The Japanese fashion scene is full of unique, mesmerizing subcultures, and many of those trends became prominent in anime. Gyaru, or gal, is one of the most famous and recognizable fashion movements in modern Japanese street fashion. This iconic aesthetic praises radical glamour and rejects the strict classic standards of Japanese beauty and femininity.
Gyaru girls are typically seen rocking bleached blonde hair, tanned skin, heavy makeup, and fashionable, revealing clothing. Over the years, this once niche fashion subculture influenced an entire character archetype in anime, combining the iconic staples of gyaru fashion with an extroverted, bubbly personality to match. These striking gyaru girls are unafraid to show off, celebrating the multifaceted trends of this unique fashion subculture.
10 Sakura Hibiki Exercises In Style
How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift?
Despite her big appetite and sedentary lifestyle, Sakura Hibiki from How Heavy Are the Dumbbells You Lift? takes great care of her appearance. Hibiki's stunning looks have all the classic features of a gyaru, including long bleached hair and heavy tan.
After noticing that her love for food made her gain weight, Hibiki worries that she will no longer attract anyone and decides to join a gym, only to discover a genuine motivation and passion for working out. Her outgoing, bubbly personality helps her through the challenges of her fitness journey.
9 Yukana Yame Made Gyaru Famous In Anime
My First Girlfriend Is A Gal
Evident by the name, My First Girlfriend is a Gal is a comedy series centered around gyaru culture. The show’s protagonist, Yukana Yame, is one of the most recognizable gyaru characters in anime, with her design being the definition of this fashion movement.
She has strawberry blonde hair tied into a high ponytail, a school uniform modified to be more revealing, loose socks, and an easy-going personality. Beneath her flirtatious teasing, Yukana is a caring, vulnerable, and innocent individual who is devoted to her friends and her boyfriend, Junichi.
8 Yuria Niguredou Is Much More Frightening Than Her Looks Suggest
Mieruko-Chan
Just like how the horror comedy Mieruko-chan breaks the tiresome tropes of moe anime, it also puts a unique spin on gyaru stereotypes. Yuria Niguredou has many features of a typical gyaru teenager, from bleached, extravagantly styled hair to a myriad of cutesy accessories.
Despite what her cutesy, childlike appearance suggests, Yuria is the opposite of the bubbly gyaru archetype. She’s ruthless, scarily determined, assertive, and set on getting what she wants under any circumstances. Disregarding her weak supernatural abilities, the girl seeks to become a powerful medium, fearlessly driven to her objectives.
7 Lord Of Pastimes Takes Gyaru Fashion To The Next Level
Asobi Asobase
Asobi Asobase’s Lord of Pastimes chose a much more extreme gyaru aesthetic than most, falling more under the yamanba or ganguro styles. She has a deep tan with patterns of white patches, white hair, heavy makeup, and mint contact lenses.
Her reputation as a lecherous and unchaste person, as well as the negative connotations of the gyaru culture, lead to assumptions about her low intelligence and nonexistent morals. Nevertheless, Lord of Pastimes is another gyaru to prove everyone wrong. She’s extremely academically gifted, scoring in the Top 100 in the national exams.
6 Junko Enoshima Is A Dark Take On Gyaru Stereotypes
Danganronpa
Junko Enoshima from Danganronpa is a sinister deconstruction of the gyaru archetype. At first glance, Junko has all the telltale traits of a typical gyaru. She’s fashionable, air-headed, bubbly, loves revealing clothing, and comes off as overly carefree. Her iconic hairstyle and outfit characterize her as a typical follower of gyaru trends.
However, Junko’s real personality is much more unsettling. She’s an apathetic and manipulative individual who's obsessed with despair. In fact, despair is the only emotion Junko finds enjoyable. She’s adept at switching between different moods and personalities, yet, her true nature is disturbing, abusive, and toxic.
5 Yuzu Aihara Isn't Interested In Following Fashion Conventions
Citrus
Yuzu Aihara from Citrus doesn’t like playing by the rules, and her attitude influences her fashion style greatly. Rocking a classic gyaru aesthetic, this outspoken beauty loves customizing her school uniform and wearing bright, daring makeup, which leads to constant conflicts between Yuzu and her Student Council.
The girl often masks her insecurities by playing into the childish, unintelligent blonde girl stereotype. However, Yuzu’s nature is much more delicate and sophisticated than her looks imply. She’s an amazing cook and an appreciative lover. She even excels at school when she puts in the work.
4 Mikoto Aiura Loves The Attention
The Disastrous Life Of Saiki K.
Mikoto Aiura from The Disastrous Life of Saiki K. is one of the few people who knows about Saiki’s supernatural abilities. In fact, she’s also a psychic and a fortune teller. However, unlike Kusuo, she’s very open about her powers and wants to use them to help people.
She’s cheerful, popular, and enjoys dressing up in gyaru style, complemented by a hard tan, blonde hair, and tons of accessories. Even her personality mimics common gyaru stereotypes, such as cutesy mannerisms, easy-going nature, and extraverted hobbies.
3 Marin Kitagawa's Interest In Fashion Doesn't End With Her Cosplay Hobby
My Dress-Up Darling
While gyaru characters are usually associated with hyper-feminine hobbies, Marin Kitagawa, the gyaru protagonist of My Dress-up Darling, found her passion in cosplay and otaku culture.
Her interests might be unexpected for someone with such an extravagant and carefree personality and glamorous fashion sense, yet Marin is full of genuine passion for her hobby. She is non-judgmental and friendly, knowing first-hand that no one should judge a book by its cover. Those mature traits help her befriend Wakana, her costume maker and eventual love interest.
2 Ran Kotobuki Chose Shopping Over Fighting Crime
Super GALS!
As a kid, the protagonist of Super GALS!, Ran Kotobuki, dreamed of following in her parents' footsteps and becoming a police officer. However, after learning that she wouldn’t be able to dye her hair and wear accessories on the job, Ran dropped her ambition and focused on becoming the No.1 Gal in Shibuya instead.
Super GALS! is a celebration of the gyaru culture, featuring vibrant, fun-loving characters who thrive in every aspect of Shibuya's fashion movement. And while Ran can seem like a careless airhead, her extreme sense of justice makes her a feared opponent for anyone who dares to wreak havoc in her favorite city.
1 Galko Disproves Of The Negative Stereotypes About Gyaru Culture
Please Tell Me! Galko-Chan
Judging a book by the cover always leads to wrong assumptions. As evidenced by the protagonist, Galko, in Please tell me! Galko-chan, looks can be deceiving. Because of her bold style, everyone around assumes she’s a wild and promiscuous party animal.
While Galko is unashamed to wear revealing clothing and has incredible social skills, she’s just a kindhearted, emotional teenage girl who's easily embarrassed by intimate topics. Friendly and generous, Galko doesn’t deserve hate for her style, teaching others that their appearances don’t define their personality.