Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on February 2011

Where are you from and what brought you to Japan?
I’m a Parisienne who has been living in Japan for 17 years. I arrived in Japan at the age of five and grew up in Denenchofu. It was always my mother’s plan to move us here—in France, I was even enrolled in a Japanese-speaking kindergarten. By the age of 15, however, I knew only Japanese and had lost almost all connection to my French heritage. At that point, I went back to France to study at an international school, where I was surrounded by amazing culture and art, and I felt a freedom to express myself in ways that gave me insight into my own life. It was this enlightenment that ultimately led me to find my true passion: fashion.

Tell us about I Style Japan.
It’s a company that provides fashion and image consulting for men and women. The philosophy behind my service is to highlight the unique and positive qualities inherent in each of us and to build the confidence needed to showcase one’s genuine personality through style and image.

You’re also a model and actress, eh?
I’ve done commercials for Georgia coffee, Clorets, Toyota and Glade air freshener.

What was the funniest moment of your career?
It happened during an audition for a popular foreign language company. To my surprise, the role was that of a Spanish teacher, not French. All the other actresses auditioning were fluent in Spanish, so I called my mother, who quickly taught me some common Spanish phrases over the phone. I went on with the audition, randomly throwing these bits together, albeit with a lot of flair and emotion—but of course, it was mostly nonsensical gibberish. Miraculously, the next day my agent called to say I got the job. That’s show business, I guess!

What do you like to do in your downtime?
When I’m not working, my favorite way to relax is singing. I’ve occasionally done live jazz vocal performances around town, but I’m happiest with a karaoke microphone in my hands.

For more information see www.istylejapan.com