That's what a flash from short distance and a therefore overexposed image does to your face depending on make-up.

Just met her! OMG!!!

^congratulations!! :D

OyTony, thanks for the report! ;)

This is the first time I have made a comment regarding the "Ayu looks old" argument. On the contrary, I thought the fan pictures from NYC made her look young, fresh, and super cute!

In person she looks great :thud

I think she looks better now than she did when I met her in 2010, tbh.

Happy that other people are getting to see her again!

My story of meeting Ayu today 15/11/2011

I was lucky arrived at the hotel at 17:00 and joined others who were waiting for Ayu.
All together there were about 10 of us, from then we waited another hour when a hotel employee approached asking who we were waiting for, when we said that we are waiting for Ayu he said that her staff contacted the hotel asking them to tell us that she will be arriving soon and that we will get a chance of seeing her. And at around 18:30 she arrived! She talked to everyone and took a several photos with each one of us. Her staff were taking photos also on her iphone and her camera. When it was my turn I gave her my painting that i did for her. She looked a surprised and said "It is so pretty! Thank you!" I was soooooo happy!! I told her in Japanese that this is a present for her from me and Russian fans. That I made it for her, and that it is supposed to be her in our Russian winter outfit. I hope she liked it. Then we took some photos. I still donno how to use my camera so only one turned out to be good. But nonetheless I'm very happy!!! I'm posting here my photo with Ayu and a painting that I did for her.

http://img843.imageshack.us/img843/2060/ayu1.jpg

Uploaded with ImageShack.ushttp://img24.imageshack.us/img24/3719/p1050751h.jpg
By alterna88 at 2011-11-12

^Yay you got to meet her finally too! ^_^ I felt so sad for you when she didn't come out on sunday! And yepp, your paiting is still total awesomeness. :yes

Ayu looks cute there and that painting is amazing! She must have really loved it I am sure! Great job!

Nice photo and panting ! o__o <3

i actually agree with you. i'm not saying this in a negative way, but in fan pictures for the last couple of years i think its hard to deny that you can see her aging. everyone gets older, so i don't see why people get upset about it. ayu will of course start looking older too. i mean, i'm 29 and i've aged in the past few years and ayu is what, 32 or 33? she doesn't look 40 or 50 at all (lol), but just the general shape of her face and such, you can tell she's getting into her 30's. she looks less like a girl and more like a woman i guess.

personally, i think it looks great on her. age is something i think is great, its distinguishing.

anyway, i'm really happy for everyone's experiences! i feel like ayu is being so much more friendly with the fans every time she meets them! in LA she was really friendly, but i feel like in NYC and London she's being even nicer! i think she really loves meeting everyone so much! thats what i adore about her, that she absolutely loves meeting us! :yes

and alterna88, your painting is amazing!!! i bet ayu was amazed by it!!!!!

All these stories warm my heart~
@alterna88- that picture you did is so cute and Ayu looks stunning in the photo. Wow haha

All your beautiful pics and reports get me excited!! Can't believe that tomorrow at this time I'll be in London ^____^
See you there~

will it be your first time meeting her martina??? i'm so excited for you!

Wow, loving all the stories and photos - keep it up everyone! And that painting - and frame - are amazing!

mi|kshake~

Is anyone going this Friday or Saturday?? I'm going to head up there, be nice to meet some of you!

Thank you!! I didn't cry when I was there but with Ayu's sweet reaction to it, and your warm words I'm about to cry myself. =D So happy that I have met her!! Lol wanna meet her again some time!! =3

@alterna88
Her coat kinda matches your picture. XD So happy that you could give her your picture! :woohoo:

yeah.... it does!! Someone said that to me later... may be I'm psychic lol... But now I wanna see her again... She was very sweet to us!

I love reading everyone's stories and seeing the pictures. I'm happy to hear that a star like Ayu is so friendly. I should have gone to see her in NYC but I wouldn't mind visiting London :)

Those who have met her, did you and Ayu speak in Japanese or English? Not a clue what I'd say to her, aha. Hurry up Thursday! So excited! :')