RocketNews24 has seen plenty of hot babes and cute girls, both real and not-so-real. I don’t know about you, but even as one of the contributors to this site, whenever I see an article with a portrait image of a girl splashed across the top of the page, my mind usually winds up with two questions: “Is this a guy?” and “Could it be Photoshop?” The Internet’s a dangerous place after all, as you know.

So today, instead of leaving you to guess if the babe featured in this article is a dude or not, we’ll just cut to the chase. Rest assured, there’s no crossdressing or genderbending in this one. There is, however, a bit… wait, make that A LOT of Photoshop involved. Or perhaps just a lot of eating. You’ll see what I mean after the jump!

Those of you who are familiar with Japanese adult videos would probably have come across Sola Aoi (or Sora Aoi), one of the handful of AV idols who are so popular they enjoy a celebrity status within and even outside of Japan. Well-known for her sweet looks and super shapely body, Sola Aoi is one of the few Japanese adult video actresses to have a huge fan base in China.

We all know China has a notorious reputation for rip-offs and “inspired” creations. They might not have gotten to the stage of cloning famous people yet, but they’re rather fond of using celebrity-related aliases in marketing gimmicks to hype up the name of an unfamiliar face. Hailing as “Little Sola Aoi” is a female DJ, Auna Chan, who is marketed as a “super model DJ” for her “devilish hot bod” and “angelic looks”.

Besides gravure modelling, it seems that Auna makes appearances in R-18 deejaying stints at night clubs, performing in skimpy bikinis. As seen on the posters, the hype of these events are not actually the music nor the drinks, but the va-va-voom bikini babe DJs.

However, these photos taken of Auna Chan at the events have left internet users wondering if the organizers got into any trouble for a mild case of fraud…

▼ Wha…w-where’d that sultry Auna go?

Photoshop, you mischievous thing. Stop fooling around with our feelings like that! How are we to trust any photos any more?

Most of the event marketing images we found were dated some time last year, the latest event taking place in January this year. This is purely speculation, but, perhaps the circulation of Auna’s real life photos changed the minds of event organizers who were keen on having “Little Sola Aoi” perform at their joint? Perhaps they ought to ride on the marshmallow girl wave and change their marketing strategies for DJ Auna!

Source: CK101
Images: CK101, BuYeCheng, Barmap

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Origin: You’re in for a big surprise if you fall for this bikini wearing DJ’s sexy poster!【Photos】
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Pop idols exist in this strange space between reality and fantasy. While they are living, breathing individuals, they are set on a pedestal and rarely get to interact with people one on one. While groups like AKB48 may be tied to a certain location to serve as a symbol of pride for one area’s people, outside of meet and greet events, fans cannot really get to know them. Of course, the biggest taboo of all is for a pop idol and a fan to begin dating. But one brave group has decided to step forth from the binds of their image. Meet the members of the idol group Happening Girls. These four lovely ladies depicted here are unique in the idol community because they are allowed to foster relationships, date, and even marry their fans.

The four eligible idol bachelorettes from left to right are Manaka (20), Saaya (22), Kaori (26), and Eri (25). While it is true that any gentleman smooth enough to capture the heart of one of these four ladies may date and marry her, there are still conditions. While fans are free to meet with idols during their private hours, the group’s producers at Kandou TV encourage fans to first take part in meeting the idols through the marriage interviews which will occur after live events. Kandou TV also reserves the right to produce, record, and televise any part of the relationship from the first meeting, all the way up to the wedding itself, which will of course be organized by Kandou’s subsidary bridal company.

If that was not enough to win fans over to the revolutionary new style of Happening Girls, here is another incentive. You may have noticed the interesting choice in attire that the four current members of Happening Girls. While it may first appear to be a quirky wardrobe based publicity stunt, you may be interested in the fact that Happening Girls is the only year-round swimsuit idol group in all of Japan. As their official page states, this group was born of the fact that “men love swimsuits” and that “there is no other swimsuit idol group in existence” anywhere.”

Happening Girls is currently taking applications from any young women who might be interested in becoming one of the world’s only swimsuit idol group members. The conditions are as follow: the applicants in question must be at least a first year in high school but be no more than 30 years in age, live in the Tokyo area, be able to attend all live appearance events, and above all, they must be comfortable singing and dancing in a swimsuit. However, unlike the four ladies noted earlier, it is unclear at this point as to whether or not the rest of the group will be available for courtship and potential fan marriage.

The current members of Happening Girls will be having their debut live event at AkibaDrug & Cafe on September 23 at 8:30PM. After the concert, the idols will be free to mingle with their fans. If all goes well, it may be the start of several beautiful relationships.

[Via Hachima Kikou]

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Origin: Swimsuit idols that you can date and marry
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Satoshi Araki is an artist who creates miniature dioramas. In one of his brilliantly imagined worlds, a mysterious figure stands in a dark alleyway. In another, a car with smashed-out windows sprawls in front of a bombed-out house in a destroyed city.

Araki sometimes puts a single finger into the frame to show the scale of the tiny scenes, which are sculpted in painstaking detail. His coke cans are smaller than a fingernail; his Vespa model is tiny enough to rest on your thumb.

The Tokyo-based artist’s most recent work has included this scene of chaos and destruction, which he researched online with photos of the Iraq war:

▼ Different materials are used to achieve realistic textures on parts of the building.

▼ The whole thing is constructed on the back of a small case.

▼ A finger at the edge of this image shows scale.

▼ This model car is riddled with tiny bullet-holes.

▼ Araki’s other dioramas also include some popular Japanese characters in unusual settings.

▼ Check out the attention to detail on these teeny-tiny drink cans!

▼ Car and bike models are also a speciality of his.

Araki regularly updates his blog and Facebook page with photos of his fascinating work. We’re looking forward to seeing what he turns his talented hand(s) to next!

Source: DDN Japan
Images: Satoshi Araki

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Origin: Check out these amazing miniature dioramas from Tokyo artist Satoshi Araki【Photos】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

When you think of plastic models based on the giant weaponized robots of the Gundam universe, “cute” isn’t a word that often comes to mind. But it’s hard to not give a big, gushy “aww” at one homemade Gundam model gifted to Twitter user Chal by their daughter.

