1. Overview
Ahn Shin-ae (안신애Ahn Shin-aeKorean; born December 18, 1990) is a South Korean professional golfer who gained significant public attention for both her golf achievements and her distinctive fashion sense. Often dubbed the "Sexy Queen," she competed primarily on the KLPGA Tour and later on the JLPGA Tour, securing multiple victories throughout her career, including a major KLPGA championship. Beyond her on-course performance, Ahn became a media personality known for her stylish attire, particularly her preference for mini-skirts, which sparked considerable discussion and contributed to her broad appeal. This article details her journey from her early life in Seoul and New Zealand to her professional successes, public image, and eventual retirement from professional golf.
2. Early Life and Amateur Career
Ahn Shin-ae's early life saw her relocate from South Korea to New Zealand, where she developed her foundational golf skills. This period also included her formal education and significant achievements as an amateur golfer.
2.1. Birth and Childhood
Ahn Shin-ae was born on December 18, 1990, in Seoul, South Korea. She developed an early interest in golf, beginning to play at the age of five, influenced by her father who often took her to practice ranges. At nine years old, in 1999, her family relocated to New Zealand, where she began to seriously pursue golf. She lived in New Zealand for approximately ten years, becoming a returnee with a background in both cultures. She comes from a small family, comprising herself and her parents.
2.2. Education and Amateur Golf
During her time in New Zealand, Ahn Shin-ae was selected to represent the country as a national team amateur golfer. She competed for New Zealand for four years, participating in various events, including prominent Asian competitions such as the Queen Sirikit Cup. Upon returning to South Korea, she pursued higher education, eventually earning a bachelor's degree in Golf Instruction from Konkuk University's Glocal Campus, College of Science and Technology, and later completing graduate studies at Konkuk University's Graduate School in 2013. She initially harbored a strong desire to compete on the LPGA Tour in the United States, but she decided to make her professional debut in her home country's Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour, believing it was too early for the LPGA.
3. Professional Career
Ahn Shin-ae's professional career began on the KLPGA Tour, where she quickly rose to prominence, later expanding her reach to the JLPGA Tour in Japan. She accumulated several significant victories and accolades across these tours.
3.1. KLPGA Tour
Ahn Shin-ae officially turned professional in 2008 by joining the KLPGA. Her full-scale participation on the KLPGA Tour began in 2009, a year in which she was recognized as the KLPGA Rookie of the Year. Her early successes continued in 2010, when she secured two victories on the KLPGA Tour: the SBS Tour's 1st Hidden Valley Ladies Open and the High1 Resort Cup SBS Charity Ladies Open. In September 2015, she achieved a significant milestone by winning the Lee Soo KLPGA Championship, which is considered a major tournament in South Korean women's golf. By 2016, she had accumulated a total of three KLPGA Tour victories.
3.2. JLPGA Tour
Following her success on the KLPGA Tour, Ahn Shin-ae made the decision in 2016 to challenge herself on the JLPGA Tour. Her major debut on the Japanese circuit came on May 4, 2017, at the World Ladies Championship Salonpas Cup. Although she finished tied for 41st, her appearance garnered significant media attention, largely due to her fashion choices. She continued to participate in various Japanese tournaments throughout 2017, including the Earth Mondahmin Cup (tied for 16th), the Nippon Ham Ladies Classic (tied for 13th), and the Samantha Thavasa Girls Collection Ladies Tournament (tied for 15th). In 2019, Ahn Shin-ae advanced to the final professional test for the JLPGA and successfully passed, finishing tied for 15th. This achievement allowed her to officially become a JLPGA member starting January 1, 2020.
3.3. Major Wins and Achievements
Ahn Shin-ae's professional career is marked by several notable victories and awards. She achieved three total wins on the KLPGA Tour, including one major championship, the 2015 Lee Soo KLPGA Championship. In 2009, she was honored with the prestigious KLPGA Rookie of the Year award, recognizing her impressive debut performance. Furthermore, in 2017, she became the first golfer to receive the "Athlete of the Year Award" at the Yahoo! Search Award, an accolade that underscored her growing popularity and influence beyond the golf course, particularly in Japan.
4. Public Image and Personal Life
Beyond her athletic achievements, Ahn Shin-ae became a prominent public figure, known for her distinctive style and engaging personality. Her public persona, often amplified by media attention, significantly contributed to her popularity.
4.1. Public Image and Nicknames
Ahn Shin-ae is widely recognized for her captivating public image, often described as elegant and sexy. In South Korea, she earned the popular nickname "Sexy Queen," a moniker that was also adopted by Japanese media outlets. Her attractive appearance and bold fashion choices, particularly her on-course attire, captured considerable media attention and public interest, making her a standout figure in the golf world. Her physical characteristics include a height of 65 in (165 cm) and a weight of 53 kilograms.
