“My Life is April Fool's Day” — Lee Young-ji’s Extreme Makeover Update Goes Viral (+Photos)

Singer Lee Young-ji shared a playful update in celebration of April Fool’s Day.

On April 1, Lee Young-ji posted several photos on her Instagram with the caption,

"I don’t even think about April Fool’s jokes anymore. People say my life is a joke—and that it’s April Fool’s Day year-round."

The first photo shows Lee Young-ji in full makeup, dressed in an eye-catching outfit featuring lace and denim accents, exuding a chic and charismatic vibe that draws attention.

In the next photo, she stares directly into the camera with a completely bare face, offering a stark contrast to the previous glam look. The adorable, barefaced version of her brings a smile to viewers' faces.

Netizens reacted enthusiastically, leaving comments like:

"Young-ji got even prettier,"

"She’s lost so much weight,"

"How have you been these days?"

"Too beautiful, I can’t breathe,"

"Forget April Fool’s—her beauty is the real lie,"

"Unfamiliar, but pretty. I like it, but it’s unfamiliar,"

"Let’s be happy, Young-ji."

From Rap Royalty to Variety Queen

Lee Young-ji first exploded onto the scene as the winner of Mnet’s High School Rapper Season 3 in 2019, becoming the youngest ever to take the crown. Since then, she’s solidified her reputation as one of Korea’s most charismatic young rappers with tracks like "Day & Night," "NOT SORRY (Feat. pH-1)," and "SMALL GIRL."

Her popularity soared not just through her music, but also through variety shows. She became a breakout star on tvN’s Earth Arcade (Bbyong Bbyong Earth Arcade), where her wit, humor, and offbeat energy made her a fan favorite. She's also been known for candid interviews on her YouTube talk show, "No Prepare" (차린건 쥐뿔도 없지만), where top K-pop idols like BTS's Jin, TWICE's Nayeon, and SEVENTEEN's Hoshi have made unforgettable appearances.

K-Beauty Spotlight: From Barefaced to Bombshell

Young-ji’s side-by-side transformation photos also sparked buzz in the K-beauty world, showing how powerful (and fun!) Korean makeup trends can be.

Her full-glam look likely features popular K-beauty techniques like glass skin foundation, gradient lips, and straight brows, all of which have become signature elements of Korean idol styling. Meanwhile, her barefaced photo celebrates a growing trend in K-pop and K-beauty alike: the embrace of natural beauty. Idols like IU, NewJeans' Hyein, and BLACKPINK’s Jisoo have also posted makeup-free selfies, showing that confidence shines brighter than any highlighter.

Lee Young-ji continues to inspire fans not just with her music, but with her bold authenticity—whether she’s dropping bars, cracking jokes, or posting photos that show both glam and goofy sides of her vibrant personality.