Naomi Watanabe among Time’s 25 Most Influential People on the Internet

July 2, 2018

Tokyo- Japanese comedian Naomi Watanabe landed a spot in the Time magazine's latest list of the 25 most influential people on the Internet.

Watanabe, known for her over-the-top impersonations of Beyonce and Lady Gaga, is "Japan's most popular star on social media" with eight million followers on Instagram, the U.S. magazine said.

Noting that she is also making waves in fashion, the magazine said Watanabe is "expertly using her platform as a comedian and fashion designer to challenge long-held stereotypes about Japanese women."

The magazine quoted Watanabe as saying, "I want to tell people to love themselves as they are." "I want them to treasure what they have--that's how I gained confidence," she said.

The magazine draws up the annual list after it evaluates contenders by looking at their global impact on social media and their overall ability to drive news.

This year's list also included U.S. President Donald Trump and South Korean boy band BTS. Jiji Press