The story as outlined by Chal on their Twitter account and retweeted thousands of times begins with a mysterious paper package with something written on it in crude Japanese. Mini… Gasodam? Mini Garidamu? No. This was a “Mini Gundam” and Chal, an experienced model hobbyist, was up for the challenge.

むすめからガンプラを貰いました。 http://t.co/OvVMNfjWJK

—
C h a l (@Chal_FOmarl) October 08, 2014

From within the flower-decorated paper package slid even more pieces of paper. They landed on the floor in almost the exact shape of a fully constructed Gundam. This was going to be a challenge, thought Chal.

部品が入ってました。 http://t.co/H8VVRWqAeF

—
C h a l (@Chal_FOmarl) October 08, 2014

Luckily Chal’s daughter also created an illustrated instruction manual to assist her parent in this project. It contained detailed information about each part, such as “——— ——–“ explaining the volume of the heat-resistant fuselage.

説明書を見ながら組み立ててみます。 http://t.co/44wbqbGrSu

—
C h a l (@Chal_FOmarl) October 08, 2014

When the model was complete, Chal could determine that this was a RAWR-023 Ursa mobile suit used to help liberate the Principality of Teddy Bear Picnics from Zeon forces during Operation Gummybear.

できました。設定画よりマッシブなプロポーションです。 http://t.co/dkz065peq3

—
C h a l (@Chal_FOmarl) October 08, 2014

It was time to test the performance of this brand new Gundam. Even when stood next to one of Chal’s previously built models, the RAWR-023 looked sturdy, imposing and generally well designed.

GMよりつよそうです。 http://t.co/Jeq6JwpcMl

—
C h a l (@Chal_FOmarl) October 08, 2014

Twitter users praised the engineering prowess of Chal’s daughter calling her a “genius” and saying “this made my day.” It’s just like Char Aznable said, “The old generation can’t build the new era.” This was to be the future of Gundam.

Source: Twitter（@Chal_FOmarl）
Original article by Yayoi Saginomiya
[ Read in Japanese ]

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Origin: Child’s Mobile Cute Gundam entertains parent and moves Japan
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It may be one of the most famous statues in the world, but that doesn’t mean ‘The Thinker’ is unique. There are actually around 28 versions of Rodin’s masterpiece bronze sculpture, and those are just the ones we know about.

That list of Thinkers is about to get a little bit longer, as a research team in Japan has just unearthed a fully flexible, articulated version of ‘The Thinker’. Coming in at less than a tenth of the size of Rodin’s original(s), this incredible bendable figure is only 15.5cm tall!

As these pictures from the team at Figma shows, this Thinker’s got some moves.

Uniquely, the sculpture is actually made of two kinds of plastic, called ABS & ATBC-PVC. That’s even more amazing when you think that until now, it’s been thought that there was no plastic in Rodin’s time, seeing as the first synthetic polymers were invented in the early 20th century.

▼ Take that, Bakelite!

The researchers at Figma anticipate that even more miniatures of this kind will be discovered, and that their flexi-Thinker will end up as just the first in a line of “Table Museum” pieces.

In fact, Figma currently have so many little articulated Thinkers, they’ll actually be selling them off from May 31, 2015. You can contribute towards the team’s vital work for 4,298 yen (US $40).

Source: Netolabu, Amazon
Images: Figma
Featured image: Figma (edited by RocketNews24)

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Origin: Rare Rodin sculpture with articulated joints discovered, should be called ‘The Mover’
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We all know that Japan does “small” well. Whether it’s microtechnology, tiny houses or bonsai, the Japanese are known for their dexterity and being attentive to the tiniest detail.

But a hobbyist and Niconico Douga user known simply as “A” takes attention to detail to a whole new level. In a homage to the three-dimensional worlds created by video game giants Nintendo, A has constructed an ultra-detailed diorama based on the first level of Nintendo 64 classic Super Mario 64 and even recreated the entire world map from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on a scale so small we could barely believe our eyes when we first saw it.

How small are we talking? Find out after the jump!

We’ve seen scenes and levels from classic video games recreated in 3-D (and sometimes 2.5-D!) before, but the level of detail in A-san’s tiny creations is just incredible.

First, let’s take a look at his recreation of the world of Hyrule. Here’s the fictional world that A was hoping to recreate.

And here’s what he came up with.

“Impressive” doesn’t even come close, but when you realise just how small this thing is you’ll be absolutely blown away. If you look closely at the above photo, you’ll see two tiny red dots on the shore of the glistening blue Lake Hylia. Those, dear reader, are the hats of the (deliberately over-sized) scarecrows that feature in the game.

Below is that part of the diorama with a 10 yen coin inserted into the valley for comparison; a coin which, according to good ol’ Wikipedia, measures just 23.5 mm, or 2.35 cm, in diameter.

▼ Sweet merciful gods of Hyrule, that’s small!

▼ A giant world, in miniature

And, lest we forget how small this all is, A-san once again places his 10 yen coin next to the diorama for a photo. It looks like the vast majority of Hyrule Castle town here could fit in an area the size of a single 10 yen coin.

Here’s Hyrule Castle, complete with moat and gardens.

Lon Lon Ranch, where many of you will no doubt remember racing mustachioed madman Ingo around the track in order to claim Epona as your trusty steed.

Kokiri Forest, looking equally tiny but no less detailed.

And of course home to the giant Deku Tree.

Even the windswept Gerudo Desert is recreated with tremendous attention to detail.

Check out the video below to see how this epic (micro-epic?) diorama was made.

The same hobbyist has also put together dioramas based on locations from other Nintendo games, including a model of Pokémon Red‘s Pallet Town which could sit on top of a single coin and this faithful recreation of Bob-omb Battlefield, the very first level from Super Mario 64.

This diorama, too, contains an astounding level of detail, with every part of it hand-crafted from plastic and putty. Remember, those are tweezers A-san is using to place the pieces in the below images.

