Working In Progress

“Wild! Fierce! Adorable! THE9’s first group debut cover — come pick your favorite!”
Yu Shuxin’s Highlights

by NYLON编辑部 – NYLON尼龙
2020-07月-16 20:40

(Note: I’ll be translating only Shuxin’s parts and highlights.)

NYLON YOUTH Cover Story

When the waves receded, colorful and variously shaped shells appeared on the beach. Some wear tough, inky-black armor; others shimmer with a soft, pearlescent pink… Under the sun, each shell is unique.

Just like the 109 young women we met this spring on Youth With You 2. After six months of rigorous training and intense competition, nine distinctive girls emerged and embarked on the dream journey of debuting as a group. With the name THE9, they stepped into the public eye. Born for the stage and proud of it, when asked about their goal post-debut, they answered in unison and with conviction:
To become China’s No. 1 girl group — to repay those who support us, with our performances and our work.

This time, NYLON invited the girls of THE9 for their first official group cover and editorial shoot. Alongside striking visuals, we had heartfelt conversations about their journey — from training and competition to debut and chasing dreams. Wild, fierce and cute, that’s what they are.

After debuting, THE9 quickly dove into a packed schedule — bouncing between performances, variety shows, and photoshoots. When training together became impossible, they watched practice videos after work, helping each other pinpoint areas to improve and keeping each other on track.

In their downtime, they’re just like any group of young women — bonding over hotpot, shopping, and teasing each other during practice breaks.
“The nine of us are very real,” they say with a smile. “We take care of one another. We hope people love us, love THE9 — because we’re a family.”

Amid all the buzz and chatter, regardless of how the world labels these “different personalities,” THE9 embraces life with one shared attitude: Live as your truest self. Enjoy your youth. Write your own story.

When a flower is in full bloom, don’t judge its color or its shape. From morning until nightfall, just keep your eyes on it, and you will know that you are looking at the most beautiful flower in the world.

Yu Shuxin:
Casual and firm

“Drama queen”? “The source of everyone’s joy”? It’s hard to sum up Esther Yu with just a few words. This girl with twin ponytails and saying “wow” is like the weather in early summer, with a brilliant but unpredictable side.

In many moments, Esther is strikingly spontaneous. Her actions are guided entirely by her mood: “Many people think that my performance on the show is exaggerated, but in fact my state is determined by my mood. Sometimes I get randomly high-energy for no reason.” The moment she speaks, it’s like a chirping lark flies into the room, bringing with it a burst of springtime sunshine. From the show’s broadcast to the group’s debut, her popularity has been very high. But Yu Shuxin’s charm doesn’t lie in being flawless—it lies in her complete lack of concern for being flawless. She laughs when she wants, jokes when she pleases, and never hesitates to show a crack in the facade. Her confidence lies in her authenticity.

Yu Shuxin chose to participate in “Youth With You 2” because of her interest. Initially an actress, Esther had a growing admiration for K-pop group BLACKPINK, which sparked her interest in becoming an idol. And when she found out that BLACKPINK’s Lisa would be a mentor on the show, she signed up on the spot.

But behind that carefree exterior is a quiet determination. “Sometimes I come off as more mature than I expect,” she says. “Honestly, I don’t know why that is.”
Through daily training, Yu Shuxin gradually shifted from fan-like awe to full commitment: “At first, it felt like I was watching a superstar concert up close. But once I saw how seriously everyone else was working, I slowly devoted myself to it. Since I’m here, I have to give it my all.”

Switching from actress to idol might have started with emotion and impulse, but for Yu Shuxin, no matter how her identity changes, she still has to do what she should do to her satisfaction. Yu Shuxin said, “I hope that every time I change my identity, I want to finish the task properly. It may not be the best, but at least in a way that I can be satisfied with.” When I asked her what she most wants to achieve post-debut, she didn’t hesitate: “Produce good music works and do things well.”

