EXO Lay Reveals SM Entertainment Rates Trainees Based On Visuals & He Got Failed Mark
EXO-Ls would definitely disagree on this but EXO member Lay Zhang has revealed that he gets a fail mark during his trainee days because of his looks. The singer has revealed that his label, SM Entertainment, rates trainees based on their visuals and he got C rating at the time.
AllKpop cited a report by Asia Today, stating Lay's made the revelation in a recent appearance on Produce 101 in China. Apparently, Lay was surprised of his rating but he used it to work harder.
"There were 2 trainees who received D ratings. In physical appearance, I was fourth from last at the time. I worked even harder while I was a trainee because I received a C rating, and it was an opportunity for me to look back on myself," Lay was quoted as saying.
Clearly, his efforts paid off. Over the years, Lay has proven that he has the visuals that advertisers love. He previously topped the list of K-pop idols with the most endorsement deals. Lay is a brand ambassador of over 20 brands, including reputable brands such as Converse, MAC Cosmetics, Samsung Galaxy, Valentino, Ray-Ban, and more.
Lay recently turned heads when he hit the red carpet the 2019 Grammy Awards because of his stunning visuals. The 27-year-old Chinese singer looked chic in his Valentino black blazer, a statement t-shirt, and trainers and couple it all with his cute dimple.
He was officially invited to the 61st Grammy Awards as an ambassador of FM Dongguan 101. Lay is the only artist who has received an invite from FM101 and China Music Vision, which is the exclusive partner of Grammy Awards in the country.
In an interview with Billboard, Lay shared his excitement to be at the Grammys and his hope to perform on its stage in the future. He also opened up about his desire to collaborate with more Western artists such as Khalid.
Earlier this year, the EXO member collaborated with Steve Aoki and A$AP Ferg on the stage of the Samsung concert in China. Lay is currently hosting and producing the survival reality show Idol Producer 2 in China. He has also revealed that he has plans to release another album this year.
Today, the 27-year-old singer is not only recognized for his good looks but also of his exceptional talent. He is now one of the most successful Mandarin artists in the international scene.
Lay is currently promoting his third solo album NAMANANA, which was released in October 2018. The album debuted at No. 21 at the Billboard 200 chart, making him the highest-ranking Chinese artist on the chart.