Breaking
Breaking
Meet the b-girls invited to the Red Bull BC One World Final 2025
Discover the fierce b-girls competing at the Red Bull BC One World Final in Tokyo and dive into their inspiring stories.
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Get ready for Red Bull BC One, the iconic global breaking competition where top b-girls and b-boys face off in electrifying one-on-one battles since 2004. At the Red Bull BC One World Final in Tokyo on November 9, 2025, the top 16 contenders consist of invited dancers who advance directly to the World Final stage and the Last Chance Cypher winners, where national champions compete to advance. Below, you'll find the invited wildcards.
01
Nicka
Nicka will return to the world stage for the 3rd time
© Little Shao
My breaking comes straight from the heart
Nicka discovered breaking at the age of five on YouTube. She was immediately captivated, soon coaxing her mother into letting her take classes. At the age of eight, she officially started breaking under the guidance of B-Boy BBloke, whose teachings instilled in her the importance of a strong foundation and style.
By the time she was 10, Nicka was certain of dedicating her life to breaking, a conviction she still holds today. Fueled by a relentless love for being a b-girl, Nicka devotes six hours daily to honing her craft, maintaining her passion even when fatigue sets in. Her long-term aspiration is to be the best professional breaking athlete she can be, aiming to make history. Living in the present, she believes, is the most valuable lesson she's learned, emphasizing the importance of hard work, gratitude and not overthinking the future.
She debuted at Red Bull BC One World Final 2023 and won the silver medal at the Paris Games. Now, she takes another shot at the Red Bull BC One title.
02
Ayu
Ayu rocks the judges' showcase at the Red Bull BC One Cypher Taiwan
© Spin Huang/Red Bull Content Pool
I don't want people to expect anything, but just want to enjoy with everyone
Breaking runs in the family for Tokyo-based B-Girl Ayu. She began dancing at 13, developing her style and skillset under mentor B-Boy Katsu while drawing inspiration from another major influence, her sister, multiple world champion B-Girl Ami.
Ayu’s love for footwork started early. While balancing a career as a banker, she met her crew, Brand Steps, at university, who pushed her to refine her style. Around five years ago, she joined Japan’s legendary Good Foot, stepping up her competitive game in crew battles.
The toughest obstacle Ayu faced was a moment when she thought her efforts hadn’t paid off and she might give up on her dance dream. But seeing other breakers enjoy dancing, regardless of whether they won or lost, inspired Ayu to push herself and keep pursuing her dreams.
03
Stefani
Stefani at Red Bull BC One World Final Paris 2023
© Dean Treml / Red Bull Content Pool
I'm here to win, not just to represent
Ukrainian-born, London-based B-Girl Stefani trained as a classical dancer, performing in a ballet show in Turkey for five years and working in circuses. She was inspired to start breaking after seeing a video game character perform capoeira moves. At 14, she chose dance over ice skating - a decision that would define her path. A decade later, in 2017, overtraining left her with half her body paralyzed, and doctors told her she would never perform a headspin again.
Defying expectations, Stefani made a full recovery and came back stronger than ever. She went on to make history competing in breaking’s debut at the Olympics - all while raising her three-year-old daughter.
04
Julianna
B-Girl Julianna
© Gniewko Głogowski/Red Bull Content Pool
I’ll do everything I can on the Red Bull BC One World Final stage, but more than anything in the world, I’ll try to remember to simply enjoy it
Julianna describes her style as “all charm, until the storm takes over.” Her signature move is an original creation she calls “Ziuuuu.” She attended her first battle at just 10 years old in Poland. Now, she's part of the national Polish breaking team and driven by her pure love for the art form.
Outside of breaking, Julianna is studying psychology at one of Poland’s top universities and hopes to become a psychosexologist in the future. She’s also a lucid dreamer who loves drawing, painting and spending time in nature.
05
Kimie
Kimie on the Red Bull BC One World Final stage in Rio
© Marcelo Maragni/Red Bull Content Pool
I'll be myself, represent my values and who I am
Kimie discovered dance in a small village near Nîmes, France. Watching her brother, Marlone, train and compete in battles, she followed in his footsteps at just 10 years old. She quickly developed impressive technical skills for her age and, after only two years of practice, joined the internationally renowned crew Immigrandz at the age of 12. Today, the sibling breakers share a close relationship, supporting each other at every step of their breaking journey.
Known for her footwork, energy, attention to detail and infectious performances, Kimie has gradually built an international career. With the support of her family, she's determined to make a living from her dance. She returns to the world final stage for the fourth year in a row.
06
Firebird
Firebird pulled out big moves against 671
© Little Shao / Red Bull Content Pool
This is a second chance for me to show that I want to be one of the best b-girls in the world
Bulgarian B-Girl Firebird has deep roots in dance. Her mother is a tango teacher, and while waiting for her to finish class one day, Firebird peeked into a nearby studio - where she saw b-boys spinning on their heads for the first time. Fast forward to the present, and she became one of the best power b-girls, going viral with a clip dominating a power moves battle against b-boys.
