Miss Chiquita is celebrating her 75th birthday at New York Advertising Week, the world’s largest annual gathering of advertising, creative, entertainment, marketing, media and technology leaders!
Since 1944, Miss Chiquita has been an iconic symbol of Chiquita’s bright yellow bananas, bringing smiles to fans’ faces across the globe. Now, the world’s foremost banana company is celebrating the “first lady of fruit’s” 75th anniversary by taking a look back at her many accomplishments throughout the years.
Miss Chiquita was introduced to Americans in the early 1940’s to help educate consumers on how to ripen, peel and enjoy bananas, as they were considered an exotic fruit at the time. The animated banana character gained notoriety for her commercial jingle, which at its peak, was played 376 times a day on radio stations throughout the United States. MissChiquita went on to star in top TV shows and movies, solidifying her status as a pop culture icon. Years later in 1987, Chiquita’s leading lady received a makeover from renowned artist Oscar Grillo to take on the form of a vibrant Latin woman. Although Miss Chiquita’s appearance has evolved over the years, her mission to demonstrate the fun side of healthy snacking has always remained the same.
“We’re so excited to celebrate 75 years with Miss Chiquita and the integral role that she has played for our fans and brand,” said Jamie Postell, Director of Sales North America for Chiquita. “As a society, we’ve watched how her character has evolved and played a vital role in the growth of the banana industry throughout the years.”
In more recent years, Miss Chiquita inspired a “Let’s Go Bananas” shoe line at the 2017 London Fashion Week. She was also inducted into the 2018 Advertising Week Madison Avenue Walk of Fame in 2018, which celebrates the finest advertising icons in the industry. Then, at the Latin American Advertising Week event in May 2019, Miss Chiquita received the first Pop Icon International Achievement Award. In September of 2019, Miss Chiquita will once again attend the New York City event as a reigning champion.
Miss Chiquita continues to act as the face of Chiquita bananas and nutritious snacking. She has also been honoured by the brand with her very own healthy Tiramisu recipe in celebration of this special milestone.