And of course, every object and enemy character has to be made before it can be added to the miniature world. Look at the size of that Goomba on the second row; it’s so small it looks like the ones from Super Mario Land on the original Game Boy!

A even takes the trouble to attach the game world’s item blocks to the ground using clear plastic tubing so that they appear to float in mid-air.

A method he also employs for the level’s floating island:

▼ The finished diorama complete with A-san’s signature 10 yen coin

It’s a shame that after all that effort and paying so much attention to detail, A misspelled the word “course” here, but we think we can forgive him… so long as he agrees to let us by this diorama from him right this very minute!

We’ll leave you with the original making-of video for A’s tiny Bob-omb Battlefield from Niconico. Be sure to stop by A’s channel for more.

Source: Inside h/t Kotaku US 
Screenshots: Niconico, YouTube

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Origin: A tiny, epic ode to Nintendo: Zelda and Super Mario 64’s worlds recreated as miniature dioramas
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Thought the market was already oversaturated with Miku products? Think again! Good Smile Company is here with something that was still missing - a Hatsune Miku-inspired transforming race car robot!

Hatsune Miku GT Project is a collaboration between Shoji Kawamori and Good Smile Racing. Kawamori is an esteemed anime creator and mecha designer and Good Smile Racing is an offshoot of the Japanese hobby manufacturer Good Smile Company, responsible for lines such as the popular Nendoroid figures.

Kawamori’s transforming robot design illustrations were released in February 2014 and now those designs are coming to life as a real product. In car form, it’s a top quality racing car replica with perfect anime-style painting of Hatsune Miku all over the body. In robot form, it stands at an impressive 275 mm tall that you wouldn’t think came from the 1/24 scale car. You can display the robot in a variety of different awesome poses, and can always fold it back into its compact car form to store away when you have guests round who don’t know about your nerdy inclinations.

Product details

Brand Name: GearTribe Hatsune Miku GT Project 2014Ver.
Product Name: Racing Miku 2014 Ver.
Maker: Good Smile Racing
Category: Car 1/24 scale, Robot non scale
Sale Period: April 2015
Specs: Finished ABS coated product Height of car 170 mm, Height of robot 275 mm
Price: 7, 407 yen (US $63) + tax

▼ Here’s the promotional video.

▼ In racing car form.

▼ In robot form.

▼ From the back.

▼ Battle pose!

▼ Running pose.

▼ Scale comparison with an iPhone.

▼ If you don’t know which form you like best you can always settle for something in between.

Source: Hachima Kikou

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Origin: Hatsune Miku transforming race car robot is actually pretty awesome
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

The hobby of building plastic models of mobile suits from the various Gundam series is huge in Japan. With countless sizes and difficulties to choose from any Gundam plastic model (Gunpla) enthusiast can stay busy for a long, long time.

And for aspiring model builders, there may be no better hero than a Japanese artist using the handle Mumumuno53. Don’t just take our word for it though, and take another look at the image above. As indicated, this is not a drawing, animation cel, or computer-generated image; it’s a three-dimensional plastic model that was built and painted by Mumumuno.

You may still not believe it, which is understandable, so here are some making-of shots they posted on their blog.

As we can see in the image below, Mumumuno used a 1/100 scale RX-78-2 and painted it with hard black lines around the contours to give it virtual ink-lines.

After that all it takes is a steady hand and an impeccable sense of color and shading to make 3D into 2D. Only by some of the plastic weapons can we even get a hint that this is actually a Gunpla and not two-dimensional drawings.

This model is titled Nijigen Mokei Yukyu no Gundam (Two-dimensional Model Eternal Gundam) and was given the Gold Award at the 17^th All-Japan Orazaku Championship. Mumumuno had also participated in the 13^th All-Japan Orazaku Championship, but lost.

His Gunpla at that time titled Yomigaeru Gundam (Resurrected Gundam) showed the early concept of 2.5D painting perfected in Nijigen Mokei Yukyu no Gundam and received a lot of praise despite not winning. Thanks in part to that acknowledgement Mumumuno continued working at it.

▼ Yomigaeru Gundam (2012)

▼ Yukyu no Gundam (2014)

These are only some of the photos from Mumumuno’s blog which you can visit from the link at the bottom. With that success under their, belt we can only wait to see what they come out with next. Luckily, there is no shortage of models for Mumumuno to choose from as a starting point.

To see more of Mumumuno’s work visit Nijigen Mokei Mumumuno

Source: Kai-you, FG Site (Japanese)

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Origin: Japanese model builder wins at Gundam, makes a 3D model look like a flat drawing
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Taiwan’s top model, Chi-ling Lin, has just turned 40 and yet she doesn’t look a day out of her twenties. How does she do it?! Read on for more of this beautiful lady who, we might add, is more than just a pretty face.

She’s 40 years old but could easily be mistaken for a woman in her 20s because of her fresh and vibrant beauty. Chi-ling Lin is often referred to as Taiwan’s number-one model, and also made the move into acting in 2008. Her rise to fame has been meteoric, with her big break coming relatively recently in a 2004 advertising campaign and her now being the highest paid model in the Greater China region.

On November 29, Chi-ling celebrated her 40th birthday, which is pretty unbelievable when you look at her photos.

The multi-talented model seems to have a very healthy and positive view of ageing, although that’s probably not so hard when you look like she does. On her most recent birthday she wrote the following comment on her Weibo micro-blogging account:

“Today I have the sincerity of my 10-year-old self, the assertive and optimistic heart of my 20-year-old self, the youthful charm of my 30-year-old self, and the wisdom of my 40-year-old self. Life is truly wonderful at every stage!”

While she might look sweet and youthful, she’s also got a sexy side. When she was 37 a commercial she starred in was banned from being broadcast on mainland China because it was “too” sexy. There were also claims from an elementary school that their children couldn’t concentrate on their studies after seeing Chi-ling on billboards around town. Apparently it’s not just adults who fall for her charms.

▼ The offending commercial.

And she’s not just a pretty face. Chi-ling is heavily involved in charitable activities and recently set up her own charitable fund, the Chiling Charity Foundation, which supports child welfare. On top of that she holds a double bachelor’s degree in Western art history and economics from the University of Toronto in Canada. It seems that her beauty is not just on the outside.

