The protagonists of the Pretty Cure franchise are known for being heroic magical girls, but some Cures are also famous for their civilian identities. These characters' celebrity careers are often just as important to their stories as their battles to save the world, and their two responsibilities aren't always unconnected.
Here are five of Pretty Cure's biggest celebrities and why their stories make for truly magical (girl) storytelling.
Yes! Pretty Cure 5 Cure Lemonade
In Yes! Pretty Cure 5, Urara Kasugano's late mother was a famous actress, and Urara wants to follow in her footsteps. In addition to fighting evil as Cure Lemonade, Urara acts on stage, on TV and has also recorded songs. The crossover movie Pretty Cure Miracle Leap shows that she achieves her goal -- she is seen on TV when the news reports on her newest role.
Hugtto! Pretty Cure Cure Ange
Hugtto! Pretty Cure's Saaya Yakushiji, aka Cure Ange, has a similar story to Cure Lemonade's, but with a very different conclusion. Like Urara, Saaya is the daughter of a famous actress and has been performing since she was very young. But unlike Urara, she decides to leave the entertainment industry, becoming a doctor instead. However, she first decides to act one last time alongside her mother, whose career she still deeply respects.
Doki Doki! Pretty Cure: Cure Sword
Makoto Kenzaki is a famous idol singer, but her choice of career is strongly tied to her duties as Cure Sword. Makoto comes from the magical Trump Kingdom, where she guarded the princess, Marie Ange. When the Trump Kingdom was attacked by the villainous Selfish, Makoto and the princess fled to Earth, but were separated along the way.
Since Marie Ange had always loved her singing, Makoto decided to become an idol in order to search for the princess, hoping Marie Ange would recognize her by her songs. Makoto's career choice isn't entirely because of the princess, though -- even after she finds out what happened to Marie Ange, Makoto decides to continue being an idol.
Go! Princess Pretty Cure: Cure Twinkle
Like Urara and Saaya, Kirara Amanogawa wants to follow in the footsteps of her mother, a famous model. Kirara is already famous in her own right, appearing in magazines and being recognized as a celebrity by her classmates. When she first transformed into Cure Twinkle, Kirara didn't want to join the other Cures because of her busy modeling schedule but eventually decided to make time for both of her responsibilities.
At the end of Go! Princess, an adult Kirara is shown to have succeeded in becoming a famous model. Fresh Pretty Cure's Miki Aono, aka Cure Berry, had a similar dream of becoming a top model, but she did not yet appear to be as famous as Kirara.
Kira Kira Pretty Cure a la Mode: Cure Parfait
Ciel Kirahoshi is known as the "Genius Pâtissière" and is essentially a celebrity chef. She is actually a fairy named Kirarin, who went to France with her twin brother Pikario to study baking. Pikario was jealous of Kirarin's natural talent, and when she gained her human form of Ciel, he was finally driven to leave her and become a villain.
When Ciel realizes Pikario felt bad about himself because of her, she becomes depressed, and only after reconciling with her brother is she able to become Cure Parfait. Ciel opens her own shop, which quickly becomes popular, but she also helps the other Cures at the Kira Kira Patisserie.
Star Twinkle Pretty Cure: Cure Cosmo
Mao is a famous intergalactic idol, but like Makoto, she has an ulterior motive behind her singing career. Mao's true identity is Yuni from the planet Rainbow, who steals back her planet's stolen treasures as the phantom thief Blue Cat. She uses the Mao identity to get close to the wealthy aliens who are in possession of Rainbow's treasures, but her music has a larger impact on the entire series: the alien mascot Prunce was on the verge of giving up searching for the Pretty Cures, but hearing Mao's song renewed his hope. Without Yuni's celebrity alter ego, the Cures may never have been found, and she herself eventually becomes the team's fifth member, Cure Cosmo.
