Born: Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, 1975 Former ballerina Yonekura Ryoko has become one of the most recognizable and glamorous women in Japanese entertainment and fashion. Alongside her longtime industry peer and rival Kikukawa Rei , Yonekura has dominated television commercials and magazine covers for years. Both women are represented by Oscar Productions , a talent agency renowned for managing many of Japan’s most beautiful and high-profile celebrities. Over the years, Yonekura has picked up a collection of fun — albeit sometimes quirky — titles such as Miss Brilliant , Jewellery Best Dresser , Nail Queen , and Best Leather-nist . While these awards might not be prestigious acting honors, they do reflect her constant presence in the public eye and her status as a fashion icon. 👠 From Ballet Shoes to Spotlight Yonekura took her first step into the spotlight in 1992 , winning a consolation prize in the National Young Beauty Contest at age 17. This kicked off a suc...