A Japanese pop idol has gone viral after posting a photograph online showing her belly fat.
The picture has attracted responses asking women to embrace their imperfect bodies.
Shirasu Ayano, from the six-member idol group Melty BeaR, posted a photo of herself on stage on November 20.
In the picture, she bends slightly to one side and the fat on her belly forms a small wrinkle.
The 27-year-old from Kyoto reposted the image on the next day, inviting people to retouch it to beautify her tummy.
The post went viral, attracting 44 million views, 41,000 likes and 560 comments.
Many commented with their retouched photographs.
Some removed the wrinkles on her belly, while others got creative, playfully adding a waist belt or a person holding a blanket to cover the wrinkles, while asking her to “protect herself from the cold weather”.
Some enlarged the picture to show the wrinkles close-up and added cartoon faces on them.
Other online observers made her belly look even more plump or added more wrinkles to it.
Ayano appeared to enjoy people’s creativity and pinned the post. She also selected some “outstanding works” from the entries.
Melty BeaR was formed in September last year and debuted on stage in Tokyo in January.
The young group has 5,400 followers on a social media platform, while Ayano has 16,000 followers.
Her post was reported in Japan and China and many comments focused on the rigid requirements of an idol’s figure.
According to the Japanese market research company, Tokyoesque, public figures are usually expected to have fair skin and a slim figure.
On a question-and-answer platform, a person said that the Japanese entertainment industry requires idols to be “young, cute, docile and non-threatening” to meet gender stereotypes and profit from male fans.
Many comments saw Ayano’s post as a positive example of idols embracing the imperfections of their bodies.
“She might be chubby for an idol, but I think that amount of fat is normal for a woman. She might try to diet, but I hope she takes care of her health,” said one person.
“I like the fact that an idol is open about the fat on her tummy. This makes me want to support her more,” said another.
“There is no need to retouch that amount of fat on the belly. Everyone would show wrinkles when they bend to one side. Women should love themselves more and do not force themselves to follow non-human standards,” said a third. -- SOUTH MORNING CHINA POST
