On the morning of May 27, a press conference was held for Mnet’s World of Street Woman Fighter (WSWF) at SJ Kunsthalle in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. As the highly anticipated third season of the Street Woman Fighter series kicks off, the event featured appearances by key figures from Korea’s dance scene, including members of Team Bumsup—a powerhouse crew composed of leaders from the original season.
Among the attendees was Monika, the renowned dancer and choreographer who rose to fame as the leader of PROWDMON in the first season of Street Woman Fighter. Monika made headlines in December 2024 when she announced her marriage and pregnancy through a heartfelt handwritten letter](https://kbizoom.com/monika-announces-marriage-and-pregnancy-a-precious-life-has-found-us/), stating, “I promised to spend my life with the person I love, and a miraculous life that will deepen our love has come to us.”
While her participation in the competition was initially uncertain, Monika has embraced a non-performing role as the spiritual leader of Team Bumsup. Lip J, also from PROWDMON, has taken over her place on stage.
During the press conference, Monika surprised fans by revealing she gave birth in April and is already preparing for her return to the stage—just 50 days postpartum. She shared, “Now is the time for me to get my body ready to perform on stage again. I started jogging yesterday.”
She added, “Normally, this would be a time to focus on postpartum recovery, but I think dancing might be my form of recovery. At first, I felt reluctant about not being able to perform, but watching the competition progress, it looks so intense that I’m glad I’m sitting this one out.” Her candid and inspiring remarks highlighted her deep connection to dance and her resilience as both an artist and new mother.
Monika’s leadership and bold choreography in the 2021 debut season of Street Woman Fighter helped propel the South Korean street dance scene to global recognition. Her influence significantly contributed to the growing prominence of female dancers in K-pop and the broader street dance community.
Meanwhile, World of Street Woman Fighter expands the franchise’s scope with a global competition. Six elite dance crews from five countries—South Korea, the United States, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand—will face off in high-stakes performances. The show premiered on May 27 at 10 p.m. KST on Mnet.