Ayu as a role model

[Sirea]

Has anyone else noticed how American celebrities tend to be letting their lives get completely out of control and end up looking like rock-bottom trailer trash in front of paparazzi, and therefore millions of people? And yet, we wonder why the definition of 'celebrity' is becoming more and more irrelevant every single day... pop culture is a freak show and you almost want to pity them. Almost.

But then I thought how much I admire Ayu as a role model. She's had her share of scandals, yes, but she's also kept her life under control and she doesn't let herself become a shameful public spectacle. I think it comes down to how incredibly strong she is as a person, and how determined she is to keep her image clean. It's quite respectable how little trouble she finds herself in with the media, considering just how much focus is always on her.

Just one more reason to look up to Ayu. :]

[labello]

I personally don't see her as a rolemodel for me. She dropped out of school when she was still young and I tried to get famous through acting I guess~

I admire her and I really look up to her!! She has a great personality, can be very creative and achieved so much in her life!! Those are some of the reasons I look up to her but I guess she isn't really a rolemodel to me~
(at least not with the definition I have of rolemodel )

[Calico]

I think she's definitely a role model. She has a strong character, is independent, a savvy business woman, and is kind to her fans. She also comes across to me as a strong feminist (or at least with strong leanings) which is something I look for in one of my role models. I strive to have a character more like hers because of it, but obviously it can be achieved in my own way.

[Kingdom]

I wouldn't look up to her as far as her choices earlier on in life, but I do think she is a rolemodel in the sense that she is very inspiring and is a strong woman figure. she is not only beautiful, but smart and artistic. those are good traits of a person to look up to!

lol @ your comment on American celebrities, there are celebrities in Japan and other countries that are just like the ones here tho. celebrities are humans afterall, regardless of race.

[Sirea]

^ Right. I was mostly referring to people like Charlie Sheen, Christina Aguilera, and Mel Gibson, to cite the more recent breakdowns. I didn't mean to point the finger at American celebrities and away from Japanese ones, just toward the trainwrecks, to show why Ayu deserves admiration. -nod-

She is very strong and a positive female role model I think, not because of her earlier choices, although I believe that had she not made them she wouldn't be who and where she is now, but because of her outlook, and how she treats her fans. She seems to really love life, not money or fame, and to me that speaks volumes. :3

[C+R+E+AYUMI]

Originally Posted by labello

I personally don't see her as a rolemodel for me. She dropped out of school when she was still young and I tried to get famous through acting I guess~

mmh, have to agree this time. In fact of education, she isn't the perfect example to follow.

As person, she seems very deep and strong, sensitive and polite, funny and entertaining but you know..every one has created her/his own ayu since we don't know her personally. So in the end i don't know how muich we know her and how much we think she is.

P.S: OMG charlie sheen's everywhere..!

[gogirlanime]

Like Kingdom said, her choices earlier in life weren't really wise, she got lucky like few and far do and it worked in her favor. Though everyone makes mistakes and just because she did something irresponsible doesn't take away my love for her as a role model

She is a big role model and inspiration for me in the way I live my life and my artwork she is strong woman who is lovable and inspiring. Her words have brought me tears and have lifted me up to be a stronger person.

She is also a positive role model for girls (of almost all ages) she does her risky sexy things sometimes (like posing 1/2 nude and doing an S&M themed PV) but is no where near what American pop singers do and when she is a "bad girl" she always does it in a lady-like fashion, never trashy. More American celebrities need to be a positive influence on girls. No more Ke$ha, Lindsay Lohan, Snooky, etc.

I think that even though she got into this business in a risky way, she learned very quickly and perhaps she just knew in her heart she was meant for something big like this, she didn't want to become a singer, but when she did agree to it, she shot for the stars and continues to give it her all!

[emi♡]

Originally Posted by Kingdom

I wouldn't look up to her as far as her choices earlier on in life, but I do think she is a rolemodel in the sense that she is very inspiring and is a strong woman figure. she is not only beautiful, but smart and artistic. those are good traits of a person to look up to!

lol @ your comment on American celebrities, there are celebrities in Japan and other countries that are just like the ones here tho. celebrities are humans afterall, regardless of race.

I agree...

and honestly...the celebrity scene is not...like...really the same as it is in the US...as in everything out in the open.

They do the same things, just quietly, and sometimes I think, they are way more preoccupied with their public image to let anything get out, or make decisions a la Charlie Sheen.

Anyway, I do think Ayu has a strong character...but then, I think a lot of people have a strong character.

[love in music]

yes, she is my #1 role model, ever since I was in high school. she changed my life and made me a better person. I don't know what I'd do without her <3 she is such an inspiration

[PoetGirl]

I had role models when I was around 10. Now I find funny idolozing anyone. Ayu is human too and who knows what she does in her private life. Through her blog I realized I don't like to know what she does 'cause I don't like stuff she does. When she posted alcoholic pictures, I was like... 'wait, you are a woman and no kid anymore, is it not shameful for you?'. But that's only my opinion, I guess most of the people here and there will say 'how awsome'. I would like to not know she's drinking, smoking and whatever.

Oh, to be truly ontopic, people see what they want to see when idolizing anyone. That's why we have 'wars' between fans. But ayu is ideal role model for someone who was very afraid to believe in themselves since ayu presents herself as a very strong being and the person who knows what she wants and she doesn't wait for it, she grabs it! (that's what I like about her too)

[thatstacey]

Japan has a completely different tabloid and business culture than the US. There are plenty of celebrities that burn out, I just think they're swept under the rug and blacklisted in Japan more often than in the US or UK (where they'd be selling papers the next day). I'd venture to say that there's much more at stake for a Japanese celebrity (especially for a woman).

That said, I think Ayu is a positive role model. I've always admired how much responsibility she took in her own brand. Like others have said, I also admired her character based on her songs and performances; now that she's interacting more and more with her fans, it's really re-assuring to see that she practices what she preaches (so to speak).

[octocoffee]

I found Ayu when I was 13 and very impressionable, so yes, to this day she is very much a role model for me.

What surprised me about her was that she found herself deep into the game. I think that, even when she was starting out as a singer, she still held a lot of pain. But by singing and performing, you can see huge changes in her. She's far happier now and through her lyrics you see that she has learned so much. I think she is an incredibly insightful and sincere person, who wears her heart on her sleeve and truly cares. That's amazing.

On top of that, you have to admire her work ethic. Some might call her a workaholic, but she loves what she does and she understands her responsibility to her fans. She is so meticulous and it pays off. Although people can complain all they want about her, very few other artists can say they have so much say in their music and come up with the same results Ayu does.

As for the education thing...I'm definitely someone who values education a lot, but I don't think I'd hold her dropping out of school against her. Nowadays, I think she can realize her flaw in not continuing. I don't think I've ever heard her boast about dropping out. I think she realizes that she had a difficult childhood, and school just wasn't the place for her.

And hey, she's a pretty great feminist and she's considered a pop idol for the gay community in Japan. That's pretty awesome.

/end bias