I’ve seen her around Mexico, and you probably have too. She’s a dark-haired six-year-old with a round face and expressive eyes. Though she’s typically spotted in a signature red dress and matching bow, she’s been known to change it up now and again.
She’s almost a scribble in her visual simplicity. She has an aversion to soup and strong opinions on important world issues. A voice for the younger generations, she’s witty and insightful, with critical perspectives on adult society.
She’s especially known for her rebellious spirit and fierce rejection of societal norms and expectations. I’m referring to Mafalda, the comic book-turned-cartoon character beloved by generations of Mexicans, Latin American populations, and numerous others worldwide. Created in 1964 by Argentine cartoonist Joaquín Salvador Lavado Tejón (better known as Quino), Mafalda began life as an advertising mascot for the appliance company Siam Di Tella.
But she quickly outgrew her commercial roots, evolving into a cultural phenomenon that continues to resonate with audiences today. In Mexico, her popularity is comparable to that of Charlie Brown or Garfield, cementing her status as one of the Spanish-speaking world’s most iconic characters. At first glance, Mafalda appears to be a typical six-year-old girl from a middle-class Argentine family of the 1960s.
Her father works a mundane office job and her mother tends to the home. At the same time, her relationship with her younger brother Gui.