The term is not only monopolized by those who gather in the district themselves, but has become a relatively popular expression in the United States. Popular use originated from the American singer Gwen Stefani's 2004 Love.Angel.Music.Baby album, which brought attention to Stefani's entourage of four supposed "Harajuku Girls" who were hired to portray the look, three of whom are Japanese and one of whom is Japanese American.
The Harajuku Girls are four young women who were hired in 2004 as backup dancers for American singer Gwen Stefani's Love. Angel. Music. Baby. album The "Harajuku Girls" have continued to appear alongside Stefani, and are featured in the music videos for "What You Waiting For?", "Rich Girl", "Hollaback Girl", "Luxurious", "Crash", "Wind It Up", "The Sweet Escape", and "Now That You Got It".
Coincidentally, both Love and Music have worked with Namie Amuro at some time, Music as a member of the group Super Monkeys and Love as Amuro's dancer for a period.
Harajuku Girls - THE GIRLS (L.A.M.B)
Maya Chino (stage name "Love") grew up in Tokyo. She started out doing ballet when she was three years old. Before dancing with Gwen Stefani, she was a backup dancer for South Korean singer BoA.
Jennifer Kita (stage name "Angel"), born 1986, is a Japanese-American from Los Angeles, California. After graduating high school, Jennifer moved to San Diego and studied hip-hop at Mesa College. She later joined the dance troupe Culture Shock San Diego, and performed with them for two years.
Rino Nakasone (stage name "Music"), born June 10, 1979, grew up in Okinawa. She became interested in dance after watching music videos by Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson and mimicking their moves. At the age of nineteen, she went to Los Angeles to study dance. She later taught dance at a performing arts centers, and formed the dance group "Beat Freaks".
Mayuko Kitayama (stage name "Baby"), born February 17, 1983, grew up in Osaka. She eventually moved to New York, where she practiced in several dancing studios, after dancing in Japan for several years.
