Nearly ten years ago, a young Stephanie Hwang took her first step on a journey. It would be a lengthy one, bringing her to Paris and Beijing, New York City and Tokyo, Sydney and London, and countless other places she could only have dreamed of. Her very first stop on this journey, however, was in Seoul, South Korea, where she made a splash with her loud voice and long yellow hair, as only Girls’ Generation’s future pink princess could.
“It’s as much passion as you have, just follow it, and you can be where you want to be. I mean, I am.”
During her first years in Korea, cultural differences between her new home and her old meant that Stephanie was sometimes the subject of misunderstandings and confusion. Many scrutinized her every word and criticized her every action, this teenage girl who could have been of their daughter’s age. And yet, as only she could, Stephanie accepted everything with a smile, an apology, and a promise to work harder. She befriended anyone who would give her a chance, including eight very special young women, with her infectious enthusiasm and infinite kindness. As Stephanie became Tiffany when Girls’ Generation debuted, it was these same traits that won her the hearts of hundreds of thousands of fans around the world.
“Thank you to the fans who support us throughout… all over the world, thank you so much, and we’d be nothing without you.”
For these reasons and more, many fans of Girls’ Generation, no matter who their bias, have a soft spot for Tiffany. Of the nine members, she arguably risked the most to be a part of the group that SONEs love so much, having left behind her family, her friends, and a familiar culture. Tiffany moved halfway across the world for a chance to follow her dreams at only 15 years old, something fans realize most people could never do.
“In a family, we encounter happiness but also sadness, or good things but also bad things. However, let’s be together forever until the end.”
Moreover, fans have seen that Tiffany’s attachment to Girls’ Generation is greater than even that of their own. She has been affectionately nicknamed “T-Manager” by both fans and her members for her tendency to be protective of the group, to speak to SM Entertainment on their behalf before the others get a chance, and to count the members to make sure everyone is present. She is a SONE at heart, who does her best to support all of the members in their individual activities. In the past, Tiffany has been in the audience for almost every musical starring a Girls’ Generation member, from “Legally Blonde” to “Singin’ in the Rain”. She has appeared on “We Got Married” for Seohyun with Taeyeon, Hyoyeon, and Sooyoung and attended “Dancing with the Stars II” twice for Hyoyeon, once by herself and again with Taeyeon and Yuri. Tiffany also visited Yuri during the filming of “No Breathing” and Sooyoung at the set of “Dating Agency; Cyrano” with Taeyeon and Seohyun. Recently, she was Sunny’s first guest from the group on “FM Date” and went on “Jessica & Krystal” with Hyoyeon. For the past seven years, Tiffany has been the biggest fan of all of Girls’ Generation’s members, having even gone to every single one of the group’s concerts around the world. What else could her favorite color be?
“Everything, pink, mine.”
To someone unfamiliar with Girls’ Generation, it might seem strange that Tiffany is so dedicated to supporting her members’ dramas, movies, radios, musicals, and other activities when she is already so occupied with her own. She is frequently featured in magazines (sometimes traveling overseas to places such as Bali and Milan for photoshoots), sings OSTs for dramas, has starred in her own musical, endorses multiple fashion and cosmetic lines, and was a contestant on last year’s “Fashion King Korea”. In addition to promotions for Girls’ Generation, she is also one-third of the group’s first sub-unit and one of the most requested and experienced idol MCs, after starting all the way back in 2007 on “Sonyeon Sonyeo Gayo Baekso”.
“Let love outweigh the hardships & obstacles that we face – so that we may fight and never lose hope.”
Still, despite her own busy schedule, Tiffany has and will always make time for whatever her members may be doing, because they aren’t just her fellow members in a group anymore. After nearly seven years together of ups and downs, laughter and tears, sleepless nights and early mornings, and endless plane rides from one country to another, the others are no longer Tiffany’s colleagues, but her sisters. Tiffany has found a family away from her family: eight people who will always love her and care for her as much as she loves and cares for them; eight people who have come with her on her journey.
“The thing I want to say to my mom is… although she departed from me first, she left me with eight sisters. So I want to thank both my mom and God.”
Thus, it comes as no surprise to fans of Tiffany to see her devotion to Girls’ Generation, a group of people who she cherishes more than anyone could ever know, and who have helped make the dream that she gave up so much for come true. With her eight sisters, Tiffany has performed in sold-out concerts all over the world, recorded multiple albums and dozens of songs, hosted music shows and K-Pop festivals, started trends, and broken records. Her sisters came with her when her journey took her home to the United States, and she was able to sing on “The Late Show with David Letterman” and “Live with Kelly”, shows she watched as a child. They came with her when her journey took her home to Los Angeles, and she opened a baseball game by singing the national anthem. They came with her when her journey took her home to her family, when she came back as an accomplished vocalist, a beautiful young woman, and a representative of Korea known all over the world.
“It’s like having eight sisters and best friends. We’ve realized and learned to lean on each other.”
