The 2018 Mnet Asian Music Awards that was held at Japan’s Saitama Super Arena on Wednesday was jam-packed with surprises, from K-pop stars’ eye-catching red carpet moments to their eye-popping performances.

But what really topped off last night’s delightful K-pop event was the Mamamoo member’s head-turning stage costume, which has been creating a significant buzz on social media since yesterday.

In what would be Hwasa’s boldest stage outfits, the singer, who’ve always forged a distinctive vibe with her clothing choices, jumped up to the stage for her solo performance in a long-sleeved red bodysuits and matching thigh-high boots. Her solo stage was followed by her bandmates’ solo performances.




Clad in the body-hugging suit that spotlighted her curvy, tanned silhouette, Hwasa showcased a sultry “Don’t.” Her male backup dancers were also clad in red glossy outfits, some of them shirtless.

While bodysuits still remain perennial favorites of overseas pop stars like Beyonce, Britney Spears and Katy Perry, the outfit, considered “challenging” in Korea, has been a rarity among K-pop stars.

Some Internet users praised Hwasa’s action, commenting, “She was totally like Beyonce,” “Nobody could nail that outfit except for Hwasa,“ and “It was the best outfit she’s ever put on,” while others pointed out that the bodysuit was rather “inappropriate” and “lascivious” for the event.

On the night, Mamamoo was awarded the Worldwide Fans’ Choice Top 10 award.

Having kicked off in Seoul on Monday, MAMA will stage its last ceremony at Hong Kong’s AsiaWorld-Expo on Friday.

By Hong Dam-young (lotus@heraldcorp.com)