▼ In this video she announces the sale of a charity calendar. Isn’t her voice beautiful too?!

▼ Below are some shots from the calendar.

▼ With some of the kids she helps.

▼ This clip was filmed in October 2014 at the ‘Taiwan Excellence’ event in Fukuoka, Japan.

▼ And she even speaks Japanese!

▼ This news program shows photos of her as a promo girl 17 years earlier that recently became public. She just seems to be one of those women who gets even more elegant as they age, like a fine wine.

I wish I knew her secret! Although, on the other hand, it’s probably mostly down to good genetics that she looks so good, and if that’s the case I’d rather live in ignorance and continue believing that I’ll also find her miraculous fountain of youth.

Source: Sina Weibo, YouTube, Chiling Charity Foundation (Chinese)

[ Read in Japanese ]

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Origin: Beautiful Taiwanese top model is as youthful-looking at 40 as she was at 20
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

One of the most envied perks of being famous has to be international travel. So while we’re sure being a model is just as hard work – if not more so – than heaps of other jobs, we can imagine that opportunities to escape the recent cold weather in Japan and jet off to warmer climes goes some way to make up for it.

So forgive us for being more than a little jealous of these pics from Kayo Police’s trip to Singapore. Sure, posing for pictures is work. But she also got to go to Universal Studios and go to a bubble spa. Merry Christmas!

After being scouted by an agency at the age of 22, Kayo Police (who also goes by the name Kayo Sato) had already been working as a female model for two years when she came out as transsexual to her agency. Shortly afterwords, she came out publicly on a TV talk show in 2010 and her career as a model and tarento media personality took off.

She is now a popular Instagram presence, with over 40,000 followers.

▼ “Just about to board the plane. I’ve got my mask and coffee ready, but I dropped my glasses in the toilet. I’m going abroad!”

▼ “We’ve arrived, so I’m going to the pool. It’s going to be a hot Christmas here! #hotChristmas

In this shot from the beach, she suggests a title for the series:

▼ “My first photo collection is gonna be called ‘Nugi Police’ lol [from ‘nugu‘, to undress]“

▼ “I’m here!”

▼ “Revenge of the Mummy wasn’t running that day :( I was sulking.”

▼ “Morning at the bubble spa. The bubbles were so smooth on my skin. I felt like I was bathing in champagne!”

▼ “Today and yesterday [back in Japan] are so cold! I miss how warm it was in Singapore…anyway, good morning!”

Oh, well. We’ll just have to drown our jealousy with a nice hot can of vending machine soup.

Source: Yahoo JP
Related: Kayo Sato Instagram
Featured image: Kayo Sato Instagram

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Origin: Model and TV star Kayo Police went to Singapore to wish you a hot Christmas from the beach
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Zawachin has made a name for herself online by recreating the makeup of celebrities and now has legions of Twitter followers as well as multiple cosmetic and real-world advertising deals. She’s known for covering her mouth with a face mask or other convenient objects and really focusing on what makes the eyes of her subject distinctive. We’ve introduced her and her skills before, but today we have a slightly different look of hers to show off.

Zawachin’s looks are based on celebrities of all different ages, genders, and nationalities, and they’re sometimes scarily accurate. Although she’s Japanese, she has been able to transform herself into a range of famous Western faces with the power of makeup, including the likes of Miranda Kerr, Avril Lavigne and Ariana Grande. However, this time she’s taken a trip back in time to Hollywood’s golden age to recreate the coveted look of British beauty Audrey Hepburn. 

▼Along with the big doe-eyes and bold brows she’s also managed to get the 60s pixie cut without actually cutting her hair.

ものまねメイク以前にメイクが気に入った~~^^💗 http://t.co/H4MDqKHiny

—
ざわちん (@kaori_0816) December 17, 2014

▼This look features the iconic Breakfast At Tiffany’s hairdo and earrings, and Zawachin’s trademark mouth-covering.

今日TGCで「ちぴ」こと近藤ちひろちゃんにオードリーヘップバーン風メイクをしたよ♡ http://t.co/H37MYPYnpv

—
ざわちん (@kaori_0816) September 06, 2014

What do you think of this latest look? The first photo is a departure from the norm for Zawachin as for once her mouth is visible in one of the shots. However, there’s no doubt that covering up her mouth goes a long way towards helping her pull off the uncanny resemblances she does. We’d love to see her utilizing the same talent and attention to detail she uses for her eye makeup into her lips, too!

Source & Images: Zawachin on Twitter

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• Jaw-dropping! There’s something wrong with Nagoya Station’s Nana-chan
• Who shall I be today? The amazing makeup skills of Zawachin

Origin: Japanese makeup artist does classic Hollywood glamour, recreates Audrey Hepburn’s coveted look
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

We normally don’t think of ourselves as a shallow bunch here at RocketNews24–not when we have such potentially life-altering news to report as the latest Sailor Moon-themed merchandise or the newest collection of cute cat photos to come out of Japan.

But occasionally there are those days when a little eye-candy does wonders to brighten up our wonderful readers’ days. For instance–anyone care to see photos of a hot Thai model/moto-taxi driver dude?

It’s time for the latest post in the recurring “hot guys doing things” series!

According to the folks at Coconuts Bangkok, a female assistant of the famous Thai TV and radio host Vuthithorn “Woody” Milintachinda recognized the model/part-time moto-taxi driver, who then took a picture of him; the photo has since gone viral.

So who is this mysterious hottie? He’s Dechapat Thanadawong, a male model who also earns some side money as a motorcycle taxi driver stationed outside of Bangkok’s Praram 9 (Rama IX). “It’s better than staying home and pointlessly waiting for good luck,” he wrote on Instagram after the photo of him blew up. “Don’t be embarrassed to work. Don’t be offended by small money!”

Here are some more pictures of him working at both of his jobs:

We suppose now is the time to start cracking the silly pick-up lines. Ten points and a high-five from Mr. Sato to whomever can come up with the best!

We’ll start you off–“Hey babe, want a ride?”