Nearly seven years ago, Tiffany took her next step on a journey. It was another date she would never forget, and just four days after August 1st, it was the best belated birthday present she could ever ask for. It would become a milestone in her life, but also in the lives of eight others, because she would not be going alone. Coming with her were eight girls who she would grow to love just as much as they loved her. Still today, her journey continues. We can’t wait to see where she goes next. Happy birthday Tiffany.
“My lucky number is 9.”
Sources: 801Dayz, Complete Bliss, First-, Oh-TaeNy, Shining Smile
Written by: bhost909@soshified
Happy Birthday, Stephanie Hwang Miyoung!!! Keep inspiring us sones and other through your kind words and actions.. Keep smiling because your smile can lift our mood to the very best! ^^ Stay healthy and well and spread your happy virus to everyone once again happy birthday … WE ARE ALWAYS HERE FOR YOU GUYS>> WE LOVE YOU <3
Happy birthday Tiffany!May God bless you with all pretty things and please continue to make SONEs life better by doing more great music with your sisters.We will always love you,Pink Princess
Saengil chukha hamnida to Fany Fany Tiffany who is brighter than mushrooms.May the Lord bless u n yr career.May u always stay strong n beautiful 4ever.TQ 4 singing so well n fantastically n appearing in many variety shows.The charms that u exude really captivate my heart n attention.Hope u will appreciate this wondeful moment with yr other 8 soshis.May u continue to work harder to bring SO NYUH SHI DAE tothe next level in the Kpop industry.At last,hv fun n enjoy yr birthday noona all day long.SNSD Tiffany saranghaeyo!!!!!!!!!!!
happy birthday tiffany.Your smile is as beautiful as your heart
Happy Birthday Unnie <3
It has indeed been a long journey. Happy birthday Tiffany! May your enchanting smile, kindness and dedication endure through the ages. You truly are an inspiration.
Happy Birthday Tiffany unnie! Your smile makes the world shine brighter!! Sones will always be here for you no matter what! We love you Tiffany!!
Happy Bday Fany, hope you had a good one! :)
Happy Birthday To Kyungsan “Umma” Tippa-Chan ^^! Wish U All The Best… keep bring your Goddess Smile and Your Brightest Eye-Smile…. Greet from Indonesia (Please Comeback To Jakarta Again)
Tiffany was the member I liked the least when I became a Sone. Heck, I can’t even remember her face back then. But now, she’s my second bias. So wonderful, mature, (Okay, immature at times haha) and very caring. Nichkhun is very lucky. :”>
to my unnie happy happy birthday ♥
Happy Birthday STEPHANIE MI-YOUNG HWANG..
Nice writing…very touching
Today is a really special day because in a day like this an amazing person was born, a person that make me smile even without saying nothing, just see her eyes smile is enough to make me happy ^^ shes a true example of fight for your dreams and overcome everything to make them true.
Happy birthday my pinky mushroom! you are the first member which I fell in love in the group, you always will have a special place in my heart ♥ I truely love you Fanny Fanny Tiffany! even if I not with you I wish you the best in this lovely day. Please stay happy and healthy!!
Venezolan SONE
Happy birthday my dear idol! Let’s celebrate together indirectly next and next year, on and on. Happy birthday!
Dear Tiffany,
Our beautiful and cute Eye-smiles Queen.
Happy 25th !!!
Stay pretty.
Stay healthy.
Hope you always get the best in your life.
We love you.. <3 <3 <3
Not just a pretty face but also a wonderful human being. An angle sent to us from heaven Happy Birthday to the one and only Tiffany Hwang you’ll forever be my no.1 Gob bless you
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY FAVORITE ANGEL TIFFANY , Wow It’s been 26 years, times walks so fast and you also grow become prettier and mature i just wish for you to stay healthy and eat well and keep strong and fighting for you and other members, i admire you courage and ur kindness heart to caring and protect ur sisters, and ur pretty eye smile also courage me and energize me to do my work please stay healthy and strong my lovely angel ..HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU…FIGHTING FANNY FANNY TIFFANY ..and Also HAPPY 7th ANNIVERSARY for SNSD ..keep up the good work
FiGHTING….
happy birthday tiffany unnie…whatever you do..keep doing it cause we love you…saranghae unnie…snsd fighting!!!!
We sones are so proud of our pink monster tiffany !!! So bright inside and outside, once again HAPPY BIRTHDAY TIFFANY !!
Tiffaanny!! Happy birthday!!
happy birthday tiffany hwang
wish you more birthday’s to come :)
<3 <3 <3 <3 <3
happy happy happy birthday manager hwang! we love you so much! :)
Happy Birthday Tiffany!!! the love you have for your members is unmatched by even us sones…you are special and truly a wonderful person…i can only wish i could meet you one day…your unbelievable strong and courage and i admire you greatly for that. Stay strong and if you are ever feeling down just remember we sones will always have your back:) Happy Birthday Fany and i love you!!!
Your smile is as beautiful as your heart, through which you enlights and uplifts ours…
May you have a very Happy Birthday, Tiffany!!