Halfway through the first-ever Girls Award fashion show at Tokyo's Yoyogi National Stadium last month, 22-year-old Meisa Kuroki strides down the catwalk, glistening in a sleeveless gold dress and black stockings while delivering her pulsing dance tune "Shock."
The face of a hundred magazine covers and countless TV dramas then blasts the 10,000-strong audience with her new single, "5-Five-," her confidence belying that fact that this is her live debut.
She looks unflustered and delighted as she leaves the stage to be congratulated by her managerial team.