Sources/Images: Coconuts Bangkok, Websta (artboysza)

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• Warranted anger or overreaction? Tokyo train driver snaps at train enthusiast for taking a picture
• Korean cosmetic surgery show treats two Thai women to free procedures
• Foreigner cyclist pulls a Gandalf, stands up to driver using bike lane in Beijing

Origin: Photos of hot Thai model/moto-taxi driver go viral, we kick off the corny pick-up lines
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Not all beauty standards are universal. For example, many Westerners might find it strange that, while tanned or darker skin is considered attractive back home, the use of skin-whitening products is the norm in many Asian countries. But what about the ideal body type? While some may adhere to a rather unrealistic and insane one, just how common is the image of the “ideal female body” across the world?

A Japanese Twitter post with two models of the same age and height got the Internet talking about just that recently when netizens began to wonder which woman fit the world’s image of the “ideal” body shape.

The image, which was retweeted more than 11,000 times, shows two 18-year-old models of roughly the same height in matching white bikinis. The woman on the left with the thinner frame and longer legs is fashion model and actress Yumi Shida. The slightly curvier woman on the right is Mizuki Hoshina, a “gravure idol”–the term for the busty swimsuit or lingerie models that appear in men’s magazines.

▼ “When you put a model next to a gravure idol to see their differences…it’s kind of cruel…”

モデルとグラビアアイドルが並ぶとここまで差があるのか...。残酷だな。 気持ちはよくわかるぞ....。 http://t.co/MrmJ8Zoxtj

—
ろすモン(HAKE) (@fabian0318) March 04, 2015

We’re not really sure what the Twitter user meant by “cruel” here, but Japanese netizens seemed mixed on which woman best represented their preferred body type. Many argued that the long-legged model on the left represented the Photoshopped models seen all over magazines, but the woman on the right seemed more like a “real Japanese girl.” And just about everyone had their own theory about why some people preferred one woman over the other, including:

“I’m guessing virgin guys would choose the woman on the left. lol”

“Seems like men are picking the one of the right and women choose the one on the left”

“Normally I’d be into women like the one on the right, but I just really like the woman on the left”

Which woman do you think most fits your ideal body type? Record your answer in this official, and not at all very silly, RocketNews24 poll and check back later to see what our readers think!

h/t: My Game News Flash
Featured image via Twitter @fabian0318

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• Can memes on gender stereotypes bring the world together?
• Beauty is pain: A journey through one South Korean woman’s plastic surgery 【Photos】
• Internet survey sheds light on how Japanese women deal with the hair ‘down there’
• “Women who attract chikan, and women who don’t”: The illustrated guide that’s provoking debate

Origin: What’s your type? Photo of two Japanese models spurs netizens to talk body type 【Poll】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

Last year, eight-year-old Russian model Kristina Pimenova was hailed by some netizens as the “most beautiful girl in the world”. We have yet to hear of any crowning of the “most handsome boy in the world”, but one particular preteen male model has been getting increasingly popular among netizens in Asia as of late. Meet this charming little lad after the break!

Hailing from South Korea, eight-year-old Dennis Kane is of half-Australian half-Korean descent, and he has been modelling since a tender age.

Kane has been garnering quite a bit of attention online from various parts of Asia, sweeping ladies off their imaginary cyber feet with his boyish charm and adorable expressions. He even has official fan clubs (acknowledged by his mother) organized by fans in the Philippines and China! Check out these handsome shots posted by his fan clubs!

#KaneDennis http://t.co/5NbinE431T

—
  (@KaneTimesClub) September 05, 2014

#KaneDennis http://t.co/yzgEMD9swr

—
  (@KaneTimesClub) December 11, 2014

#KaneDennis http://t.co/4ahbWgYkpQ

—
  (@KaneTimesClub) September 13, 2014

#KaneDennis http://t.co/6ZD07Rxl9u

—
  (@KaneTimesClub) September 01, 2014

#KaneDennis http://t.co/gAqNTB3diy

—
  (@KaneTimesClub) August 27, 2014

#KaneDennis Kane's first fan meeting in China http://t.co/vcOfUQnfvx

—
  (@KaneTimesClub) August 15, 2014

#KaneDennis http://t.co/sCQVoN2Poq

—
  (@KaneTimesClub) September 06, 2014

so handsome! #KaneDennis http://t.co/5OFXlIyvsQ

—
  (@KaneTimesClub) June 16, 2014

handsome guy #KaneDennis #kanedennis http://t.co/8gGBXMXtVN

—
  (@KaneTimesClub) March 04, 2015

#KaneDennis http://t.co/1pT36lc24r

—
  (@KaneTimesClub) February 10, 2015

#KaneDennis #kanedennis BOBO！ http://t.co/TazN1kiFeS

—
  (@KaneTimesClub) March 07, 2015

#KaneDennis http://t.co/U6YCvbIcjm

—
  (@KaneTimesClub) January 08, 2015

#KaneDennis http://t.co/4khEoxRMH9

—
  (@KaneTimesClub) January 31, 2015

#KaneDennis http://t.co/FAYKYZtTq4

—
  (@KaneTimesClub) August 21, 2014

#KaneDennis http://t.co/dJoRfi10bD

—
  (@KaneTimesClub) January 05, 2015

#KaneDennis Good Morning～ http://t.co/tsRQpz89kY

—
  (@KaneTimesClub) August 21, 2014

#KaneDennis http://t.co/wtFUpoTwq7

—
  (@KaneTimesClub) June 29, 2014

In terms of numbers, Dennis Kane doesn’t have quite as many fans as Kristina Pimenova does, but on the brighter side, we haven’t spotted any of his followers leaving creepy comments such as “sexy legs” on his photos and fanpages. He may not have any shiny “most beautiful/handsome” aliases, but he probably has the cutest smile this humble site has seen this week!

Has your heart already been captured by his bright smile? Check out Kane’s official website (in Korean), or follow his fan clubs on Facebook, Twitter or Weibo to see more of his photos!

