She started her career as a Japanese idol member of Horipro's HOP Club under the stage name Rio Minami (南 梨央, Minami Rio) and is a gravure idol.

She joined Yellow Cab Next and became a co-host in the Weekly Shōnen Jump variety show Sakiyomi Jum-Bang!.

She played Luka Millfy/Gokai Yellow in the Super Sentai series Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger, following the footsteps of her former HOP Club batch mate Suzuka Morita.

She released her first solo gravure idol DVD A Distant Shore, along with a companion photo book of the same title.

She promoted her second idol video Apartment and photo book Afternoon Tea in December.