Her name, Firebird, comes from her birth name, Plamena, which means “fire woman” in Bulgarian. Outside of breaking, Firebird is a talented musician who plays the drums, xylophone and marimba. She also loves writing poetry and going on long bike rides.
07
Starry
B-Girl Starry
© SonStar/Red Bull Content Pool
I'm pushing myself to think differently - even in ways that surprise me - and I’m preparing movements that I hope will spark new inspiration
South Korean B-Girl Starry began breaking at 20 after watching videos of B-Boy Physicx performing freezes and drawing inspiration from B-Girl Kate. Long before breaking, Starry trained extensively in waacking, locking, and popping. She also competed in school athletics - from shot put and high jump to archery and badminton. A true multi-talent, she’s performed as a musical actor, played in a band and even toured abroad performing K-pop dances in a mascot costume.
Starry credits her father with sparking her passion for movement - encouraging her to be active instead of spending so much time playing video games, and to follow in the footsteps of her older sister, who was already dancing.
08
Carla
B-Girl Carla will represent Romania at Red Bull BC One World Final 2025
© Little Shao
My goal is not just to win, but to leave a feeling with the audience and judges, something authentic that represents who I am
Carla was born in Bucharest, Romania. She first took hip-hop classes before discovering breaking at just seven years old - and from her very first class, she knew it was her passion. As she honed her craft, Carla faced negativity and doubt, but instead of letting it hold her back, she used it as fuel to become even stronger. Her perseverance paid off when she won Romania’s Got Talent’s Originality Award. By 2025, she’s become a six-time national champion.
A self-proclaimed night owl, Carla says some of her best signature moves were created during late-night practice sessions. Beyond breaking, she’s passionate about makeup and fashion, and is currently learning Japanese.
09
Leona
B-Girl Leona
© Little Shao
My motivation is reconnecting with my roots and the people who have been part of my journey
Ecuadorian B-Girl Leona is famously known for her signature move, the Claw Strike, and power moves that often begin and end with aerobatic flips. She began learning salsa at the age of four, transitioned into gymnastics by six, studied ballet and competed in track and field. By 10, she was sneaking off to perform for crowds at traffic lights in tourist cities - even as her parents searched for her with the police - a ritual she still practices today to calm her nerves. Her reputation in the breaking scene has even kept her safe in dangerous neighborhoods, with locals recognizing her from videos or tournaments.
Born with complex mental and physical challenges, Leona credits dance with fostering neuroplasticity and synesthesia, which has helped her thrive in both her studies and daily life - and has transformed dance into her greatest passion. Outside of breaking, she leads dance classes for people with Down's syndrome and continues to train her sister to excel as a gymnast.
10
Swami
Swami previously competed in New York and Rio
© Little Shao
I want to transmit my evolution on the stage, make the judges and crowd feel things they've never felt before in their lives
Swami is a Mexican B-Girl born and based in the coastal resort town of Playa del Carmen. She started out doing street performances but began breaking as a way to overcome fear - quickly falling in love with the possibilities of blending technique and creativity. Because no one in her family initially supported her decision to pursue dance, Swami has made many personal sacrifices along the way, from changing schools, spending time away from friends and family, to traveling at a young age - all while excelling in a country where breaking was not yet widely valued. She admits that without her mother’s support, she might not have been able to continue.
When she’s not at the beach or in the studio, Swami enjoys writing rap songs and is passionate about pursuing a career as a singer. Yet her proudest achievement so far is promoting breaking in Mexico like never before and inspiring the next generation of dancers.
11
Sayora
Sayora
© Little Shao
When I step on stage to compete, you’ll see what energy looks like. No fake pathos - only sincerity and passion from the soul
Kazakhstan’s B-Girl Sayora began training in rhythmic gymnastics at age five and was competing as a track-and-field athlete by 10. By 12, she was drawn to breaking because she thought it looked cool. Sayora trained with her first coach, Killa Kolya, for two years before continuing under B-Boy Dom, who helped her build strong foundations in footwork and power moves. One mentor she’s especially grateful for is the late B-Boy Wolt from TOP 9. Over the past five years, Sayora’s biggest influence has been B-Girl Art - not only her close friend and training partner, but also her only crewmate.
Outside of breaking, she loves watching cartoons and anime, is currently learning Japanese and waacking, and loves rock and metal music.
12
Riko
Riko is back on the Red Bull BC One stage after her debut in 2023
© Little Shao
I want to show a version of Riko that no one has seen before, something original and unforgettable
Riko grew up on Okinawa, a tropical island in Japan. She discovered breaking at eight years old and started dancing simply because her friends were doing it. Her mentor and teacher, B-Boy Taiga, has been the biggest influence on her skills and passion. She also draws daily motivation from her crewmates in One Piece Crew, who constantly push her to train and improve. She gained international recognition in 2023 and 2024, competing at events like the WDSF Breaking for Gold series and the World Games, showcasing her skills and earning numerous accolades.
Riko describes herself as smart and mysterious. Outside of breaking, she’s skilled in shūji (Japanese calligraphy), loves music and enjoys spending time in nature.
Read up on the b-boy wildcards or check out the national champions who will hit the Last Chance Cypher in the days before the Red Bull BC One World Final 2025.
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