Source: Zhaizhai News
Top image: Shine Kane (Dennis Kane) Philippines

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Origin: Eight-year-old mixed-race kid model is the new mini heartthrob of Asian cyberspace【Photo】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

One of Japanese most popular TV personalities is Rola, a fashion model of mixed Bengali, Japanese, and Russian descent. If you live in Japan you’ve undoubtedly seen her on TV or billboard advertisements numerous times. But who knew she was also harboring delicious and easy recipes?

Not only are they stylish looking but Rola’s Apple Fried in Coconut Oil and Avocado Scrambled Egg Toast and surprisingly simple to make…so we did. But can we really trust a model when it comes to delectable home cooking?

■ Apple Fried in Coconut Oil

The Apple Fried in Coconut Oil was first brought up when Rola was a guest on Japan’s premier idol-group-hosted show SMAP X SMAP. After its revelation it became something of a hit around Japan.

Our reporter Meg heard it was easy but still came out surprised by just how easy this dish is to make. All you do is heat a pan up with some coconut oil and then fry some apple slices for about two and a half minutes. After that, add some honey, nuts, and cinnamon on top, and you’re done!

▼ Actually “honey-pickled nuts” were recommended but those might be hard to come by depending on your area.

Meg thought that the combination of apple, coconut, honey, nuts, and cinnamon couldn’t have been better. She had tried similar recipes with olive oil and butter but they didn’t come close to the flavor enhancement of the coconut oil.

She thought it tasted like an exquisite gourmet apple pie like you might find in a fancy restaurant, but it didn’t even take 10 minutes to put together. With the blending of the mellow coconut and acidic apple, Meg was convinced that this was a pinnacle of deliciousness.

■ Avocado Scrambled Egg Toast

After the apples, Meg was already a confirmed disciple of Rola and her cooking, but she still had to try the Avocado Scrambled Egg Toast. Actually she couldn’t find any detailed explanation on how to make it, so she just pieced it together from information on the model’s many social networks.

First she fried some scrambled eggs in coconut oil. Again the coconut oil gave her eggs a flavor boost and let it mingle quite well with the avocado. After laying out the avocado on a piece of toast, she covered it with the coconut fried eggs. Then she topped it all off with some soy mayonnaise and truffle salt.

The resulting taste was deeply rich and felt filling despite its size. It wasn’t quite as amazing as the apples, but Meg was far from disappointed. She felt that if Rola was ever to release a recipe book, she wouldn’t hesitate to buy it.

These recipes might not actually be so easy since many of us probably don’t have coconut oil, soy mayonnaise, and truffle salt all at our immediately disposal. In the end you might have to spend a bit for some of these exotic seasonings but it’s worth it for the simplicity and taste of these items. Besides, healthy eating like this is the foundation of model-caliber good looks.

Just ask Mr. Sato.

Source: Rola Official Blog、Instagram @rolaofficial、Twitter @RolaWorLD
Original article by Meg Sawai

▼ As seen on Rola’s Instagram

▼ Here’s everything you’ll need

▼ Slice the apple

▼ Heat some coconut oil on a frying pan

▼ Brown the apples (about two and a half minutes)

▼ Add honey, nuts, and cinnamon

▼ Voila!

▼ Avocado Scrambled Egg Toast is also on Rola’s Instagram

▼ And here’s Meg’s

Origin: Eat like a supermodel with Rola’s Apple and Avocado Dishes 【Recipe】
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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• Meet Asuna, the hyperreal android that will leave your jaw hanging 【Video】

Onigiri are the perfect Japanese snack food. Portable and (generally speaking) healthy, they consist of a small ball or triangle of rice containing one of a huge variety of fillings, wrapped in seaweed or coated with some kind of seasoning. While most of the onigiri you can buy at convenience stores here in Japan are probably filled and shaped by machine, it’s traditional to roll ’em yourselves by making a squeezing motion with your hands. And now you can combine your love of onigiri with your love of cute idol girls by heading down to “Galmusu”, a new cafe where, for a small fee, a cutie will squeeze your rice balls for you right in front of your eyes!

We sent one of our Japanese reporters to investigate this new form of edible performance art!

Oh, but before you read on, we should probably mention one thing: our reporter usually can’t stand anyone handling his food…

Our intrepid reporter decided to take up the idol rice ball squeezing challenge by heading down to Galmusu, which opened in Akihabara on April 21. The shop’s name is a play on “girl” (or “gal”, if you will) and “musubi” (another name for rice ball) and also potentially a pun on “musume” which means “young girl” (think Morning Musume). The cafe is staffed by idols and would-be models, actresses, and other talento who work as waitresses and generally bring in customers with their wit, charm and vivacity (and excellent rice ball squeezing skills!).

Despite having a lifelong fear of eating anything that someone has potentially contaminated with their cootie-ridden hands (and that makes rice balls enemy number one), our reporter decided to be brave and man up for the sake of not looking like a wuss in front of a pretty girl.

Feeling nervous, he entered the cafe and received a brief explanation on the services available. Two rice balls can be ordered for the cost of 800 yen (US$6.60). In comparison, your average conbini rice ball will set you back around 200 yen, ($1.60) but remember that these are special balls, freshly squeezed by beautiful maidens, so there’s a certain degree of markup involved. He was then able to choose which of the girls he’d like to squeeze his rice balls for an extra 200 yen. Altogether, the meal came to 1,000 yen ($8.30).

Like in so many Japanese-style fast food joints, to order at Galmusu you have to first make your selection and pay at a ticket machine. From left to right, the categories are: onigiri (red buttons), miso soup (yellow), and drinks (green). There’s also two more buttons – a blue one for ordering a polaroid of the girl of your choice, and a purple one for a photo of your rice ball-handler complete with her autograph.

▼ The polaroids look like this. Perfect souvenirs of your time at Galmusu!

▼ Cute girls plus rice balls – what’s not to love? (Can’t they open a “Manmusu” cafe, too?)

