The final round of Japan’s 2009 Elite Model Look contest took place on Wednesday. Out of an initial field of 3,000 candidates, two grand prize winners were chosen – Manami Teruya (16) and Yui Okuma (18), both from Okinawa.
Teruya and Okuma will represent Japan in the international competition, which is being held this October in Sanya, China. […]
Teruya is from Okinawa City and Okuma from Ishigaki City. Go Okinawa! Photo of the pair is up at Ryukyu Shimpo’s website.
A recent Oricon survey asked 300 high school girls, ‘Which female celebrity do you consider to be a fashion leader?’
The #1 answer was pop superstar Namie Amuro (31), noted for her cute and stylish appearance. One girl explained that Amuro always wears fashionable items in her music videos and television appearances. […]
(Link: “Oricon: fashion leaders for high school girls – Tokyograph.”)
I find it absolutely awesome that Amuro is popular with high school girls and I’m sure she also appeals to older women too.
BENI’s new single—and her 2nd since going solely by her first name—won’t be released until April 8, 2009, but luckily, her record label has released the PV of the single on their official YouTube page. The new single, titled “Kiss Kiss Kiss,” sports BENI in a short bob-style hairdo (which I really like, BTW) and I think it’s a good follow-up to her previous single “Mou Nidoto…” (links to YouTube).
In addition to the new single, BENI will have a song featured on the website of the fashion store FOREVER 21 which will be opening a branch in Harajuku on April 21, 2009.
(via bounce.com.)
Singer Emi Tawata’s latest mini album, “Sweet Soul Love,” was just released on the 18th and it features a collaboration with popular apparel brand SOULSMANIA. The combined effort produced a lineup of t-shirts that perfectly compliment both sides as the apparel from SOULSMANIA are influenced by black culture and Emi’s style of music is a mix of R&B and Reggae. The t-shirts will be available for sale during Emi’s “Sweet Soul Tour 2009” beginning March 24, 2009.
The video above is a promotional clip for her new mini album featuring the song “Baby Come Close To Me.” (A full version of the song can be found on YouTube.)
(via bounce.com.)
20-year-old actress Meisa Kuroki has been chosen as the Japanese face of fashion brand Emporio Armani for 2009. She is succeeding actress Aoi Miyazaki, who served the same role last year.
This year’s campaign is being photographed by Takaki Kumada. Advertisements will begin running in the April issues of major fashion magazines, along with newspaper ads and billboards. The promotion will also appear on the brand’s website sometime this month.
(Link: Meisa Kuroki represents Armani.)
