Minako Aino is the civilian identity of Sailor Venus, the guardian of love and beauty in Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Crystal. She is a fourteen-year-old student at Juuban Municipal Junior High School at the start of the series, with long blonde hair often tied up with a red bow and blue eyes. Minako was the first Sailor Guardian to awaken her powers, even before Usagi Tsukino, having been discovered by the white cat Artemis when she was thirteen. She initially operated as a solo vigilante under the alias Sailor V, spending a year studying adversaries and fighting the Dark Kingdom's agents while waiting for the other Sailor Guardians to awaken. This solo experience gave her unique combat training and a serious, mission-focused demeanor when she first joins the team.

Her personality is a blend of contrasting traits. She displays a sunny, energetic, and extroverted exterior, often coming across as a comedic and chaotic figure who shares Usagi's love for idols, video games, and romantic pursuits. She is athletic, having played volleyball, and dreams of becoming a famous singer or idol. At the same time, she possesses a hidden maturity and a deep capacity for self-sacrifice. Her earlier solo missions gave her a pragmatic and resilient side, and she often acts as a protective older figure to the other guardians. She is the designated leader of the Inner Sailor Guardians, a role she carried from the Silver Millennium, and she takes this duty seriously, prioritizing her mission over personal desires. This is shown most clearly when she willingly served as a decoy princess, claiming to be the Moon Princess in order to protect the real Princess Serenity, Usagi. Her motivations are rooted in a strong sense of duty and loyalty to her fellow guardians, particularly to Sailor Moon, whom she protects with fierce devotion.

In the story, Minako is the last of the Inner Guardians to formally join Usagi's team, but her role is pivotal as the experienced veteran and strategic leader. She brings knowledge of the enemy and a tactical mind to the group. Her key relationships include her close bond with Artemis, who lives with her and acts as her mentor and friend. She shares a particularly strong connection with Usagi, functioning as both her most protective guardian and a comedic partner in crime, as they are both academically unmotivated and enjoy similar hobbies. With the other Inner Guardians, she often shares a big-sister dynamic with Makoto Kino, and the two are frequently paired as the physically capable members of the group. Minako is reunited with her past life memories more strongly than the others early on, which deepens her commitment to her duty.

Her development in the series shows a gradual softening from her initial serious and guarded personality into someone who more openly embraces her silly, fun-loving side while retaining her deep sense of responsibility. As a Sailor Guardian, her notable abilities include power over light, love energy, and metal, specifically gold. Her signature attacks include the Crescent Beam, where she channels energy through her tiara, the Love-Me Chain, a golden chain of hearts that can ensnare or strike enemies, and later the Venus Love and Beauty Shock. She also wields a holy sword in the manga and Crystal continuity, and is shown to be exceptionally strong and agile, capable of lifting heavy weapons and performing acrobatic feats. Her defensive and offensive techniques reflect her title as the guardian of love and beauty, combining graceful movements with powerful energy-based attacks.