▼ The atmosphere in the cafe. Did that salaryman bring his little girl? Now that’s a daddy-daughter date idea for you…

Our reporter opted for Riho-chan, a 20-year-old up-and-coming talento who he describes as being “kawaii indeed”. First, Riho asked our man how he’d like his balls stuffed. Upon being offered a choice of plum, seaweed, or fish stuffing, he opted for double fish stuffed balls, since he doesn’t like the other two ingredients. (It’s a wonder he hasn’t starved to death by now from overly picky eating…)

Since the cafe takes hygiene seriously, Riho first covered the rice balls with some plastic wrap before squeezing. In other words, at no point did her bare hands come into contact with the rice. Still, our guy found himself breaking out into a cold sweat at the sight of those pretty hands massaging and squeezing the rice balls he was about to eat. “I don’t even like it when my wife does that,” he explains. Still, he was determined to see things through, since he didn’t want to offend young Riho after all the effort she had put in.

▼ Squeeze, squeeze…

▼ Perfectly shaped and ready to eat!

And how did our reporter feel about his snack? Well…

▼ That’s not the face of a man about to eat a delicious snack prepared with loving care. That is the face of a man who is about to undergo double root canal surgery performed by a demented badger with no license to practice dentistry.

Bravely, he took a bite of his first ball. Since he was in the grip of facing down a deep-seated psychological phobia, he was apparently unable to taste the rice ball at all. What’s more, he only managed a paltry two bites of his fishy rice snack before throwing in the towel early and admitting defeat in front of poor Riho.

▼ “I think I can, I think I can…”

▼ “NOPE.”

▼ Aaah, mottainai.

Of course, samurai spirit dictates that disrespecting a lady’s culinary skills calls for an apology of the most sincere sort, to wit: dogeza!

Dogeza is the lowest form of apologetic bow, and involves getting down on your hands and knees and headbutting the floor in order to prostrate oneself as low as possible before the person they have wronged.

Still, our reporter was, surprisingly, quite pleased with himself for overcoming his food phobia enough to take two whole bites of onigiri, which he also managed to hold down long enough for digestion to occur. Good for you, sir!

While we doubt he’ll ever be showing his face around Galmusu again, our reporter states that the service was top-notch and there was something soothing about having a smiling, up-and-coming idol prepare a snack for you. If you’re interested, you can follow Galmusu on their Twitter account (if for no other reason than that they post adorable twitpics like this one…).

本日のおむすびガール。 寺島りほ 20歳。 #ガールズおむすびカフェ #ガルむす http://t.co/EqfJgeHQ3G

—
ガルむす (@girlsOMUSUBI) April 17, 2015

And, of course, if you happen to find yourself in Akihabara and require a tasty snack hand-squeezed with care, be sure to drop in!

ガールズおむすびカフェ『ガルむす』 オープンしました！ 皆様のご来店を心よりお待ちしております！ #ガールズおむすびカフェ #ガルむす http://t.co/LBUMyu3fSz

—
ガルむす (@girlsOMUSUBI) April 21, 2015

Girls Omusubi Cafe
Tokyo-to, Chiyoda-ku, Sotokanda 3-15-7 Dai-ni Marushin Building 7F
Open: Mon-Thurs 17:00 – 22:00, Sat-Sun 11:00 – 22:00
Closed: Fri

All images © RocketNews24

Don’t miss: We visit otaku cooking school, Kitchen a la Mode, find out it isn’t just for nerds 

Origin: Pay to have a cute girl squeeze your rice balls at “Galmusu”, Akihabara’s onigiri idol cafe!
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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• Make your best-tasting onigiri taste even better with this easy recipe! 【RocketKitchen】
• Treat Yourself to this Japanese Delicacy if You Dare – Ovaries From a Poisonous Fish!

It’s no secret that Japanese women go crazy over cute, pretty, stylish things. And a lot of them like their men to be cute, pretty, and stylish, too. Take Usuke Devil, for example. He’s a model, DJ, and style icon who works at a boutique in Harajuku and drives girls wild with his lithe, androgynous beauty. Check out these pics and see for yourself!

Usuke Devil, who is active on both Twitter and Instagram, keeps fans up to date on his daily life through copious stylish selfies.

▼ Here he is hard at work as a semi-professional model:

大人の撮影した😂 http://t.co/ssLTmk0SsR

—
UsukeDevil (@screamer29) April 01, 2015

🔜🔜🔜🔜🔜🔜🔜 http://t.co/WX4c8wbEWU

—
UsukeDevil (@screamer29) February 17, 2015

▼ Check out those manicured nails!

撮影😱夜中まで😱ルックがかわいくてアゲ❤️ http://t.co/4bQhQw6TSp

—
UsukeDevil (@screamer29) February 16, 2015

▼  He also occasionally turns his hand to DJing, a popular sideline for Japan’s fashion icons (for some reason).

今日は大阪です🐙 2BOYさんと🎵 http://t.co/MhUK6EYhjT

—
UsukeDevil (@screamer29) April 27, 2015

▼ Here he is posing with the cherry blossom!

🌸🌸🌸 http://t.co/Buq9DBaYcZ

—
UsukeDevil (@screamer29) April 05, 2015

▼ Looking pretty in pink

▼ Sleeping like a little fuzzy bunny

zzz http://t.co/bapYYZWHjN

—
UsukeDevil (@screamer29) April 19, 2015

▼  Selfie with adorable animal? Check!

🐶💋kiss me http://t.co/HEyTVNmKAs

—
UsukeDevil (@screamer29) March 30, 2015

▼ He also fits a spot of international travel into his glamorous lifestyle.

▼ Are you in love with him yet?

💋Chuuuu http://t.co/FY5e9eKnwK

—
UsukeDevil (@screamer29) February 22, 2015

Comments from Japanese netizens on Usuke Devil’s looks range from “He is sooooo beautiful” to “He could turn any man gay!” Hmm!

Unfortunately for Usuke Devil’s rabid legions of female (and male) fans, he apparently has a long-term girlfriend. We wonder if they share beauty supplies? Another great reason to snap up an androgynous boyfriend! What do you think of Usuke Devil’s look? Personally, this writer prefers guys who are a little rougher around the edges, but there can be no denying the power of Japan’s pretty boys to turn a girl’s head!

