2NE1 member and solo artist CL appeared in photo shoot and GQ interview for the July issue of “GQ Korea” and talked about the difference between her stage persona “CL” and her real self “Chaelin.”

CL debuted as a solo artist this year with the release of her hotly anticipated single “The Baddest Female” on May 28, 2013 and a new image baring her toned midriff and svelte figure. In response to questions

on CL's concept for "The Baddest Female" and tanning, CL said, “My skin tone is actually quite light. I use makeup or, lately, I’ve been using spray tanning, because I don’t tan that well. Honestly, I also

tan. I also thought that a darker, bronzed look would match “The Baddest Female.” … [For this song] I expose a lot of skin. One of the reasons I tan is that darker skin tone gives a slimmer

look. … Girls seem to be the only ones that don’t know that.”

CL also noted on her single reaching number 1, “I was happy. I didn’t know people would love it so much.”

CL was also asked whether she wanted to be known for her increasingly strong image. In response, CL said, “In my everyday life, I really dress simply. As opposed to having to dress strongly, I wear things

that I like to wear at that moment in time. I did that for today’s shoot. For a music video or stage, I would like to just once show a ‘Chaelin and CL’ mixed style and not a ‘CL’ style. But, in most cases,

my stylist dresses me in extreme clothes.”

CL continued, “If people would think of ‘CL’ when they see me on the stage, I would like that. On the stage, in song, in photo shoots, I flip a switch and become CL. But, to my family and friends, I wish to

remain Chaelin. I don’t want to forget where I came from. If I can maintain the balance, I do. Because of that, I maintain myself as Chaelin. … Seeing that a lot of my time is spent working, there isn’t much

opportunity to do Chaelin things. Because I’m afraid of forgetting what kind of person Chaelin is, I make a lot of effort to spend time on my own. I am not CL. CL is inside of me.”

2NE1 member and solo artist CL appeared in the July issue of “GQ Korea” and talked about the stereotypes Asian women face in today’s world.

In response to questions about the Korean music industry and the international appeal of 2NE1’s music, CL said: “From our [2NE1] first album’s song “Fire,” I never had the consciousness of making and singing

songs only for Koreans. [YG] Producer Teddy is also the same. I do what I like to do, not what I think matches Korea. While living overseas, I never had a point where I was embarrassed of Korean music. My

father really likes pop music, and I haven’t lived in Korea for long periods at a time.”

When pressed on whether she had higher standards, CL responded: “It’s not that I have higher standards, it’s just that I have different standards. The reason is that I don’t know the feeling of a Korean

song. I did not know the vibe of music or what clothes people were wearing. ”

CL then went on to comment: “Even though, through 2NE1, I had a strong desire to become a representative of women, while living abroad, I realized that there is still prejudice that Asian women are “shy.” It’s

like when Jeremy Scott said, “Even in Asia, there are people like this.” Of course, it is a compliment, but it also means that there was a prejudice [otherwise he wouldn’t have been surprised]. Korea has so

many stylish people, but is hidden by that kind of prejudice. I want to break the [stereotypical] image of Asian women.”

[GQ KOREA] 나쁘게 봐 주세요(씨엘)_JULY 2013

Source: GQ via Soompi, and GQkorea @ Youtube