Naomi Watanabe is a Japanese comedian who wants to conquer New York, and she also wants to challenge Japan’s female beauty standards.
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“People say, oh my God, you are fat! Don’t show me your arm!”
Naomi Watanabe is a Japanese comedian, fashion icon and social media powerhouse, with 10 million followers on Instagram. Affectionately known as ‘the Japanese Beyonce‘, she’s now making a name for herself on the international comedy scene.
Her ability to unapologetically embrace who she is has helped her break down body image norms in Japan – a culture that idealises skinny women – and led her to create her own fashion line, inclusive of plus-size women. She has featured on the cover of Vogue Japan and in fashion campaigns with brands such Adidas, Hugo Boss and Fendi, and also hosts her own podcast as she navigates her new life in New York.
As she takes on her next challenge of breaking into the US comedy scene, BBC 100 Women sat down with Watanabe to discuss her work as a body positivity icon, how it feels to be one of Japan’s most-loved personalities, and how to be funny in a different language.
00:01 Meet Naomi Watanabe
01:17 Debut show in NY
02:19 ‘Funny fashion, funny acting, funny dancing’
02:48 ‘I’m not skinny, not tiny’
03:40 ‘We are the punyos’
04:52 Body positivity
05:41 What her audience think of her
06:28 Naomi’s childhood
07:43 Why she chose comedy
08:38 Dating in America
10:47 Performing in English
11:09 ‘New York is special’
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