<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 18pt; margin-bottom: 4pt;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"><em>VODA proudly welcomes Honoka Tsuji, a kickboxing star from Japan who is now entering the world of acting. With her powerful presence in the ring and passion for new challenges, Honoka is set to make her mark in both sports and entertainment.&nbsp;</em></span></span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">How do you define beauty and confidence in your life?</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">I find beauty in a smile. There’s something powerful about it—its ability to bring happiness regardless of the circumstances. A smile isn&#39;t tied to how things are going in the moment, which makes it so beautiful to me. As for confidence, having experience builds my confidence in myself. Every failure and success has been a lesson, slowly building my confidence. Through that cycle of trying, failing, and growing, I’ve truly learned what it means to be confident.</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">What values do you hold most dear in your personal and professional life?&nbsp;</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">I value hard work because you cannot get what you want for free. Of course, just because you work hard doesn&#39;t mean you will always succeed, but I believe my efforts are never wasted. Each step contributes to the experience that ultimately leads to success.</span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">In what ways do you hope to inspire others through your journey?&nbsp;</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; white-space: pre-wrap;">I want to encourage people to have courage and strong will. As a kickboxer, I need the guts to endure rigorous training and the determination to overcome anxiety and pressure. Now that I’m part of VODA and pursuing acting, I’m taking on new challenges, and I hope my journey can inspire others and move hearts.&nbsp;</span></span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; white-space: pre-wrap;">Whenever I fail at something, my father always tells me that it’s important to have my ideas and to challenge myself. No one can hand you the solution—you have to think hard, take action, and grow from the experience.&nbsp;</span></span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; white-space-collapse: preserve;">How do you see social media impacting the modeling industry today?</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; white-space: pre-wrap;">I get excited when I wear new clothes, and in the same way, I think social media creates excitement by diversifying trends and giving people something to look forward to.&nbsp;</span></span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">What do you think makes someone truly photogenic?</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; white-space: pre-wrap;">Confidence. Your emotions are reflected in your expressions and actions. If you’re insecure, it shows. But if you’re confident, you can present your fullest self.&nbsp;</span></span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">How important is social media presence to you, and how do you manage it?</span></span></h3><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 400; white-space: pre-wrap;">Social media is crucial to my career development. Whether it’s in kickboxing or working with VODA, name recognition is key. No matter how skilled you are, it can be wasted potential if people don’t know you. Social media helps me increase visibility and expand my opportunities.&nbsp;</span></span></p><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; white-space-collapse: preserve;">What’s your favorite guilty pleasure snack?</span></span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 10pt;">I love cake. It’s my dream to eat an entire cake! However, I feel a lot of guilt after indulging, so I save it as a reward for accomplishing something significant.</span></div><div><br /></div><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Should you always tell the truth, or are there times when lying is acceptable?</span></span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 10pt;">As a matter of Japanese courtesy, there are times when it is acceptable to lie to show consideration for the other person.&nbsp;This is when you know that telling the truth will make the other person uncomfortable and that lying will not cause too much trouble. For example, when you say that the food prepared for you tastes good even if it doesn&#39;t, or when you tell someone running late that you just got there.&nbsp;</span></div><h3 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you have any hidden talents or hobbies that might surprise people?</span></span></h3><div><span style="font-size: 10pt;">I have a hidden talent for drawing. I enjoy sketching what I see around me, and I can also bring to life scenes from my imagination.</span></div>

Julia Strowski