If you’re anything like this writer, you probably spent your weekend watching Queer Eye: We’re In Japan!.
The four-episode mini series that dropped on Netflix on November 1 sees Fab Five Jonathan Van Ness, Bobby Berk, Antoni Porowski, Karamo Brown and Tan France cross the Pacific Ocean to give the people of Japan the Queer Eye treatment.
You can watch the trailer for Queer Eye: We’re In Japan! below. Post continues after video.
Along the way, we meet a nurse who runs a hospice centre out of her own home, a young gay man struggling to introduce his partner to his family, an artist who still carries the scars from severe childhood bullying and a painfully shy radio director who wants to reconnect with his wife.
There’s also Japan’s Beyonce, Naomi Watanabe, who appears in episode three to help a young woman unleash her inner Queen Bey confidence. And despite the language barrier, Queer Eye: We’re In Japan! is just as wholesome and feel good as previous seasons.
Another thing you might notice is that this series features a sixth Fab Five member – Kiko Mizuhara.
So, who is Kiko Mizuhara? According to The Cut, she’s Japan’s most famous woman. With a casual five million Instagram followers and a face that’s graced billboards for some of the world’s biggest brands, this international IT girl is kind of a big deal.
Here’s what you need to know about Kiko Mizuhara.
Who is Kiko Mizuhara?
Kiko Mizuhara is an American-Japanese model, influencer and TV personality. The 29-year-old began modelling when she was 12 when she won a Seventeen Japan modelling competition.
Kiko was born in Texas to an American father and a Zainichi-Korean mother before moving to Japan when she was two. In an interview with CNN, Kiko said she struggled growing up in Japan because of her biracial heritage.
“When I went to school, I felt really embarrassed. My dad is American. He looked so different – blonde hair, blue eyes, super tall. And I also didn’t want anyone to find out that my mom was Korean,” she told the publication.
Kiko regularly appears in Elle Japan, Numero Tokyo, GQ, Cosmopolitan, Nylon Japan and Vogue Girl Japan, and is currently the face of Dior, Marc Jacobs and Coach. She’s also done runway work for high fashion brands including Alexander Wang, Moschino and Diesel, and starred in Chanel campaigns and fashion films shot by Karl Lagerfeld.
Kiko Mizuhara is really, really famous in Japan.
Aside from being on billboards all around Tokyo, Kiko is also an actress and fashion designer.
She’s been in a number of Japanese movies and TV series’ since 2010, and runs her own fashion label called Office Kiko.
Oh, and in January, 2019, Kiko was linked to former One Direction singer Harry Styles. She also starred in The Weeknd’s video for ‘I Feel It Coming’.
You should follow Kiko Mizuhara on Instagram immediately.
Kiko’s unique sense of style and fun personality has amassed her a 5.2 million Instagram following.
Her feed is full of glamorous shots from her modelling work, as well as whacky costumes and snaps from her travels around the world.
Why is Kiko Mizuhara on Queer Eye Japan?
On Queer Eye: We’re In Japan!, Kiko Mizuhara is the Fab Five’s ultimate Japanese tour guide.
Aside from taking them to cool restaurants and teaching Antoni how to pronounce lots of different Japanese ingredients, Kiko also acts as a cultural guide to help the team navigate any cultural nuances they face during each makeover.
Japan has a unique set of customs and traditions, and like people from any country, individuals in Japan feel different pressures around their appearance, sexuality and identity.
Kiko is also just delightful to watch and we recommend you binge the entire Queer Eye Japan Netflix series as soon as possible.
You can watch Queer Eye: We’re in Japan! on Netflix now.
Have you watched Queer Eye: We’re in Japan! yet? Tell us your thoughts in the comments!