Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on January 2010

Tarento Becky, 25, has a new hairstyle to go with her new career as a singer. For her debut single, Kokoro Komete (“Wholeheartedly”), the über-popular TV personality is sporting a bob, having chopped over 50cm of her famously long locks. Her “stage name” will be “Becky♪#,” which she says is meant to project a more mature image. “Cutting my hair gave me the courage to reinvent myself,” said Becky, who previously claimed she wouldn’t get a short haircut until she found a husband. She wrote the single herself and says she’ll be in charge of the production on her upcoming album later this year. Becky currently appears as a regular guest on eight TV variety shows and in 11 commercials.