What’s Wrong with TWICE Mina’s Face? She Couldn’t Show Her Face on Stage Due to Swelling, and ONCEs Are Heartbroken

If you’re a TWICE fan, your feed has probably been dominated by the words “what’s wrong with Mina’s face” for the past couple of days. Honestly, even I did a double-take when I first saw the videos coming out of the Taipei Dome concert. How could Mina, the one who always carries herself with such an elegant grace, our beloved “penguin,” have a face that swollen? To the point where she had to wear a veil and couldn’t face her fans directly to apologize—it truly broke every ONCE’s heart.

More Than Just a Cold? A Health Scare Unfolds at the Dome

Here’s what happened: right after TWICE’s concert at the Taipei Dome wrapped up, fan forums were flooded with messages. While everyone was thrilled to see Tzuyu finally perform her solo debut track on her home turf for the first time, emotionally saying she’d “waited a long time for this,” the other big talking point was Mina’s condition. During the encore, her face appeared almost swollen to twice its normal size. Despite still running around with the members like a trooper, whenever a camera focused on her, she instinctively tried to hide behind her hand or a fan. And then, during the final send-off, when she was supposed to flash a heart to the fans, she couldn’t show her full face and ended up repeatedly bowing in apology. It was a gut-wrenching scene.

My immediate thought was that this was not simple water retention or just having something too salty the night before. This level of swelling, combined with the fact she felt she had to conceal her face, made me—having seen a lot in this industry—intuitively feel that something was genuinely wrong with her health, something she just couldn’t hide. This led many fans to start a sort of “what’s wrong with Mina’s face review,” looking back at recent tour stops and even digging up her latest airport photos for clues.

Scouring the Web for Answers: A Fan’s Guide to Mina’s Swelling

As a seasoned observer of the entertainment world, seeing how worried fans were, I decided to compile the most plausible theories circulating. Consider this an unofficial “what’s wrong with Mina’s face guide.” But at the end of the day, we’re all hoping for an official statement from her agency.

• Allergic Reaction: This is the most common guess. Taiwan’s recent fluctuating weather, combined with the intense stage lights, smoke effects, and the constant rotation of makeup and hair products used during a concert, can easily trigger severe allergic hives or contact dermatitis. If it is an allergy, facial swelling is a classic symptom, and artists often just tough it out to avoid medication that might affect their stamina.
• Dental or Oral Issues: Another possibility is a wisdom tooth infection or a dental abscess. This type of pain is excruciating and can cause one side of the face to puff up dramatically, sometimes even affecting the ability to open one’s mouth to sing. If this was the case, it’s a testament to Mina’s professionalism that she was still able to perform on stage.
• Immune System Crash from Exhaustion: A relentless tour schedule, flying from one country to another, can wear anyone down. When the immune system takes a hit, the body can become prone to various inflammatory reactions, with facial swelling being just one sign. This kind of situation usually requires proper, extended rest to fully recover from.

Learning to Handle an Idol’s ‘Imperfect’ Moments

Speaking of which, I want to touch on the sentiment behind the phrase “how to use what’s wrong with Mina’s face.” Of course, this isn’t about “using” anything; it’s about how we, as fans, should react when faced with a situation like this. Seeing your idol unwell, the first instinct is to worry. But that can be quickly followed by conspiracy theories or overly critical scrutiny.

I believe that true support means giving them space when they’re not at their best. Instead of spamming the agency’s social media demanding answers or spreading unverified speculation, it’s better to cheer a little louder at the concerts and leave warm, encouraging messages online. As Tzuyu said, standing on the stage in her hometown was a dream she had waited for a long time, and Mina gave her absolute all for this performance too. Her choice to not miss the show is a huge sign of respect for her fans.

So, rather than obsessing over “what’s wrong with Mina’s face,” maybe we should reframe the question to “what can we do for Mina?” I think the answer is simple: keep supporting TWICE, and let them know that no matter what, ONCE will always be their strongest backbone. As for Mina’s swelling, that’s something for the medical professionals to handle. What we can do is wait quietly for her to return to the stage as the beautiful “black swan” we know. Sounds good, right?