TWICE’s Sana Joins the Race at Netizen Awards
Sana, the effervescent member of TWICE, has officially stepped into battle—well, the voting battle—at the 2025 Netizen Awards. Known mostly for her bubbly charm and visuals that spawned a thousand fancams, Sana is now making headlines for something a little unexpected: her place in the race for Best Female Singer, a category historically dominated by trot vocalists.
K-pop vs. Trot: An Unexpected Showdown
As of 5:10 p.m. KST on September 3, the front of the pack looks like a chart from a trot-heavy streaming platform: Jung Seo-joo leads with 2,349 votes (27.7%), followed closely by My Jin (24.4%) and Bin Ye-seo (16.5%). But tucked among the middle and lower tiers, a shining idol presence emerges—Sana of TWICE, with 70 votes and a current ranking of No. 14.
Sure, she’s not topping the leaderboard (yet), but the mere fact that she’s among trot juggernauts like Song Ga-in, Kim Da-hyun, and Yang Ji-eun signals a cultural crossover—the kind we absolutely live for in K-pop world.
Can Sana Pull a Kazuha?
Last month, LE SSERAFIM’s Kazuha surprised everyone by finishing 4th—a rare feat for an idol in this traditionally trot-centric award category. That raised eyebrows and sparked questions: Could idols be the new queens of melody? After all, these days, idols dabble in everything from trot to ballads to jazz-inspired B-sides.
Now, Sana’s late arrival in this month’s voting has fans clutching their lightsticks, wondering if she could become the next genre-defying contender. Let’s be real—this kawaii powerhouse has the fanbase, stage charisma, and social media pull to shake things up if she gains momentum.
The Girls in the Game: Who’s Leading?
- Jung Seo-joo: 2,349 votes (27.7%)
- My Jin: 2,065 votes (24.4%)
- Bin Ye-seo: 1,402 votes (16.5%)
- Kim Da-hyun: 496 votes (5.9%)
- Yang Ji-eun: 399 votes (4.7%)
- Song Ga-in: 372 votes (4.4%)
- Kang Hye-yeon: 308 votes (3.6%)
- Kim So-yeon: 297 votes (3.5%)
- Hong Ji-yoon: 146 votes (1.7%)
- Na-young: 137 votes (1.6%)
- Sana (TWICE): 70 votes (0.8%)
It’s clear Sana has some catching up to do—but don’t underestimate the power of Once (TWICE fans). If they mobilize like they do during music show wins and comeback countdowns, this ranking could take a very interesting turn.
What Makes This So Fun (and So K-pop)?
One of the most fascinating things about the Netizen Awards is how it blends Korea’s deep-rooted love for trot—a genre that could be considered the Korean equivalent of country or classic ballads in the West—with the ever-specific, highly curated world of K-pop.
The result? A voting board that reads like a Spotify playlist from someone’s aunt and niece combined. And Sana showing up in this space highlights K-pop’s growing vocal credibility and genre range. She’s not just pretty and peppy—she can SING.
Fan Theories and Voting Tactics
Within TWICE fandom circles, buzz is building. Telegram channels, community forums, and fan cafés are discussing strategy. Could Sana make a strategic surge near the end of September? Are JYP Entertainment fans planning a synchronized vote drive? Fans are also speculating whether Sana’s appearance is a sign of her preparing for solo activities—does a trot-style ballad solo debut lie ahead?
Anything’s possible. This is K-pop. We’ve seen stranger plot twists in idol fan-vote sagas than a pop princess overtaking trot titans.
The Final Word: Will Cute Triumph Over Trot?
As voting continues through the rest of the month, all eyes are on Sana’s trajectory. With past surprises like Kazuha’s top 5 finish, nothing is off the table. Whether or not she climbs higher, Sana’s participation alone signals a shift in tone—and in tone range.
One thing’s for sure: this awards race just got a whole lot more interesting.
FAQs
Why is TWICE’s Sana nominated in a trot-heavy award category?
While the Netizen Awards have historically spotlighted trot singers, recent years have seen more K-pop idols entering the fray. Sana’s inclusion reflects the genre-crossing appeal of idols and her vocal growth.
What is the Netizen Awards?
The Netizen Awards is an online fan-voted event in South Korea that honors popular entertainers across multiple categories, including Best Female Singer.
Can Sana realistically climb higher in the rankings?
Yes. With TWICE’s massive global fanbase behind her, a late-game surge in votes could shift the rankings significantly. Especially if fans rally through coordinated voting efforts.
