Who is Momo? Get to know TWICE’s main dancer here
TWICE debuted in 2015 through JYP Entertainment after the survival show Sixteen assembled nine members, and Momo Hirai quickly stood out as the group’s main dancer. Born November 9, 1996, the now twenty-nine-year-old Japanese member brings sharp technique and easy charisma that fans still highlight in every comeback.
Momo’s early life
Momo started dancing at three alongside her older sister Hana at Step Out Dance Studio in Japan. A video of the sisters caught JYP’s attention, leading to her invitation to the 2011 JYP Japan Audition. She passed, relocated alone to South Korea in 2012, and trained until the Sixteen competition. After an early elimination, Momo returned for the finale and earned her spot in TWICE, taking on main dancer duties plus supporting vocal and rap lines.
Momo learns Korean
Like Sana, Mina, and Taiwanese member Tzuyu, Momo arrived without fluent Korean and picked up the language on camera. Fans still revisit 2016 clips from Elementary School Teacher, where grade-school students quizzed her on vocabulary and she stumbled through the exam with good humor. Those early moments helped viewers see her determination before the group’s first single “Ooh-Aah” even dropped.
Momo is very personable
Offstage warmth keeps Momo relatable. Fans coined “Peach Sisters” for her and Nayeon after noticing matching laughs and expressions in behind-the-scenes clips. Group videos continue to show easy chemistry among all nine members, and Momo has teared up on stage when thanking ONCE for their support, most recently during the Dome Tour era and again in 2026 fan events.
Momo’s endorsements and fashion presence
Since 2021, Momo has expanded her public profile through fashion and beauty campaigns. She became Miu Miu’s Japanese ambassador in 2023, fronted AMAFFI perfume in 2025, and attended the brand’s Paris Fashion Week shows in 2026. The appointments placed her on red carpets alongside established models and designers, giving fans a new side of her style beyond stage outfits.
Momo in MISAMO
In 2023, Momo joined Sana and Mina in the Japanese subunit MISAMO. Their debut EP Masterpiece showcased Momo’s rap verses and choreography, and the 2026 album PLAY continued that momentum with title track “Confetti.” Within the trio she again serves as main dancer and rapper, proving the skills honed in TWICE translate to smaller-scale projects without losing impact.
Momo’s songwriting contributions
Momo’s creative reach now includes lyric credits. She contributed to TWICE’s 2025 track “Me+You” and earlier co-wrote “Money in My Pocket” in 2024. These additions give listeners a glimpse of her perspective beyond performance, something fans note whenever set lists highlight the newer cuts.
Momo’s recent activities and tours
TWICE’s sixth world tour, THIS IS FOR, kept Momo on stages across multiple continents in 2026. She also joined the group’s Season’s Greetings video shoots and birthday fan meetings that same year, maintaining the steady schedule that has defined her career since debut. The combination of subunit releases, fashion work, and live dates shows how she balances group commitments with individual projects.
Whether fronting MISAMO choreography or walking a Paris runway, Momo continues to anchor TWICE with the same precision she brought to the Sixteen finale. Her path from early trainee days to current brand and songwriting roles keeps longtime fans invested and introduces new listeners to the dancer who helped define the group’s sound and image.
