[Mimichild]

IMO I think that Ayu invented herself a bit more than others. Here's why...

Early '90s-2000:Here's where she first came on the scene. She was this frail, timid, and innocent looking girl singing about confusion and lonliness. She didn't perform as much and her image was conservative (not including the short-shorts she wore in Appears and other covers and pvs)

2001-2003:This time around was her heyday. She started covering more topics to sing, her image was more "creative" and poppy, and her music had more variety and edge (Some were really dark and others were really cheerful)

2004-2006:For me, this is her coming-of-age period where she spent most of her music experimenting with rock, rnb, and others. Her image was rock-ish with a tinge of sexy.

2007-today:This is her WOMAN stage b/c she has that 'I-am-woman' presence when you see her. Around this time she has done everything and is still working. Her style now is more "settled" than before and she experimenting with a more techno and harder rock sound.

So basically she has went from "Sad girl-next-door", "Longing for a purpose girl", "Peace muse", "Summer girl" to "Rock out chick", "Crazy Chic", and now "Classified woman"