Even her title was questioned.
35 minutes ago
While beauty standards for Korean celebrities is no news to global fans, many fail to fathom how much more ruthless the public opinion can be toward pageant queens. Recently, a former Miss Korea shed light on this less-talked-about aspect of the Korean beauty industry.
In a recent social media post, Kim Ji Yeon, the 41st Miss Korea, reflected on her period of extreme emotional struggles and hurt while she had gained weight. She confessed that when her appearance changed, people around her passed on a “death sentence” upon her.
Kim Ji Yeon | Star News
Kim revealed that she was targeted with severely malicious comments over her body, with people calling her an “embarrassment” to the Miss Korea Pageant, saying that she ought to be “ashamed” of herself. The emotional scars from such reckless remarks took their toll.
Kim Ji Yeon as a Miss Korea contestant | NAVER
Kim Ji Yeon eventually decided to start dieting and take control of her life. After approximately five months of efforts, she successfully shed 16 kg. Her body weight dropped from 75 to 59 kg. The former Miss Korea showed off her weight loss progress by sporting various glamorous looks, including a black mermaid gown and a catsuit!
The successful weight loss journey has thrust Kim back into the limelight, currently, with people flocking to her social media for inspiration. However, for the former pageant queen, being back at the same weight she was fifteen years ago also meant a positive change for her own health and well-being.
Side-by-side comparison of Kim’s “before” and “after” weight loss Side-by-side comparison of Kim’s “before” and “after” weight loss
Meanwhile, Kim Ji Yeon was crowned Miss Korea in 1997. Following her win, she worked as an actress in K-Dramas such as Sweet Bride and Here Comes Ajumma. However, she faced major financial troubles due to a former boyfriend’s debt and shifted careers. She has openly talked about working as a delivery worker and an insurance planner to fight financial distress. She has also been active on home shopping channels.