Marshmallow Girls Unite :3 Chubby Idol from Japan!

In Japan, being an idol is serious business. Getting caught in anything that has the potential of crushing a fan’s dreams could easily result in the idol getting fired. Simple things that common people partake in without as much as a blink of an eye, such as dating, smoking, or even putting on weight, are huge taboos for many members of Japanese idol groups.

But recently, a new idol group that overturns the conventional concept of weight-watching has surfaced. Instead of watching their weight to keep slim, the chubby idols from Chubbiness are required to maintain their well-rounded figures, or risk getting sent out of the group!

The last time we said “behold, the rise of the marshmallow girls“, we meant it. In June last year, music giant Avex collaborated with popular Japanese girls’ fashion magazine CanCam in organizing a Zenkoku Puniko Audition (nationwide chubby girl audition). After stringent selections from a pool of 3,500 applicants, 10 cheerful marshmallow girls made it into the all-rounded idol group, Chubbiness, who are set for their debut as professional artistes in March this year.

八重樫琴美 Kotomi Yaegashi (Leader)

Birthdate: 26 September 1994
Hometown: Osaka Prefecture
Height: 156cm (5’1″)
Blood type: B
Hobbies: Eating, fantasizing, photography
Favorite chubby part of herself: Face

高尾苑子 Sonoko Takao

Birthdate: 30 October 1993
Hometown: Fukuoka Prefecture
Height: 157cm (5’2″)
Blood type: Unknown
Hobbies: Reading, going for walks, doing stretches before bedtime
Favorite chubby part of herself: Chin

池山智瑛 Chiaki Ikeyama

Birthdate: 4 May 1992
Hometown: Aichi Prefecture
Height: 158cm (5’2″)
Blood type: A
Hobbies: Skin care, health care methods
Favorite chubby part of herself: Buttocks

才原茉莉乃 Marino Saihara

Birthdate: 20 January 1992
Hometown: Hyogo Prefecture
Height: 155cm (5’1″)
Blood type: A
Hobbies: Cosplay, visiting Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines
Favorite chubby part of herself: Thighs

浅川美咲 Misaki Asakawa

Birthdate: 16 November 1995
Hometown: Saitama Prefecture
Height: 161cm (5’3″)
Blood type: O
Hobbies: Shopping, piano
Favorite chubby part of herself: Hands

森本愛理 Eri Morimoto

Birthdate: 8 March 1994
Hometown: Osaka Prefecture
Height: 161cm (5’3″)
Blood type: A
Hobbies: Futsal, dance, karaoke, shopping
Favorite chubby part of herself: Cheeks

堀川杏美 Ami Horikawa

Birthdate: 28 November 1994
Hometown: Saitama Prefecture
Height: 158cm (5’2″)
Blood type: B
Hobbies: Shopping, drawing, fashion, studying about makeup
Favorite chubby part of herself: Tummy

河合秋奈 Akina Kawai

Birthdate: 5 November 1994
Hometown: Osaka Prefecture
Height: 161cm (5’3″)
Blood type: AB
Hobbies: Music appreciation, watching dance videos
Favorite chubby part of herself: Boobs

中崎絵梨奈 Erina Nakazaki

Birthdate: 8 June 1993
Hometown: Fukuoka Prefecture
Height: 153cm (5′)
Blood type: O
Hobbies: Drawing, reading, anime, reading manga
Favorite chubby part of herself: Upper arms

嶋梨夏 Rika Shima

Birthdate: 16 August 1989
Hometown: Hyogo Prefecture
Height: 150cm (4’11″)
Bloody type: A
Hobbies: Visiting power spots, cooking, movie appreciation
Favorite chubby part of herself: Legs

In an interview with Nikkan Spa, the reporter notes that all members of Chubbiness enjoy eating and when the conversation revolves around the topic of food, the girls become very lively and happy. Even though they don’t own svelte and slender figures like typical idols do,their friendliness and candid characters make them easy to talk to, and that is one of their charming points as an idol group. The members of Chubbiness also get along very well, and they share very close-knit ties even though the group has only been formed recently, which is a rare sight especially among large idol groups, whose members often end up in fierce competition or politics within the group