4.2. Fashion Style
A distinctive aspect of Ahn Shin-ae's public image is her unique on-course fashion style, notably her preference for mini-skirts. During her debut at the World Ladies Championship Salonpas Cup in Japan on May 4, 2017, she played in a white polo shirt and a black mini-skirt that was approximately 12 in (30 cm) above the knee, drawing significant attention from spectators and media alike. She continued to wear similar attire in subsequent tournaments, such as a black mini-skirt at the Hoken No Madoguchi Ladies on May 12, and yellow, mint, and navy checkered mini-skirts at the Earth Mondahmin Cup in June and Nippon Ham Ladies Classic in July. This led to comments from galleries and reporters like "her style is too good" and "it's difficult to know where to look."
Despite the considerable media focus on her fashion, Ahn Shin-ae maintained that her style was "normal." She explained that she had played in this comfortable, movable style since childhood and considered the extensive media coverage of her fashion to be "like a bonus" for her. This perspective highlighted her confidence and comfort with her personal aesthetic, even under intense public scrutiny.
4.3. Personal Life
As a returnee from New Zealand, where she lived for about 10 years during her childhood, Ahn Shin-ae brings a unique cross-cultural background to her public persona. Her hobbies include travel, listening to music, and fashion.
Known for her discerning palate, Ahn Shin-ae is a self-proclaimed gourmet, particularly fond of Japanese cuisine. She enjoys exploring local delicacies when touring, having savored sea urchin in Hakodate, salt ramen in Sapporo, and eel in Chiba Prefecture. She also expresses a fondness for Japanese convenience stores, citing specific favorite items from different chains, such as the "special egg sandwich" from 7-Eleven, the "rice ball with a soft-boiled egg inside" from FamilyMart, and "karaage" (fried chicken) from Lawson.
In 2013, Korean media reported rumors of a romantic relationship between Ahn Shin-ae and Park Yoochun, a member of the K-pop group JYJ. However, both their respective agencies promptly denied these reports, stating they were unfounded. Ahn Shin-ae is also active on Instagram, where she shares glimpses of her personal life, including travel photos, meals, gym workouts, interactions with her pet dogs, and even poolside and beach photos in swimwear, which have contributed to her large following.
4.4. Media Appearances
Ahn Shin-ae's popularity extended beyond the golf course, leading to numerous appearances on television programs and other media outlets, particularly in Japan. Her notable television appearances include:
- Honoo-no Taiikukai TV (TBS, July 29, 2017)
- The! Sekai Gyoten News (Nippon TV, August 8, 2017)
- Jinshumoku No.1 wa Dare da!? Pyramid Derby (TBS, August 13, 2017)
- Konya Kurabete Mimashita New Year's Day 3-Hour Special (Nippon TV, January 1, 2018), where she notably showcased her luxurious home.
4.5. Sponsorships and Endorsements
Throughout her professional career, Ahn Shin-ae secured several significant sponsorship agreements with various brands, leveraging her prominent public image. Her affiliated management company is NOW ON. Her golf equipment sponsorships included TaylorMade for clubs and Bridgestone for balls. Additionally, she was sponsored by Adidas for her apparel and footwear. These partnerships reflect her status as a marketable figure in the golf and entertainment industries.
5. Retirement
On September 22, 2024, Ahn Shin-ae officially announced her retirement from professional golf. In her statement, she expressed that "golf was herself," indicating the deep personal connection she had with the sport throughout her career. While she confirmed her departure from professional competition, details regarding her future endeavors or a "second career" remain undecided at the time of her announcement.
6. Assessment and Legacy
Ahn Shin-ae's career, marked by both athletic performance and a distinct public persona, has left a notable impact on the golf landscape, particularly in South Korea and Japan.
6.1. Positive Reception
Ahn Shin-ae's presence on the KLPGA Tour and later the JLPGA Tour significantly contributed to increasing the popularity of women's golf. Her captivating appearance and engaging personality drew new fans to the sport, generating substantial media interest and larger galleries at tournaments. She is often credited with inspiring a renewed interest in golf among a broader audience, demonstrating how a charismatic figure can enhance the visibility and appeal of professional sports.
6.2. Criticism and Controversies
Despite her positive impact, Ahn Shin-ae also faced some criticism, primarily centered around her distinctive fashion choices on the golf course. Her preference for short mini-skirts, while popular with many fans and media, also sparked debate regarding appropriate attire in professional sports. Some observers questioned whether her fashion choices overshadowed her athletic performance, leading to discussions about the balance between promoting a sport through personality and maintaining traditional sporting decorum. This created a broader social discussion about self-expression versus professional standards in sports, reflecting a range of public opinions on the matter.