Kiwi Blackpink member Rosé takes home historic VMA for K-pop song

A New Zealander has become the first artist to win a VMA category with a K-pop song.

Rosé, the Auckland-born member of Korean girl group Blackpink, took home the 2025 VMA for Song of the Year on September 7, according to Business Insider.

Her song APT, recorded with Bruno Mars, is the first K-pop song to win that category.

Rosé dedicated the award to her 16-year-old self and “to all those who have watched me grow into the artist that I am today and placed their dreams in me to make this change”.

The hit track, which was a single on her 2024 solo album Rosie, references a South Korean drinking game called the Apartment Game.

It has spent 45 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, the Hollywood Reporter reports, 12 of which were at No 1.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by ROSÉ (@roses_are_rosie)

Born Roseanne Park, the star lived in New Zealand until her family moved to Melbourne when she was 7.

She has been a member of Blackpink since 2016 and is known for being the quartet’s lead dancer.

The South Korean supergroup has attained global success, catapulting Rosé and fellow members Jisoo, Jennie and Lisa to international stardom.

Jennie also has connections to New Zealand, having attended school in Auckland.

The now 29-year-old attended Waikōwhai Intermediate and ACG Parnell College in her teens.

Edits of Jennie’s and Rosé’s unique blend of Kiwi, Aussie and Korean accents are popular on social media.