Mika Taressa Todd (Japanese: ミカ・タレッサ・トッド) joined Hello! Project in 1999 as part of the group Coconuts Musume. Shortly after Coconuts Musume was created, Morning Musume member Yaguchi Mari created the sub-group Minimoni with Kago Ai and Tsuji Nozomi. Tsunku added Todd into group shortly thereafter. Minimoni was a highly popular group at the time and gave Todd more exposure than Coconuts Musume received. In early 2004 it was announced that Todd would be graduating from Coconuts Musume, Minimoni and Hello! Project. She planned to study singing in California and pursue a career as a jazz singer.