Chiquita

Who Is Chiquita? Meet BABYMONSTER’s Energetic Maknae

Chiquita is a Thai singer and dancer, known as the maknae (youngest member), vocalist, dancer, and rapper of the seven-member K-pop girl group BABYMONSTER under YG Entertainment. Born Riracha Phondechaphiphat on February 17, 2009, in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, Chiquita is one of two Thai members in the group, alongside labelmate Pharita, continuing YG’s legacy of scouting standout Thai talent that began with BLACKPINK’s Lisa.

Early Life and Training

Chiquita grew up in Nakhon Ratchasima before pursuing a career in music, previously performing with the cover dance group RedRose. Her older brother, Copper Dechawat, is himself a member of the Thai boy group BUS, making music something of a family pursuit. She joined YG Entertainment as a trainee in March 2021, and after impressing YG founder Yang Hyun-suk during an internal evaluation video, she was fast-tracked into training — ultimately becoming the member with the shortest training period among all seven BABYMONSTER members.

Debut With BABYMONSTER

She was officially unveiled as the third confirmed member of BABYMONSTER on January 23, 2023, and promoted with the group’s six-member pre-debut single “Batter Up” in November 2023. Chiquita became part of the complete seven-member lineup for the group’s official debut on April 1, 2024, with the EP BABYMONS7ER, and has since promoted on releases including DRIP, We Go Up, and the group’s Japanese single “Ghost.”

Personality and Stage Presence

As BABYMONSTER’s maknae, Chiquita is known for her playful, high-energy stage presence and cat-like eyes, which fans often cite as one of her signature charm points. She cites BLACKPINK’s Lisa as her biggest inspiration — fittingly, as both are Thai idols who broke through under YG Entertainment. Off stage, she’s described by fellow members as a night owl who is famously the last to wake up in the mornings, and her room is known for being filled with bright colors and plushies.

Languages and Talents

Chiquita speaks Thai and English fluently and continues studying Korean. Her specialty instrument is the flugelhorn, which she has played since around age six. As BABYMONSTER’s global popularity continues to grow through world tours and chart-topping releases, Chiquita’s charisma and multicultural background make her a key face representing the group’s international, multilingual appeal.