TL;DR

• XG has officially changed its name from Xtraordinary Girls to Xtraordinary Genes after member Cocona came out as transmasculine and nonbinary.
• The group says the new name reflects its core identity, creativity, and commitment to inclusivity.
• Cocona previously shared a heartfelt Instagram statement about being AFAB transmasculine nonbinary and undergoing top surgery.
• The change arrives ahead of their first full album, The Core, releasing January 23.
• XG says the shift honors their origins while widening their message to empower diverse fans worldwide.

XG Reinvents Itself After Cocona Comes Out — And the New Name Slaps Hard

A K-Pop Evolution Rooted in Queer Visibility

The global K-pop and J-pop fusion group XG just pulled a move that’s as bold as their choreography: they’ve changed their name. Formerly Xtraordinary Girls, the group will now go by Xtraordinary Genes after member Cocona publicly came out last month as transmasculine and nonbinary. And honestly? It’s the kind of inclusive rebrand that makes queer fans everywhere whisper, finally.

The announcement dropped on social media, catching fans between excited squeals and emotional tears. For a group whose entire identity was built around the word “Girls,” redefining the G was more than a marketing tweak — it was a statement of love, respect, and solidarity with a member bravely owning his identity in an industry still notoriously allergic to LGBTQ+ openness.

A Name Rooted in Identity, Not Expectation

On their official website, XG explained the choice with a clarity that felt refreshingly intentional. “Genes,” the group said, represents creativity, core identity, and the freedom to evolve “without being bound by conventional norms.” Translation: they’re done letting industry expectations dictate who they are — and they want their fans to feel the same liberation.

They emphasized that the shift isn’t a rejection of their origins but a deepening of them. Their vibe remains the same; their message just grew up. And with the members hailing from Japan but based in South Korea — two markets with complicated relationships with queerness — this type of public affirmation is rare, welcome, and powerful.

Cocona’s Coming-Out Opened a New Door

The name change comes on the heels of Cocona’s heartfelt birthday message last month. On turning 20, he wrote a long caption revealing that he is AFAB transmasculine nonbinary and that he’d undergone top surgery — a vulnerability almost unheard-of in the tightly controlled K-pop sphere.

“I was born and perceived as female, but that label never represented who I truly am,” he wrote. He described the fear, the journey, and the eventual breakthrough that let him say, “There’s nothing wrong with who I am inside.”

For queer fans — especially those across Asia, who often struggle for mirrors in mainstream media — his message hit like a chorus of acceptance.

A New Era Before a Major Album Drop

The timing couldn’t be more cinematic: XG’s first full album, The Core, drops January 23. The group says the new name mirrors the album’s themes, which revolve around identity, authenticity, and what lies at one’s creative center.

And if the fandom’s reactions are any indication, this era isn’t just a rebrand — it’s a reclamation. It’s the group saying, “We are who we are, and we’re not shrinking — we’re expanding.”

Why This Matters for the LGBTQ+ Community

In a global music landscape where queer artists continue to fight for space, a major group rebranding itself around a member’s trans identity is nothing short of historic. It sends a message beyond fanbases and charts: trans and nonbinary people deserve to exist openly, joyfully, and supported — not hidden to maintain an aesthetic or appease conservative markets.

XG choosing to evolve with Cocona instead of around him is a blueprint for how the industry should operate: with care, pride, and intention. It’s a reminder that queerness isn’t an obstacle to creativity — it is creativity. And when artists are allowed to live truthfully, everyone wins.

XG’s new era is loud, proud, and ready to shake the industry. And honestly? We’re already obsessed.