Ichika Usami is a 13-year-old second-year student at Ichigozaka Middle School. She passionately aspires to be a patisserie chef, though her baking attempts often fail, resulting in burnt cakes or forgotten ingredients. Her excitement causes her to hop like a rabbit. She lives with her father, Genichirou, who runs a dojo and sometimes embarrasses her, while her mother, Satomi, works overseas as a doctor. Satomi's strawberry shortcakes, baked for Ichika in childhood, deeply imprinted her emotional connection to sweets.

In civilian life, Ichika has magenta eyes and long, wavy orange hair in twin tails secured by strawberry-shaped accessories. Her typical outfit is a pink mini-dress with magenta buttons over a pale pink long-sleeved shirt, strawberry-patterned ankle socks, and white sneakers with pink detailing. Seasonal variations include a summer outfit with a pink blouse and layered skirt, and a winter ensemble featuring a pink sweater, dark pink skirt, and strawberry-themed boots.

As Cure Whip, Ichika transforms using the phrase "Cure La Mode・Decoration!" and a Sweets Pact born from her rabbit-faced shortcake. Her hair elongates to thigh-length, turning bright pink with curled ends, and she gains white rabbit ears with pink accents, a fluffy tail, and a strawberry shortcake headband. Her outfit is a puffy pale pink dress with a fuchsia bodice, a chest bow featuring a strawberry, and a multi-layered skirt resembling a shortcake. She wears pom-pom-trimmed gloves and rabbit paw-like boots. Her enhanced abilities include superhuman jumping and acute hearing.

Cure Whip introduces herself with "With energy and smiles! Let's・la・mix it all up! Cure Whip! Ready to serve!" Her attacks manipulate magical batter or whipped cream, like pink lassos or energy blasts. She later wields the Candy Rod for techniques like "Whip Decoration." She participates in group attacks like "Three・2・Wonderful A La Mode!" Upgraded forms include "Super Cure Whip," with angelic wings and a modified dress, and "A La Mode Style," featuring a strawberry-motif ballgown skirt and thigh-high boots.

Ichika is cheerful, spontaneous, and emotionally open. She gives friends nicknames like "Himarin" for Himari Arisugawa and remains optimistic despite setbacks. She falls into despair when Rio/Julio criticizes her mother's absence, temporarily losing her transformation ability after he drains her "Kirakiraru." She masks sadness during her mother's brief return, pushing herself to bake a perfect cake while hiding disappointment about Satomi's imminent departure – a facade her mother helps her overcome.

She admires Yukari Kotozume's elegance and initially admires Akira Kenjou's "knightly" demeanor, developing a short-lived crush before recognizing her as female. She idolizes Ciel Kirahoshi but later recognizes their differing pastry approaches (precision versus creativity). She shows unwavering empathy towards Julio, offering forgiveness after his betrayal and understanding his pain as Pikario, Ciel's brother. Pekorin, the fairy who enabled her transformation, is a close confidant.

Her surname "Usami" phonetically resembles "usagi" (rabbit), while "Ichika" can mean "strawberry flower" with specific kanji (苺花), aligning with her motifs. "Cure Whip" references whipped cream, a strawberry shortcake topping.

Key story arcs include her first transformation triggered by protecting a cake imbued with her feelings for her mother; reconciling with her father after unintentionally hurting his feelings; purifying Julio by appealing to his lost identity with legendary patissière Lumiere's guidance; and achieving closure with her mother by openly sharing emotions while baking. In the epilogue, she travels globally with the Kirakira Patisserie mobile shop to spread joy through sweets.

She appears in a "Mahou Tsukai Pretty Cure!" crossover, serving Mofurun cake and aiding the Cures against a monster before departing. She also features in the film "Petit☆Dream Stars! Let's La Cooking? Showtime!" wearing a turtle costume.