Yu Shuxin:
Q&A

Q: As someone who loves fashion, what’s the most important thing you pay attention to when putting together your everyday outfits?
A: When I was younger, I was really into colorful clothes. I felt like I could pull off bold, vibrant styles — and honestly, I thought if no one buys those kinds of pieces, the designers might feel a little sad! But now, I’ve learned to dial it back a bit. I go for simpler looks that still highlight my personality. It’s more about finding what suits me and building around that.

“If you want to learn to fly,
You must first learn to stand, run, jump and dance.
One cannot learn to fly by flying.”  
— Nietzsche

This is the story of THE9’s youth — learning to fly while stumbling through the journey. Brought together by Youth With You 2, and everything has just begun. No one can truly define how far one can go in pursuit of a dream. But one thing is certain: they will go further.

And perhaps, because they have each other—“because“ of” you”—that “how far” no longer matters quite as much. The road ahead may be long and winding,
But with smiles on their faces, they’ll keep searching, keep striving—together.

CREDITS:

Editor & Stylist:  爱莎 
Photographer: 梅远贵
Interview & Writer: 冷面 爱莎
Video Production: 竹子ZANvisuaLprO
Cinematographer: 晓峰
Video Editor: 酸性亚克力
Makeup Artist: Jonathan Yang
Hair Stylist: 华子 
Styling Assistants: Fenfen Kiki 玩鸭 陈逸凡 毛玮
Producer: 陆嘿嘿
Designer: Bao

NYLON_CHINA 20-7-15 15:00

#NYLON July Issue featuring THE9
This spring, after six months of intense training and selection, 9 girls with different personalities stepped into the spotlight as the newly formed girl group THE9.

Since their debut, THE9 has been non-stop — juggling variety shows, photo shoots, and a whirlwind of schedules. No matter how the world judges them, these girls believe one thing above all: Living true to yourself and enjoying your youthis the most important thing! 💫

NYLON_CHINA 20-7-15 18:00

#NYLON July Issue featuring THE9
For the bold and confident THE9, youth is self-expression; youth is freedom.
Youth is loud, vibrant, and unapologetically alive. They’re here to embrace the most electrifying moments of their time.

Drama queen? Source of happiness? Her beauty lies in never hiding her flaws, in not caring whether she looks perfect or not. She laughs when she wants and plays when she pleases — effortlessly radiant, just like early summer.
Yu Shuxin

NYLON_CHINA 20-7-16 11:29

When asked about their goal after debut, THE9 answered in unison and with unwavering resolve: to become China’s top girl group and to give back through their performances and work to those who support them. Twisting the energy of youth to move forward, when the flowers are in full bloom, you only need to open your eyes, and you will find that your sight can no longer be diverted because you’re witnessing the most beautiful flower in the world.

NYLON_CHINA 20-7-16 18:30

#NYLON July Issue featuring THE9
When the tide rolls out, the beach reveals a kaleidoscope of seashells — some with bold, dark exteriors, others glowing with soft, pearlescent pinks. Under the sunlight, each one is entirely unique. After facing challenges, laughter, and sweat, they have come together under the name The9, born for the stage, and proud to shine on it.

1. “Wild! Fierce! Adorable! THE9’s first group debut cover — come pick your favorite!”: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/GF0PnE00bu96cO7F2SSF7g
   NOTE: The English-translated sections include only Shuxin’s highlights and general descriptions from the magazine article. Please click the link to read the full article.
2. NYLON_CHINA Weibo: https://weibo.com/NYLONCHINA
3. NYLON_CHINA 20-7-15 15:00 – https://weibo.com/6298663816/Jbjwt3zOm
4. NYLON_CHINA 20-7-15 18:00 – https://weibo.com/6298663816/JbkHy81Sr
5. NYLON_CHINA 20-7-16 11:29 – https://weibo.com/6298663816/JbrzrDLB4
6. NYLON_CHINA 20-7-16 18:30 – https://weibo.com/6298663816/Jbukz0OMS