Source: Naver Matome
Main Image: Instagram – screamer29

Origin: Fashionista, DJ and androgynous style icon Usuke Devil is breaking hearts all over Japan
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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Since Hayao Miyazaki of Studio Ghibli fame announced his retirement in September 2013, many fans worldwide were left wondering what the prolific director – known to be a notoriously hard-worker – would be doing with all his free time. If you’re one of those people, listen up, because we’ve got some good news and bad news.

First, the bad news–one of Miyazaki’s first new projects post-retirement, a manga series titled Teppō Samurai (鉄砲侍/”Matchlock Samurai”), is currently stuck in indefinite limbo. But here’s the good news–a plastic figure modeled on the titular character has already been released, even without the manga being completed.

Teppō Samurai tells the story of matchlock gun-wielding cavalry warrior Hiruko Hachirota (蛭子八郎太) on the front lines of a battle between the Hojo andUesugi clans in theKanto area of 1560s feudal Japan. Miyazaki apparently began working on the story’s concept back in 2013, spending a year drafting and illustrating half of the first battle scene before halting its production for reasons that remain unclear. Teppō Samurai was originally scheduled to be serialized in the monthly Japanese magazine Model Graphix, but as a result of its indefinite status, it is currently unknown whether the manga will actually be completed, let alone released, in the near future.

▼ Miyazaki’s illustration for Teppō Samurai

Of course, no one could foresee the manga’s current state of postponement/cancellation. Back in the early stages of planning, plastic model kit producer Model Kasten had already been given the OK to create a figure modeled on Miyazaki’s own original design of the samurai protagonist Hiruko Hachirota. In fact, Miyazaki himself inspected a prototype of the figure, commenting that the chest area was “too thin and weak-looking.”

▼ Miyazaki critiquing the figure

In fact, Model Kasten has since gone ahead and released the final version, describing it as a 1/35 scaled model which comes in the form of a plastic kit that the buyer must assemble and color by hand.

Here are some pictures of the model in various states of completion:

While the figure is now being advertised through Model Kasten’s website for 1,850 yen (US $15.42), event goers to the Shizuoka Hobby Show held on May 16 and 17 in Shizuoka Prefecture got a chance to get their hands on the product ahead of time.

Looks like the rest of us will just have to wait a little bit longer to get our own copies of the samurai, which is the next-best thing to a release of the Teppō Samurai manga itself!

Source: Kai-You
Images: Model Kasten (English and Japanese versions)

Origin: Plastic model based on Hayao Miyazaki’s as-yet unreleased manga “Teppo Samurai” goes on sale
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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Beauty queen and “too cute to be true” Japanese model Ami Takeuchi released her first idol DVD on May 17 at a handshake and photo event for fans. Takeuchi’s DVD is not only the model’s first – it’s also being touted as the first ever idol DVD by a “new half” – the Japanese term for a trans female.

And at the launch event, Takeuchi spoke of the need for change, and her hope that Japanese society can become a place where it is easier for trans people to come out.

Takeuchi is a guradoru (Japanese “idol” models who wear skimpy clothes) – which makes her new DVD the very first released by a guradoru model who is also openly transgender.

You can watch the whole interview below (no English subs, though, sorry!). The first questions are about surgery: Takeuchi explains that she has had breast augmentation, as well as genital surgery.

“Although I’m transgender, it’s just a regular idol DVD,” she said of the new DVD (so, sexy pictures of her in various skimpy outfits, then). Takeuchi added that she chose the situations and outfits for the photos herself. Asked about her plans for the future, she explained:

“As the first new half idol model, I want to lead the way. All new half [trans women] are different, but I’d like to see the creation of a new genre [in modelling]. I’ll work to make a society where it’s easier for trans women to come out.“

▼ The idol and model also posted photos from the event on her blog, thanking fans for their support.

Takeuchi Ami

Takeuchi Ami

▼ Watch Ami’s self-introduction and interview answers below.

Sources: Field Caster, Takeuchi Ami Blog
Featured image: Takeuchi Ami Blog

Origin: “I want to make it easier for people to come out”: Ami Takeuchi on being a trans woman in Japan
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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If you didn’t see our previous collection of photos of Angelica Kenova, now would be a perfect time to become acquainted with Russia’s take on a “real-life Barbie girl.”

The 26-year-old model and self-described ballerina from Moscow, Russia could certainly give Ukraine’s real-life Barbie a run for her money in a battle of doll-like features. Angelica’s case is particularly interesting because she claims that her parents purposefully raised her as “a living doll.” As a result, she has never experienced things that most women her age have done, such as having a boyfriend, or even picking out her own clothes.  

Since she was six years old, Angelica has faithfully adhered to her parents’ desire for her to become a living doll. That’s right, this whole Barbie business is actually encouraged by the ‘rents, who probably elevate the term “overbearing” to new levels.

At 26, Angelica has never had a boyfriend, and her mother chaperones any dates she goes on. In fact, she still lives with her parents, and they don’t seem very keen on her leaving the nest any time soon. According to a report by Metro, Angelina was quoted as saying:

“My mother and father don’t want me to move out of the family home. I’m not even allowed to buy clothes without my mum there – she likes to choose attire that clings to my figure and emphasize my good features.”

While her 51-centimeter (20-inch) waist and 32E bra size are public knowledge, don’t mention the dreaded “p-word” around her. The first time we featured Angelica on our site, there was no word about whether she had undergone plastic surgery or not–but since then she has answered that question with a resounding “no”:

“I have never had plastic surgery. Cosmetic work is only necessary when an individual has serious faults with their face or body.”

Instead, she chalks up her almost unreal figure to a combination of diet and three-hour workouts five times per week.

Enjoy looking at the following photos of Angelica showcasing her Barbie-like features. If anyone’s willing to be her “Ken,” maybe you should drop her a line!

▼ A short video clip about Angelica

Original article by Meg Sawai
Sources/Images: Metro, Facebook (Angelica Kenova), Facebook (Angelika Kenova)

Origin: Russia’s “real-life Barbie” gains more fame in Japan, new photos surface
Copyright© RocketNews24 / SOCIO CORPORATION. All rights reserved.

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