It’s almost hard to believe that it’s already been more than two decades since she first entered showbiz via the ABS-CBN original talent show Star Circle Quest because Sandara Park looks like she has not really aged one bit. In an Instagram post, the well-loved Korean beauty shared snapshots of herself looking flawless in a bikini while enjoying her summer vacation on Bohol island.
The pretty Korean performer, who turns 41 in November, wrote the short caption, “So hot 🥵🔥 Hello Summer!!! ☀️👙😎🌊🏝️” to accompany photos of herself in a floral bikini at a resort’s swimming pool area. Having studied in the Philippines during her elementary and high school years, Dara is vocal about her strong connection to the Philippines and she is known to visit the country every chance she gets even after being launched in South Korea as part of the hugely popular girl group 2NE1 in 2009.
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Aside from Bohol, Dara has also been seen enjoying other local summer travel destinations like Tagaytay City, Boracay, Palawan, Batangas, and Subic Bay in Olongapo City. During another visit to the country in 2023, she talked about her affinity for Pinoys and her favorite local food during a guesting on It’s Showtime.
“Kaya mahal na mahal ko ang Pilipinas eh at dito ako nanggaling 'di ba at lalo na dito sa ABS-CBN. Kagabi kumain ako ng sisig, salpicao, garlic rice and after the show pupunta ako sa favorite restaurant ko para kumain ng sinigang na hipon," she stated. She also posted her gratitude for her fans here on her social media, “Paano nyo ba ako naalala hanggang ngayon kahit matagal nako wala sa Phil. TV show. Sa halos lahat ng generation, naalala pa nila ako. Kahit sa mall, sa market, sa restuarant, sa lahat ng places🤩 kakagulat hehe I’m so happy!!!😍”
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In a quick trip to Manila last year, Dara shared how much she missed the country and her wish to someday get the chance to work with local idols like Coco Martin and OPM rapper Shanti Dope. In a previous interview with ABS-CBN, she shared, “I feel at home. And parang nag-stay ako ng matagal kasi I went to my favorite restaurant. I have a wish! Sana magka-project kami ni Coco Martin in the future! Sana! I really love his movies, napanood ko lahat ng movies niya! Lalo na yung mga romantic comedies so sana maging leading man ko siya in the future! Sabi niya yeah! Let’s do something together, so sana yeah maging totoo yun! Gusto ko yung mga bagong songs. I listen to Shanti Dope’s mga kanta, pero my ultimate idol now si Ms. Regine Velasquez so I want to comeback for her concert.”
Having lived in the Philippines for almost a decade along with her family, Dara is also known to be fluent in Tagalog. She won over Pinoy audiences with her natural charm and humor in Star Circle Quest which led to her placing first runner-up to Hero Angeles who ended up becoming her love team partner.
Before she joined the K-pop industry, she was most known in OPM for her novelty single "In and Out" which came from her self-titled six-track album, Sandara released in 2004. She the mini album titled ‘Sandara Park’ in 2023 which contained five tracks and gave Dara a co-writing credit for the single "Festival."