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Popteen's all-time popular models Part 6

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Popteen, a fashion magazine with a long history since its founding in 1980, focuses on casual and girly styles for teens and is still highly popular among middle and high school girls today.

However, Popteen was once known as a gyaru fashion magazine, producing numerous iconic models who represented the gyaru culture.

In this article, we will introduce some of the most popular models who were active in Popteen during its heyday!

Meru Nukumi (Meruru)

Born March 6, 2002.

Meru Nukumi, known for her signature line and pose "Happī-su," is also widely known for her numerous appearances on variety shows under her nickname "Meruru."

From the January 2016 issue to the January 2021 issue, she was an exclusive model for Popteen for six years.

Her appearance on the romantic reality show "The Wolf Won’t Deceive You (Taiyō to Ōkami-kun ni wa Damasarenai)," aired on AbemaTV around December 2018, gained significant attention, boosting her fame.

In the April 2019 issue of Popteen, she took the number one spot in the "Favorite Model" rankings, ascending to the status of a top model.

She also formed various units, such as "Popsisters," "PINKY," and "Merubabinyan," alongside other models active during her time at Popteen.

As she gained more exposure in television and media, her presence grew, and she currently serves as a regular on the show "Hirunandesu."

Furthermore, since March 2021, she has been working as an exclusive model for "CanCam" while also producing the accessory brand "mememe," which launched in July 2021.

Neo Yamasaki (Neonnzel)

Born June 6, 2001.

Neo Yamasaki, known by her nickname "Neonnzel," began her career as an exclusive model for Popteen in June 2018.

She gained significant support, especially among teenagers, frequently appearing on the magazine’s cover.

In addition to her modeling work, she is also a video creator, having started uploading videos on YouTube in 2016.

In March 2020, she made her debut as a singer, with her debut song "Puchi ga-ru" being featured as a commercial song for Bourbon’s Petit Series snacks.

Although she graduated as a Popteen exclusive model in the April 2020 issue, she continues to be active as a YouTuber on her "Neo Channel," which has over 1 million subscribers.

Noa Tsurushima (Noanyan)

Born May 24, 2001.

Noa Tsurushima, known as "Noanyan," started her career as a model for the teen fashion magazine Pichilemon before becoming an exclusive model for Popteen in 2016.

She appeared on the cover of the magazine over 11 times, gaining overwhelming popularity.

In 2019, she made her acting debut as Iz, a character in the tokusatsu drama "Kamen Rider Zero-One."

After about four years as a Popteen exclusive model, she graduated in the September 2020 issue.

Currently, she is working as a producer for the apparel brand "Romansual," which launched in February 2021.

Other models who also helped boost Popteen’s popularity during the same period included:

  • Ena Nakano (Chan-ena)
  • Kanon (Non-non)
  • Miu Suzuki (Miupiyo)
  • Rana Maruyama (Ranya)
  • Riko (Rikoriko)
  • Honoka Naniwa (Honobabi)

This concludes the introduction of some of the historically popular models of Popteen.

With prominent names like "Meruru," who is active as a Reiwa era gyaru talent, and "Neo," who thrives as a popular YouTuber, it’s likely you’ve heard of many of these names before.

As a gateway to the entertainment world, Popteen continues to feature a diverse range of active models. We look forward to seeing which future stars will rise to the top!

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