The Sun-Maid raisin girl is going digital. She is one of
the most recognizable brand faces there is, having been almost unchanged since 1916, with only small updates made every
year. The real-life Sun Maid maid was Lorainne Collette, who was discovered in Fresno, California, drying her
long hair under a red bonnet. The wholesome, natural image of the Sun-Maid raisin girl went well with the company's
message that their raisins are all natural, made with just "grapes and sunshine." But the maid is getting her
biggest makeover ever this year: she's going digital.
The modern girl still has the same long hair and red bonnet, but now she does yoga on the Sun-Maid website in addition to promoting her grapes. She is younger and curvier than before. There is talk of giving her a name.
Like some people, including ad executives interviewed by the SF Chronicle, I think that the digital girl is a little creepy, though growers are apparently meeting her with enthusiasm. If she looked a little less computer-generated and a little more natural, she might fit with the “as nature intended” image of the brand a bit better, but if Sun-Made’s goal is to modernize, they’re probably on the right track
[Images SF Gate]
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