"Do All Girl Group Members Have to Be Slim?" 148-cm, 132-kg Japanese Woman Confidently Takes on Idol Audition

An unconventional audition aims to break stereotypes about appearance
Online users show support but also voice health concerns

A Japanese woman who is 148 cm tall and weighs 132 kg has attracted attention after entering an idol audition. Taking the stage with a figure unlike the typical physique of members of established girl groups, she has drawn widespread online interest by confidently sharing her body measurements.

On October 30, Yonhap News TV reported, citing Japanese entertainment outlet ENCOUNT, that an audition to select a plus-size girl group had recently been held in Japan, with the contestants attracting attention.

In a photo shared on her social media, Roma stands onstage wearing a white top, a blue denim miniskirt and sneakers. Her confident performance and candid self-introduction resonated with viewers, and the post quickly spread online. X @odebu_roma

The contestant who has drawn the most attention online is aspiring idol Roma. She recently shared a photo on social media showing herself performing onstage. Alongside the photo, she revealed her height and weight, writing, "It may be hard to believe, but this is my actual body, not AI." She added the joke, "I don't have knees," humorously describing her appearance.

In a photo shared on her social media, Roma stands onstage wearing a white top, a blue denim miniskirt and sneakers. Her confident performance and candid self-introduction resonated with viewers, and the post quickly spread online. The audition Roma entered is called "I Declare Myself Fat," a competition to select a plus-size girl group in Japan.

The audition was conceived to offer a new opportunity to women who have been called fat at least once. Its aim is to help those who gave up on their dreams because of negative judgments about their appearance showcase their individuality and appeal. The audition's official website carries the message, "With opportunity and the right moment, anyone can shine again and again." The idea is for women who have lost confidence because of their body type to take the stage and give someone else courage.

There are currently 14 contestants listed on the official website. Their combined weight exceeds a staggering 1.27 tons, and their average body mass index (BMI) is above 36.2. Roma was introduced as the shortest and heaviest contestant. Her official profile reads, "Shortest height, heaviest weight."

There are currently 14 contestants listed on the official website. Their combined weight exceeds a staggering 1.27 tons, and their average body mass index (BMI) is above 36.2. Roma was introduced as the shortest and heaviest contestant. X

Roma lists gaming, eating and sleeping among her hobbies. She also says she is good at drawing, and named her future goal as "bringing laughter to people around the world." News of her challenge drew mixed reactions from Japanese internet users. Some commented, "It's amazing she can move with that body type," "Her face is cute," "At first, I thought the photo was AI-generated," and "This is a talent in its own right." Others voiced concerns, saying, "I'm worried about her health" and "It must put a lot of strain on her knees."

On Japanese online communities, people expressed concern about health problems related to weight, while others said the contestant's effort itself should be respected. The audition contestants are scheduled to give their final solo performance on November 23 in Akihabara, Tokyo, Japan.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.