Ichika Usami is a central character known by her alter ego, Cure Whip. She is a thirteen-year-old student in her second year of middle school. Her defining characteristic is her cheerful, energetic, and openly emotional personality, which often leads her to express excitement by hopping around like a rabbit. While she possesses a vivid imagination and great confidence in her ability to decorate sweets, especially those shaped like animals, her practical baking skills are inconsistent and she frequently makes mistakes in the kitchen, such as burning ingredients or forgetting crucial steps. Despite these setbacks, she remains relentlessly optimistic and is known for telling simple puns or jokes.

Her deep love for sweets is the driving force behind her motivations. This passion originated from happy childhood memories of eating strawberry shortcake made by her mother, Satomi, who works overseas as a doctor. A significant goal for Ichika is to perfect her baking, particularly to create a cake that can convey her feelings to her mother, whose busy career often keeps them apart. This desire to connect with others through confectionery is what fuels her determination, both as a budding pastry chef and as a fighter. Although she admires the genius patissier Ciel Kirahoshi and dreams of becoming her apprentice, her journey begins by protecting the feelings she pours into her unfinished desserts.

Within her team, Ichika serves as the lively and heart-led leader of the KiraKira☆Pretty Cure A La Mode group. Her role is not defined by strategic genius but by her unwavering spirit and ability to inspire those around her. Key relationships include her strong friendship with classmates Himari Arisugawa and Aoi Tategami, who become her fellow Cures. Her family life is also central to her story; she lives with her father, Genichirou, who runs a dojo. While initially embarrassed by his teasing, she comes to understand his affectionate support. Her relationship with her mother is a major emotional arc, with a key moment of growth occurring when she finally accepts and shares her true feelings during her mother's visit. Ichika also demonstrates her compassionate nature by mentoring others, such as when she helped a rival-turned-ally find redemption.

Throughout her story, Ichika undergoes notable development, transforming from a clumsy but enthusiastic novice into a more reliable and confident individual, eventually traveling the world with her patisserie to spread happiness. Her journey tests her optimism when a villain manipulates her feelings of despair, stealing her emotional energy and leaving her unable to transform. She breaks free by channeling her love for her mother into finishing a batch of cookies, proving that her genuine emotions are her greatest strength.

As Cure Whip, whose motifs are the rabbit and the strawberry shortcake, she possesses several notable abilities. In battle, her physical attributes are enhanced, granting her incredible jumping power and a heightened sense of hearing akin to a rabbit. Her primary power is the manipulation of a magical, pink cream-like energy called Kirakiraru. She can shape this substance into whips to attack from a distance, lassos to grapple enemies, or nets to trap them. For finishing moves, she can perform solo attacks like Whip Decoration using a tool called the Candy Rod, as well as more powerful combination attacks with her teammates, including Animal Go Round! and Fantastic Animale.