The BLACKPINK Star’s Solo Era Begins With a Social Media Explosion
There are moments in pop music when recognition feels like a revolution. For ROSÉ of BLACKPINK, this summer is exactly that: eight solo nominations at the MTV Video Music Awards and a tidal wave of excitement that swept across social media in seconds. For ROSÉ herself, it all still feels surreal—she described herself as “absolutely speechless” after learning the news, instantly becoming the most viral name of the day.
In a video on her Instagram Stories, ROSÉ looks genuinely overwhelmed, her smile impossible to hide: “I just found out I have eight VMA nominations. Honestly, I’m so shocked, I don’t know what to say. This is insane! It’s the craziest day ever!” And she wasn’t alone. BLINKs flooded the timeline with joy, sharing memes, GIFs, and stories celebrating their new solo K-pop queen.
It’s ROSÉ’s first year being nominated for MTV VMAs as a solo artist—and her list is impressive: Video of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Collaboration, Best Pop Video, Best Direction, Art Direction, and Visual Effects for “APT.” with Bruno Mars, plus Best K-pop for her single “Toxic Til the End” from her debut album “Rosie.” Achieving all this in just one year as a solo act puts ROSÉ in the company of legends—just a step behind Lady Gaga (12 nominations) and Bruno Mars (11).
On Twitter and TikTok, her hashtags shot to the top, as thousands of fans shared moments from “APT.” and captured her pure joy. Many posted that ROSÉ “represents all dreamers” fighting for their own big break. If BLACKPINK’s rise was the last major K-pop wave, ROSÉ’s solo journey is writing a new pop culture story—proving she can stand beside icons like Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, and The Weeknd.
But it’s not just ROSÉ shining this year—the rest of BLACKPINK have plenty to celebrate, too. JENNIE and JISOO each received their first solo VMA nominations for Best K-pop, while LISA is part of a powerhouse collab with Doja Cat and RAYE on “Born Again.” This year, the BLACKPINK community is stronger than ever, with each member making waves both together and apart.
At the center of it all, ROSÉ remains authentic and fresh. She responds to fans, shares screenshots of her nominations with spontaneous “waaaahhh???!” on Instagram, and still seems genuinely surprised by her own success. As fans pointed out, ROSÉ’s “shock” is inspiring—reminding everyone that even the most famous can be just as excited as their fans.
The hit “APT.” with Bruno Mars has already made history, reaching No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning global praise for ROSÉ’s voice, stage presence, and alternative style. Meanwhile, “Toxic Til the End” stands out among this year’s K-pop superhits, showing ROSÉ’s unique artistry on every project.
The 2025 MTV VMAs, set for September 7 in New York and airing on CBS, MTV, and Paramount+, are already among the year’s most anticipated events. Every ROSÉ fan is counting down to her red carpet moment, hoping to see her take home a well-deserved trophy.
Right now, ROSÉ is more than just another pop name—she’s a phenomenon lifting up the hopes, dreams, and imagination of anyone who loves boundary-breaking music. She’s making history in the most spontaneous way—remaining “beyond shocked” and absolutely authentic, just as only she can.
