During aespa’s promotions, Karina caught fans off guard when she appeared in the Audacy interview with a fresh shoulder-length bob and bangs. The change was striking enough that many people first mistook her for Winter. Undoubtedly, her new look quickly became a major topic among fans.
The Audacy Check In took place as aespa began the U.S. leg of their “SYNK : HYPER LINE” world tour.
Karina’s new haircut stood out because it followed several notable style changes that year. Earlier this year, she appeared with a sleek high ponytail and bangs for the SMTOWN LIVE concert in Jakarta. She later switched to a bouncy hippie perm with tight curls.
Karina also wore long, straight hair with full bangs, which matched the group’s futuristic, AI-inspired concept. The bob became the latest addition to that list of memorable transformations.
Fans reacted immediately once the interview clip was released. Comments poured in about how much she resembled Winter and how the shorter cut suited her. It is not yet confirmed if she actually cut her hair short or was using any extensions.
In the interview, she said she would love to perform in Paris, as she had gone there for Paris Fashion Week and had good memories of Paris. Moreover, Karina revealed her favorite summer song, Every Summertime by NIKI.
At the same time, the group is celebrating the release of their second full-English single, “Better Things.” During the Audacy Check In interview, they described the song as showing a different style from their usual work.
Giselle said they were excited to finally share it and were curious about how fans would react. When the conversation shifted to the difficulty of touring while preparing new music, Winter explained that their schedule was intense and that they tried to learn and memorize as much as possible in the time they had.
Toward the end of the interview, the members hinted that they were working on a new album. Giselle and Ningning teased that the details were still a secret.
Meanwhile, aespa will kick off their Latin American leg of the tour on September 8 with a show in Mexico City followed by São Paulo (September 11), and Santiago (September 14). Next, they will hold three shows in major European cities, including Berlin (September 25), London (September 28), and Paris (September 30).
