Monica (Monica's Gang)

Monica (Monica's Gang)

Monica is the main character of Monica's Gang (Turma da Mônica) comic strips. She was created in 1963. She is described as possessing powerful (usually even superhuman) strength, which she uses to beat up boys who tease her, or to defend herself and her friends. She is known by the other characters as the "owner of the street". She is always carrying her blue stuffed rabbit called Samson (Sansão), which she uses as a weapon, though she's also able to fight with her barehands. She is often at odds with Jimmy Five, but backs him up whenever he gets into trouble. Monica's best friend is Maggy. Monica's also very shy to date boys, and she often causes trouble when she tries to talk or impress them. Her buckteeth (more precisely the maxillary central incisor) are her trademark, but also the main reason for people to call her toothy.

Mauricio based the character on his own daughter, who is also named Monica. Monica's hair is influenced by a haircut his older daughter Mariângela gave her once when she was a kid. In 2007, Monica became a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.