Before the establishment of the group, most of the members had some experience in the entertainment industry.
[[Kwon Ri-se|Rise]] participated in [[Miss Korea 2009]] as a representative of Japan,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://biz.heraldcorp.com/view.php?ud=20130402000672|script-title=ko:권리세 미스코리아 시절 “미코진 옆에서도 빛나”|date=April 2, 2013 |publisherwork=[[The Korea Herald]]|access-date=October 26, 2014|language=ko}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.donga.com/rel/3/all/20140907/66268457/1 |script-title=ko:가족 곁에서 숨 거둔 미소천사 권리세, “비보에 목메어 눈물만...” |date=September 7, 2014 |website=donga.com |publisher=Dong-a |access-date=October 26, 2014 |language=ko}}</ref> and won the Korean Abroad Award.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kim Ju-Ri Wins Miss Korea 2009 |url=http://www.koreanbeacon.com/2009/07/08/kim-ju-ri-wins-miss-korea-2009/ |date=July 8, 2009 |publisher=Korean Beacon |access-date=April 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140112031622/http://www.koreanbeacon.com/2009/07/08/kim-ju-ri-wins-miss-korea-2009/ |archive-date=January 12, 2014}}</ref> She gained popularity by starring in the talent show called ''Star Audition: The Great Birth'', and finished in the Top 12.<ref name="hankyung">{{cite web |url=http://www.hankyung.com/news/app/newsview.php?aid=2011060877797 |script-title=ko:데이비드오 - 권리세 우결 출연 확정 |date=June 8, 2011 |website=Hankyung.com |publisher=The Korea Economic Daily |access-date=October 26, 2014 |language=ko}}</ref> She then appeared with fellow ''Star Audition'' contestant David Oh as a couple on the reality show ''[[We Got Married]]'' in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/285/kwon-ri-sae-david-oh-couple-to-leave-we-got-married |title=Kwon Ri Sae-David Oh Couple To Leave ′We Got Married′ |last=Lee |first=Kyung-nam |date=September 6, 2011 |work=CJ E&M enewsWorld |publisher=Mwave |access-date=October 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027050122/http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/285/kwon-ri-sae-david-oh-couple-to-leave-we-got-married |archive-date=October 27, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Rise later signed on with [[KeyEast]] before switching agencies in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/26233/kwon-ri-sae-joins-polaris-ent |title='The Great Birth's Kwon Ri Sae Moves From Key East to Polaris Entertainment |last=Ho |first=Stewart |date=January 11, 2011 |work=CJ E&M enewsWorld |publisher=Mwave |access-date=October 27, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028052618/http://mwave.interest.me/enewsworld/en/article/26233/kwon-ri-sae-joins-polaris-ent |archive-date=October 28, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
EunB was previously a trainee under FNC Entertainment, where she was in the original line-up for [[AOA (group)|AOA]]. However, she left the company prior to the group's debut because she felt she needed more experience as a trainee.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.koreaboo.com/news/female-idols-celebrate-late-ladies-code-eunbs-birthday-instagram/ | title=Female idols celebrate the late Ladies' Code EunB's birthday on Instagram| date=November 24, 2015}}</ref>
