Ayumi Hamasaki (Hamasaki Ayumi, born October 2, 1978) is a Japanese singer-songwriter and former actress. With the release of her thirty-ninth single, "Startin'/Born to Be...," in 2006, Hamasaki became Japan's female solo artist with the most number-one singles. Hamasaki began her modeling career at the age of seven, modeling locally to earn money for the family. Hamasaki's first professional musical endeavors were in the rap scene. Hamasaki's tight control over her image has been attributed to her influence in Japan's pop culture.