What’s happened to TWICE’s Mina? She apologises for performing with a face swollen to twice its size, and ONCEs are heartbroken

If you're a TWICE fan, you've probably been seeing the phrase "what happened to Mina's face" everywhere these past couple of days. Honestly, the first time I saw the clips from the Taipei Dome concert, I was shocked too. How could Mina, the one we always call our elegant 'penguin', have a face so swollen? To the point where she had to wear a veil and couldn't even face fans properly to apologise – it truly broke every ONCE’s heart.

More than a cold? A health issue? Details emerge from Mina’s Taipei Dome performance

Here's what happened. Right after TWICE finished their concert at the Taipei Dome, fan communities were flooded with messages. Aside from the heartwarming moment when Tzuyu finally performed her solo debut song in her home country for the first time, emotionally saying she'd 'waited a long time for this day', the other big talking point was Mina's condition. During the encore, her face was practically swollen to twice its size. Although she remained professional and ran around with the other members, every time the camera focused on her, she instinctively tried to hide with her hand or a fan. During the final goodbye when trying to make a heart sign to fans, she couldn't show her full face and kept bowing in apology. It was truly heartbreaking to see.

At that moment, I knew this wasn't just simple water retention or having had too much salty food the day before. The extent of the swelling, combined with her need to hide it, made me think – someone who’s been in the industry as long as I have just knows – something was genuinely wrong with her health, and it wasn't something she could easily cover up. This led many fans to start a ‘what happened to Mina's face review’, looking back at previous tour stops and even digging up recent airport photos to try and find clues.

Scouring the internet for answers: a fan's ‘what happened to Mina's face guide’

As a seasoned observer of the entertainment world, I've seen how worried fans are, so I've put together the most likely theories circulating. Consider this an unofficial ‘what happened to Mina's face guide’. It's worth thinking about, but ultimately, we're hoping the agency will release an official statement.

• Allergic reaction: The most common speculation. The recent dramatic weather changes in Taiwan, combined with the intense stage lights, pyrotechnics, and frequent use of different hair and makeup products on tour, can easily trigger severe allergic hives or contact dermatitis. If it is an allergy, facial swelling is a classic symptom, and artists often just have to push through to avoid medication affecting their stamina.
• Dental or oral issues: Another possibility is an inflamed wisdom tooth or a periapical cyst. This kind of pain can be excruciating and cause one side of the face to swell up rapidly, sometimes even making it difficult to open your mouth to sing. If that was the case, Mina still managing to perform on stage shows incredible professionalism.
• Immune system issues from exhaustion: With a tour schedule packed tight, flying from one country to another, even the strongest person would struggle. When your immune system dips, the body becomes prone to all sorts of inflammatory responses, with facial swelling being just one sign. This usually requires a good period of proper rest to recover.

How to handle an idol's ‘imperfection’: a lesson for us all

Talking about this, I also want to address the sentiment behind the phrase ‘how to use what happened to Mina's face’. Of course, ‘use’ here isn't literal – it's about how we, as fans, should react to a situation like this. Seeing your idol unwell, the first reaction is naturally heartbreak, but that can be followed by conspiracy theories or overly critical comments.

I have to say, real love means giving them space when they're not at their best. Instead of bombarding the agency for answers or spreading unverified rumours, why not give them more support at concerts and leave warm, encouraging messages online? As Tzuyu said, standing on her home stage was a dream she'd waited a long time for, and Mina also gave her absolute all for this performance. Her choice not to miss it shows the utmost respect for the fans.

So, rather than obsessing over ‘what happened to Mina's face’, let's turn the question into ‘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 support system. As for Mina's swelling, let's leave that to the medical professionals. What we can do is quietly wait for her to recover and return to the stage as the most beautiful ‘black swan’. Right?