Beckii Cruel

Flint was born in Blackpool, Lancashire, England, the daughter of a police inspector and a former dance instructor. She moved with her family at the age of 2 to Ramsey on the Isle of Man, where she attended Ramsey Grammar School.[1] She became interested in anime and manga at the age of 11, when she first started reading Fruits Basket.[2] On 22 July 2007, she began a YouTube channel under the name "xBextahx" (from a nickname she had when she was younger).[3] On 15 April 2009, she posted a video of herself dancing to "Danjo", a song by Taro that was turned into an Internet meme in Japan. Her YouTube video was uploaded to Nico Nico Douga, where she instantly attracted fans.[2]

Flint signed onto a talent agency, Life Is So Cruel, Ltd., in August 2009. Emerging under the stage name "Beckii Cruel" she flew to Japan, where she was able to perform with Taro in Akihabara. Although Cruel had experience in dancing, having taken ballet for most of her life, she was required to undergo vocal training. She began seeking advice from David Holland, an agent who also worked with Samantha Barks.[1]

In October 2009, Cruel visited Japan and formed a group called the Cruel Angels, with 18-year-old French college student, known by her stage name Sarah Cruel, from Lyons, and a 16-year-old student from Portsmouth known by her stage name as Gemma Cruel.[4][2] Her group was signed onto Tokuma Japan Communications, where they released their first single, "Tsubasa o Kudasai" (翼をください), on 10 February 2010.[5]

Beckii appeared in an online campaign for Lotte Fit's in November 2009.[6][7] On 4 November 2009, Cruel herself released two songs on two different albums, titled "No, Upper Matsuri" (の、アッパー祭, No, Appā Matsuri) and "No, Ballad Matsuri" (の、バラード祭, No, Barādo Matsuri) as part of the "No, Matsuri" (の、祭り) CD series which features other singers popular from the Japanese Nico Nico Douga Video community.[3] On 9 December, she released her first idol DVD, titled This is Beckii Cruel!.[8] It debuted at number 8 on Japan's DVD charts.[2]

On 12 August 2010, BBC Three premiered a documentary about her, entitled Beckii: Schoolgirl Superstar at 14.[9] This documentary brought her to a mainstream UK audience. As of September 2010, Cruel was no longer affiliated with the Cruel Angels, or with the Cruel Angels Project, citing a dispute with her management as the reason for her departure from the project.[10]

In 2019 Beckii privatized all of the content on her YouTube channel stating that her videos were no longer reflective of who she is and that she wanted to move on with her life. She has started a new YouTube channel under the name "Ginger". However, she still uses the name "Beckii Cruel" on Instagram.