40th Mynavi Tokyo Girls Collection 2025 SPRING/SUMMER ~Ikeda Elaiza~　

It was held at the National Yoyogi Stadium First Gymnasium on Saturday, March 1, 2025."40th Mynavi Tokyo Girls Collection 2025 SPRING/SUMMER"The theme for this year's event was "HERE WE GO!" Celebrating its 20th anniversary, TGC is taking a new step towards the future. With the arrival of spring, Mynavi TGC 2025 S/S featured a diverse and impressive lineup of performers, and we spoke with actress Eliza Ikeda.

The joy and special feelings of being on the TGC stage

TGC is a special place for me. It was a stage I had longed to perform on ever since I was a magazine model in high school. At the time, I thought that appearing on TGC was proof that I was a top model. From there, I got more work and more opportunities to perform, and now I'm truly grateful that I'm asked to perform every year. Standing on this stage gives me a sense of purpose and makes me want to work hard again. I want to continue to perform on this stage for as long as I can.
Even now, every time I walk down the runway, I get a little nervous, wondering, "Do the audience know me?" (laughs) It's been over 10 years since I started my career, but when I receive warm cheers, it gives me the strong motivation to "keep working hard."
In this show, I was instructed to walk powerfully the first time, and to walk with more energy the second time to match the atmosphere of the music, so I enjoyed myself while keeping that in mind. The costumes were also packed with attention to detail. Last time, the costumes required a strong look, but this time they chose something gorgeous as well. When I saw the costumes, I felt that "the role and image that is expected of me at TGC has become clearer." It's a costume that I don't often have a chance to wear in my everyday work, so it gives me a special feeling that I can only have on this stage.

■The charm of fashion and models, dressing in your own style

My everyday fashion changes depending on my mood that day, and sometimes I don't decide what clothes I want to wear until I open my closet. Sometimes I incorporate trends, sometimes I deliberately ignore them, and sometimes I enjoy the complete opposite. I think fashion is one way to express yourself, but I also think it's important not to get too caught up in that feeling. No matter what clothes you wear, it's important to be aware that you are you.
The appeal of being a model is being able to enjoy the moment with the audience. Especially at events like TGC, cheers ring out every time I walk down the runway, and I get excited by the excitement. I think the best part of this job is not just wearing the clothes, but being able to share a special space with everyone while conveying their appeal to the fullest.

■The difficulty and importance of being natural

In the past, I used to worry a lot about how others perceived me, and was conscious of appearing cool at times and friendly at other times. However, recently I've started to value being natural. I've always been the type of person who thinks deeply about things, and I couldn't accept things without a reason, but sometimes overthinking things would interfere with my work. So, by consciously switching my attitude to "this is my bright side," I've been able to maintain a more positive attitude.
As we interact with many people every day, I feel it's difficult to get them to fully understand us in a short period of time. That's why I think the most important thing is the individuality that is conveyed in the first impression. However, individuality is not something that is fixed, and it should be okay for it to change from day to day. Having individuality and being unique are not necessarily the same thing. I don't feel there's any need to force yourself into a specific box.

■Message to university students

When you take action, I want you to think for a moment about "who you are doing it for." Are you trying to be "good" just to pass the interview, or is it really for your own benefit? If you feel that this is not the case, I don't think you need to force yourself. Instead, I want you to talk to lots of people and have an attitude of being interested in a variety of things. By doing this, your true self will naturally take shape.

Interviewer: Mai Wakao, second-year student at International Christian University

Event name: 40th Mynavi Tokyo Girls Collection 2025 SPRING/SUMMER
(Abbreviation: Mynavi TGC 2025 S/S)
Date and time: Saturday, September 1, 2025. Doors open at 12:00, performance begins at 14:00, ends at 21:00
Venue: Yoyogi National Gymnasium
Official site:https://tgc.girlswalker.com/25ss/