage, trading her place as a fan for the spotlight as one-third of Malaysian pop act DOLLA.
Having experienced concerts from both sides — as an audience member and a performer on stage — Angel understands what it takes to keep her makeup intact through hours of lights, heat, and movement. Known for her doll-like visuals and glass-skin makeup style, we catch up with Angel as she shares her beauty essentials and fangirl history.
Where are you texting from?
I’m at a studio in Petaling Jaya. New music is coming soon with the girls, so I’ve been having many, many meetings for our next comeback.
What’s the last side quest you’ve been on?
I went to a songwriting camp recently, took up running 5km daily… and finally tried bouldering.
What’s the last thing you searched for on YouTube?
Question by DOLLA, I tend to miss watching the music video that was taken down 🥲 so I watch the reposts from our iDollas 🙊
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How would you describe your beauty aesthetic?
On stage, I like a fiercer look. I usually go for a cat eye or anything that makes my features look sharper. I’m much more chill off-stage, like a clean girl makeup look.
Did you have an Ulzzang (2000s–2010s Korean online beauty trend) phase?
I don’t think so. I was more of a Tumblr girl than an Ulzzang girl.
What’s one beauty product you trust every time you step on stage?
Huda Beauty Easy Bake Pressed Powder. It helps keep everything in place, especially under stage lights.
Do you have a sweat-proof makeup hack?
Powder, powder, powder!
Do you believe in the ice-on-your-face beauty trick?
Yes, I do it every time I have a photoshoot or a music video shoot.
Who in DOLLA would you trust to do your makeup?
Sabronzo. She did my makeup once in our early debut days when I barely knew how to do my own. Her style is completely different from mine, but she’s seriously good at it.
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Which K-pop idol do you think always has the best stage makeup?
I’ve been looking at Yuqi’s stage makeup a lot lately. I love how clean it looks even when she’s wearing a smokey eye.
What’s your holy grail beauty product right now?
- Fresh Youth Rescue Mask. It’s the best exfoliator for my skin, and I always use it before important shoot days.
- Chuck’s Very Important Mask is another favourite because it layers well under makeup. Malaysia can be humid, so I love how lightweight it feels while still protecting my skin.
- Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Concealer is also a must. It’s hydrating, doesn’t feel cakey, and doesn’t crease easily.
What was the first group that got you into K-pop?
Girls’ Generation.
What’s your K-pop ult group?
It’s always been SEVENTEEN.
Your special beauty trick to survive until encore?
A quick ice facial, followed by Chuck’s Very Important Mask before makeup.
Share a song you can’t stop listening to right now.
“BAD” by ATEEZ.
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What’s your first concert memory?
One Direction. I cried so much because they were everything to me for years. It was right before Zayn left, and I still remember feeling like the happiest girl alive at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. BLACKPINK’s 2019 tour was another unforgettable moment for me, their solo stages and the sea of pink light sticks made me dream bigger for DOLLA.
Who’s your ult bias?
Kim Mingyu.
If you could meet one idol, who would it be?
Kim Mingyu.
What’s the last fangirl activity you’ve been on?
Collecting photocards. The collection keeps growing, I just added one of S.Coups.
Choose a favourite Going Seventeen Episode.
Oh, that’s a difficult question because there are too many good ones. If you’re a SEVENTEEN fan, you’d know that every GOSE episode is special in its own way. If I have to choose a favourite… it would be Insomnia Zero, The8 and the 12 Shadows, and the TTT episodes.
What’s your advice for first-time concert goers?
Bring a handheld fan and perfume. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later. I’m currently using the last few sprays of Byredo Mojave Ghost.
iDOLLA should stay tuned for…
Maybe my acting debut? I’ve been deep in my film-watching phase, studying my favourite actors and dreaming about stepping into a new role soon.
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