Lalisa Manobal – The Girl from Isan Who Became a K-pop Superstar
September 21, 2026Lalisa Manobal, better known by her stage name Lisa, is a Thai rapper, singer, dancer, and actress. She is one of the four members of the South Korean K-pop group BLACKPINK, but has also had a successful solo career. Although most of her professional career has been based in South Korea, her Thai background has remained an important part of her identity. In recent years, her connection to Thailand has become even more visible through her music videos, acting career, and role as an Amazing Thailand Ambassador.
Image: Lisa Manobal at Gimpo International Airport on June 24, 2022. Image source: K-POPIT / CC BY 3.0.
From Buriram to Dance and K-pop
Lalisa Manobal was born on March 27, 1997, in Buriram Province in northeastern Thailand, part of the Isan region. She was given the name Pranpriya Manobal at birth but later changed her name to Lalisa. The name Lalisa can be translated as “the one who is praised.”
She became interested in dancing as a child and began taking dance lessons at the age of four. Growing up, she participated in dance and singing competitions and was a member of the Thai dance group We Zaa Cool. She danced alongside BamBam of GOT7 in the group. She has cited K-pop as an important source of inspiration and said that groups such as BIGBANG and 2NE1 sparked her interest in the Korean music industry and her dream of working there herself.
In 2010, she auditioned for YG Entertainment at an audition the company held in Thailand. Around 4,000 people took part, and Lisa was the only one selected to become a trainee with the company. The following year, she moved to South Korea as a young teenager to begin her training.
She became the first non-Korean artist to be recruited as a trainee by YG Entertainment. Over the following years, she trained intensively in singing and dance and learned Korean. During this period, she began appearing in YG productions, including as a dancer in Taeyang’s music video for “Ringa Linga” in 2013 and as a model for YG’s fashion brand NONA9ON.
BLACKPINK and the International Breakthrough
After about five years as a trainee, Lisa debuted as a member of BLACKPINK on August 8, 2016, alongside Jisoo, Jennie, and Rosé. The group’s first official release was the single album Square One, which featured the songs “Whistle” and “Boombayah.” Both songs became major hits, and BLACKPINK quickly grew into one of the world’s biggest girl groups, gaining a large fan base far beyond South Korea.
The group became the first Korean girl group to perform at the American festival Coachella in 2019. They returned in 2023 as the festival’s first Korean headliner. The album Born Pink, released in 2022, topped the album charts in both the United States and the United Kingdom. BLACKPINK has established itself as one of the world’s most successful girl groups.
Image: Lisa Manobal photographed at Bulgari Studio in March 2024. Image source: K-POPIT / CC BY 3.0.
Solo Career
Lisa made her solo debut on September 10, 2021, with a single album featuring two songs: the title track “LALISA” and “MONEY.” The music video for “LALISA” quickly became an international hit and received 73.6 million views on YouTube in its first 24 hours, which was a record for a solo artist at the time. “MONEY” also became a major international success. In September 2023, the song became the first by a K-pop solo artist to reach one billion streams on Spotify, according to Guinness World Records. “LALISA” also surpassed one billion Spotify streams.
Lisa has continued her solo career alongside BLACKPINK. In 2024, the single “Rockstar” was released, with its music video filmed in Bangkok. After winning an MTV Video Music Award in the Best K-Pop category with “LALISA” in 2022, she won the same award again in 2024, this time with “Rockstar.”
Lisa Returns to Thailand
Despite her international career, Lisa has repeatedly highlighted Thailand in her work. This became especially clear in the music video for “LALISA.” The video features Thai cultural elements and footage from Buriram, including the historic Prasat Hin Phanom Rung temple complex.
Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) later described this as the beginning of what has come to be known as “The Lisa Effect.” According to the agency, visitor numbers at Phanom Rung doubled after the music video was released, while local businesses benefited from the increased interest.
Rockstar, Yaowarat, and SaWaDiKa
Bangkok once again played a prominent role in Lisa’s music in 2024. The music video for “Rockstar” was filmed mainly in Yaowarat, Bangkok’s famous Chinatown, and was released on June 28. The area subsequently attracted many fans who wanted to visit locations featured in the music video. According to Thai telecommunications company True, mobile activity in Yaowarat increased by around 15 percent and data usage by more than 6 percent during the first 24 hours after the music video’s release. TAT also reported that searches for Yaowarat increased.
In September 2026, Lisa released the single “SaWaDiKa,” reconnecting with her Thai roots. The music video was filmed at several locations in Bangkok.
Video: LISA – SaWaDiKa (Official Music Video).
Lisa in The White Lotus
Lisa also took the next step in her career on home soil. She made her acting debut in the third season of the HBO series The White Lotus, which was filmed in Thailand. She plays Mook, a health mentor at the White Lotus resort. The series premiered in 2025.
Amazing Thailand Ambassador
Tourism Authority of Thailand appointed Lisa as an Amazing Thailand Ambassador in October 2025. In January 2026, TAT launched the international campaign “Amazing Thailand: Feel All the Feelings”, with Lisa as its face. The campaign was presented at Wat Arun in Bangkok and encouraged visitors to follow in her “footsteps” to various locations featured in the campaign materials.
Lisa appears in the campaign wearing clothing and accessories connected to Thai craftsmanship, locally made products, and cultural traditions. She is therefore used not only to promote Thailand as a tourist destination, but also to highlight the country’s culture, design, crafts, and local identity.
From Isan to Global Superstar
Lisa’s journey from Buriram to the international music scene is remarkable. As a young teenager, she left Thailand for South Korea and became a global star after just a few years there. At the same time, her connection to Thailand has become increasingly prominent, from music videos filmed in the country to her role in The White Lotus and her work as an Amazing Thailand Ambassador.
General Facts About Lisa
• Name: Lalisa Manobal – Thai: ลลิษา มโนบาล
• Previous name: Pranpriya Manobal – Thai: ปราณปรียา มโนบาล
• Stage name: LISA
• Born: March 27, 1997
• Place of birth: Buriram Province in northeastern Thailand (Isan)
• Nationality: Thai
• Website: Lalisaofficial.com
• Instagram: LISA on Instagram
• YouTube: LISA on YouTube
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