[Lingerie model appointed] Kaori Fujimori

This time, Fujimori Kaori has become a lingerie model for NAO LINGERIE .

Kaori has been working as a model since she was 11 years old, but this is her first time modeling as a lingerie model for Nao Lingerie.
From model Kaori and NAO, owner and designer of NAO LINGERIE: We asked her about the circumstances and her thoughts behind being a model this time .

-Profile
Kaori Fujimori


She was scouted at the age of 10 and began modeling at the age of 11 .
He is active mainly in corporate advertising and TV commercials , and has appeared in over 70 commercials .
2012 April 2013 : Breast cancer diagnosed through a medical checkup She underwent a total right mastectomy and began personal awareness-raising activities.
Established NPO C-ribbons in 2016
Currently, she works as a freelance model and is also in charge of planning, interviewing and writing for the T-PEC Corporation website "Cervical Cancer NA Project."



Designers NAO and Kaori are friends. We asked them how they met.

~How the two met~

KAE : 13 years ago, when I started a group called "Model Quartet" with a friend to develop products and collaborate with companies, I met Nao at a bar where entrepreneurs gathered .
We all wanted to support Nao , who was serious about her desire to create a lingerie brand , and that's how our relationship began.

NAO : When I first met you at a bar, I remember being taken aback by how beautiful you were.
Not only is she beautiful, but she is also elegant, kind, strong-willed, and intelligent, and has become a woman I admire.
Since then, we have been in contact both professionally and personally.



~Why I decided to become a lingerie model~

KAE : First of all, I personally love Nao Lingerie, and Nao 's underwear saved me.
Nowadays, non-wired bras are not uncommon, but when I had the surgery, Japanese underwear still contained a lot of wire to hold the breasts and surrounding areas in place.
Because I had my right breast removed, I no longer have any fat in my chest, and instead have had implants (silicone) placed under the chest muscles to create the shape.
I can't wear bras with wires because the silicone would slip off, and even other padded bras hurt my skin and the area around the wound because my skin is so thin.

"I'll never be able to wear cute or fashionable underwear again ... " I thought to myself sadly a while after the surgery as I got rid of all of my favorite underwear .
I thought I was the type of person who wasn't particularly attached to breasts or being a woman, so I was surprised that I felt so depressed.
So when I told Nao about my current situation, she let me try on some wire-free bras and I was so happy to find one that fit perfectly.

I've been a model for a long time, but to begin with, most of the women who model for underwear are "young girls" or "foreigners," and it's rare to see a woman my age in the role. lol Also, I think it's almost uncommon for "breast cancer survivors" to model for lingerie brands, even in other countries.
I wondered if I was the right person to be a model , but I decided to do it because I wanted people to feel the ``dignity of women'' that Nao Lingerie promotes.


NAO : At Nao Lingerie, we have held an event called " The Ideal Woman " only once before. We invited wonderful women who are caring and in good physical and mental health, who are our ideal type, to speak to us and learn from them. We invited Kaori to be that guest.

At the time, I never imagined that the day would come when I could become a model. In fact, when I looked at the agent's page, there were a lot of models, but when it came to models who were OK with wearing underwear, there were very few.
This is especially noticeable with Japanese models, and as a result, many foreign models are chosen. Because of this, I thought it would be impossible to ask Kaori-san for the role.

However, as time passed and we talked together as friends, we discovered that we shared a common desire for the dignity of women, and she decided to try her hand at modeling.
I think there are times when we feel dignity more strongly when we are hurt. When we are at the height of happiness, it seems like it's hard to think about dignity.
I believe that because Kaori has experienced breast cancer, she was able to touch upon her own dignity and empathize with the idea of ​​sharing that same message with us. We are very happy and grateful that she has chosen to model for Naoringerie's ideal woman.



~ The message we want to convey through NAO LINGERIE~

KAE : I've met many women over the past 10 years working to raise awareness about cancer.
Not only do we have illnesses, but everyone lives with worries and anxieties, and even healthy people are not without some.
There have been many times when wearing Nao Lingerie has given me courage.
So I hope that by me becoming a model, I can convey Nao 's thoughts to more women, and that more people will become aware of breast cancer.


NAO : For this shoot, we used natural photos of the breast cancer surgery scars without any image editing.
I hope that everyone will receive the fundamental message of dignity that " You can make any choice you like; your existence itself is valuable. "
We would also like to create an opportunity for Kaori and everyone to share important information that will lead to greater understanding of breast cancer, and for us to protect each other's lives.