Why did Ayu become popular?

[mizuki-7]

I must say that it was not an easy thing for her because at her beginning a lot of people just thought she was a rip-off of Kahala Tomomi the biggest idol of the 90's with Namie Amuro but young people began to pay attention at her touching, poetic and relatable lyrics ...afterwards there has been the "Ayura" boom (light skin, blonde hair and princess look ) (アユラー) which is the opposition of the "Amura" boom (アムラー) (tanned skin, boots and skirt) settled by Namie Amuro before Ayu's debut ! So firstly she became popular for what she was a girl next door with fantastic lyrics then a fashion icon and finally a diva some years later lol