Namie's story as a J-popstress in 3 years can be made into a movie easily. Just look at how she has mesmerized every girl in Japan from the way she sings, her energetic dance moves, her dressing style, to her drama-like trials and tribulations. Namie had a fairytale-like rising when she was selected by Japan's #1 dance music producer TK (Tetsuya Komuro a.k.a 小室 哲哉) to be his first major female solo project at a mere age of 17. Oozing innocent, girlish charm, Namie rapidly pioneered the fad of keeping long dyed, straight hair and wearing of mini skirts and high-cut leather boots.

Her escalating career took a surprise turn when she announced her sudden marriage to label-mate TRF member Sam two years ago. And she went on to shock the industry with news of her pregnancy at the age of 20. Fans quivered with anxiety when talk of her retirement leaked out. Not content with the changes in her life so far, Namie decided on a bolder statement: she chopped off her silky tresses!

As expected, her baby Haruto was ushered directly into media spotlight the moment he was born. But Namie soon had the media turning back to her when she released what was to be her last single before her one-year retreat. The result of her love for Haruto was the beautiful ballad titled Can You Celebrate? (the theme song of Japanese drama Virgin Road). The hit track sat prettily at the #1 spot for four straight weeks, making it the biggest selling single of the year, with more than two million copies sold in one month!

After a year of rest, Namie made a timely comeback and this was heralded as the J-Pop event of the year. Everyone had a high expectation and dark doubts. Will the J-Pop Queen be able to hold on to her throne? Namie silenced all her critics with her comeback single I Have Never Seen, a dark brooding number that was a big hit. This un-Namie tune sold more than one million copies within one week and rocketed straight into the #1 spot in its first week of release.

But just a day before the release of her second comeback single Respect the Power of Love, disaster struck. Namie's mother was brutally murdered by her uncle! This family tragedy shocked the whole of Asia and traumatized Namie to such an extent that she took close to half a year to recuperate.

They say what doesn't kill you make you stronger. Namie lives up to this saying by making her comeback one of the most amazing ones. Collaborating with US production teams brought her to a new level, and under the wings of hot American R&B producer Dallas Austin (who had delivered #1 hits for International Acts such as Madonna, Boyz II Men, Monica and TLC), she practically soared. Sounding slick and sexy, with a streetwise black attitude, Namie aimed for the top of the charts with her single Something 'Bout The Kiss. Cosmetics giant Kanebo liked the track so much that they adopted it to be their commercial song.

And who dares claim not to have heard of her famous Love 2000 number? It's a ubiquitous dance hit which has paved the way for her hit album Genius 2000, produced by TK and Dallas Austin. Even the politicians were smittened by her, when she sang Never End for President Clinton at the G-8 summit at Okinawa. Clinton even gave her a "thumbs up" signal and lavished praise on her fine vocals! Looks like Namie is on her way to becoming a truly international star!