KELCEY LORENZO WRITES – In late March, CL, leader of K-Pop girl group 2NE1, was nominated for TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2015.
CL, whose birth name is Lee Chaerin, was the only Korean out of the 158 figures nominated for the list. Other individuals that were nominated for this year’s list included artists, politicians, religious figures, and prominent figures in math and science from around the world.
TIME conducted an online poll that ran from the beginning of March to April 10 that allowed readers and fans to vote for the nominated contenders. One of the finalists would be chosen based on these votes, while the remaining 99 were chosen by the editors.
According to TIME magazine, “While TIME’s editors will choose the TIME 100 — our annual list of the most influential people in the world — we want readers to have a say too.”
Although CL placed second in the final results of poll (next to Russia’s President, Vladimir Putin), she unfortunately was not able to claim a spot in the final list that was revealed on April 16.
Fans do not seem upset about the final results of the list, leaving comments on online articles saying, “I think it’s nice that she was nominated, and I’m happy that her fans created enough waves to get her to #2 in the reader poll,” and, “Didn’t really expect her to make it, but how she got to #2 shows how incredible fanbases are.”
CL is currently preparing to make her solo U.S. debut sometime later this year.