IVE members Rei and Liz have been selected as new ambassadors for luxury fashion brand Valentino, drawing both congratulations and criticism from fans online. The news gained attention after a post on the Korean community forum Pann went viral, surpassing 32,000 views. According to the post, the ambassador appointments were not widely promoted through news articles or official social media posts. Instead, fans reportedly learned about the partnership only after Rei and Liz departed for Paris, with the announcement made via Valentino’s official KakaoTalk channel.
While expressing happiness over the members securing the ambassadorships, the original poster questioned why two members from the same group were chosen for the same brand and criticized the lack of visible promotion. The post also argued that such opportunities depend heavily on company support, placing responsibility on Starship Entertainment.
The discussion expanded to broader concerns about promotional inequality among IVE members. The post referenced past situations involving Leeseo, Gaeul, and Yujin, suggesting that individual advertisements and brand deals often appear inconsistent or delayed. The author claimed Starship excels at album production and concerts but falls short in building long-term brand value for its artists.
Online reactions were mixed. Some commenters congratulated Rei and Liz on the achievement, while others questioned whether the deal was a formal ambassadorship rather than sponsorship. Several users also noted that it is uncommon for two members of the same group to serve as ambassadors for the same luxury brand.
Comments on Pann:
- “They are both pretty, but Liz kind of looks like a ghost, and Rei always looks sad…can’t they change their image?”
- “Not sure about them, but mostly big companies grab ads for their idols.”
- “Honestly, it doesn’t suit them.”
- “Congrats to them!”
- “Starship doesn’t do this. If they had done even just as half as much as other companies, the group would’ve been more famous.”
- “Are you sure they are ambassadors and not just sponsored? I’ve seen one member being selected for brands, but have never seen two members chosen as ambassadors for the same brand.”
Despite the debate, many fans expressed anticipation for Rei and Liz’s appearance at the upcoming Paris fashion show, viewing the appointment as a positive step for the members’ individual careers.
Sources: Pann
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