The girl in the iconic Hershey’s chocolate commercials has become something of a pop culture icon over the years. With her signature brown hat and dress, she epitomizes the sweet, wholesome image of the Hershey brand. But who is this mysterious chocolate-loving girl? In this article, we’ll explore the history and evolution of the Hershey’s commercial girl over the decades. From her early beginnings as a nameless character to her current incarnation as the face of Hershey’s, we’ll uncover the identity and story behind one of America’s most beloved advertising symbols.
The Origins
The Hershey’s commercial girl first appeared in the company’s ads in the early 1900s. At the time, she was simply known as the “Hershey’s Chocolate Girl” and her only purpose was to help promote Hershey’s chocolates. She didn’t even have a name back then. Her original look consisted of a plain brown dress and apron along with a matching hat. This early version of the character lacked distinguishing features beyond representing the sweet wholesomeness of the Hershey’s brand. For several decades, the nameless Hershey’s girl remained a nameless fixture of the company’s print and television advertisements.
The Rise of the Iconic Brown Dress
In the 1930s, the Hershey’s Chocolate Girl underwent her first major design evolution. Her brown dress and hat were updated to the more iconic versions still recognized today. The polka-dotted dress, poufy sleeves, ruffled apron, and jaunty hat created the classic wholesome look for which she would become known. She appeared in Hershey’s ads on billboards and in magazines promoting everything from Hershey’s Kisses to milk chocolate bars.
This new look ushered in the first golden era for the chocolate girl. Even without a name, she became a nationally-recognized symbol of the Hershey brand throughout the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. Consumers came to associate her image with the wholesome, quality chocolate produced by Hershey’s. The company continued evolving her look over the next few decades but retained the signature polka-dotted dress as her most beloved outfit.
The Search for a Name
As the Hershey’s brand expanded throughout the mid-1900s, the company realized their iconic spokeswoman needed more of an identity. In the 1960s, Hershey’s launched a contest inviting people to name the chocolate girl. Thousands of entries poured in but it was an 11-year old girl from California named Betty Click who suggested the winning name – Hilda.
With her new moniker, Hilda embodied the old-fashioned, approachable qualities of the Hershey brand. She regularly appeared on TV, print ads, and even on Hershey product packaging. Hilda shopping for ingredients, baking cookies, and enjoying Hershey’s chocolate became standard scenarios in advertising campaigns. Her classic polka-dotted dress and hat solidified her as a nostalgic symbol of chocolate perfection.
The Many Faces of Hilda
Although Hilda has remained the official name of the Hershey’s girl, her look has continued evolving over subsequent decades. In the 1970s and 80s, Hershey experimented with making Hilda’s appearance more modern. Her design shifted to reflect popular aesthetics like longer hair and modern fashion. But the company quickly learned consumers preferred the classic, retro Hilda.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Hershey brought back Hilda’s timeless brown dress and hat look. She appeared in both modernized scenes and nostalgic ads harkening back to earlier eras. Different actresses have also portrayed Hilda, sometimes as a tween girl, mature woman, or even as an animated character. Regardless of these variations, her inherent wholesome qualities and love of chocolate have persisted.
Hilda in the 21st Century
Today, Hilda remains an integral part of Hershey’s branding and ads. She interacts with modern families and enjoys current Hershey products while maintaining her old-fashioned charm. In 2012, Hershey’s ran a popular campaign called “Hilda Is Home” reintroducing her to a new generation. The company also created an animated web series called “Hilda’s Homemade Tales” featuring a modernized version of the character.
While mainly featured in Hershey’s television commercials now, you can still spot Hilda or images of her on product packaging. She’ll often appear alongside taglines emphasizing the brand’s dedication to making happiness through chocolate. After more than a century representing Hershey’s, this devoted chocolate girl remains a beloved icon. Her polka-dotted dress and hat forever link her to the classic, wholesome image of America’s top chocolate brand.
Details about the Actresses
Since her creation in the early 1900s, numerous actresses have portrayed Hilda in Hershey’s advertisements and promotions. Unfortunately, the identities of the actresses from Hershey’s early TV commercials in the mid-1900s seem to be lost to history. However, we do know some details about the women who brought Hilda to life in more recent decades.
In 1963, 12-year-old Hope Holiday was the first actress to portray the newly named Hilda. Through the 1960s and 70s, actresses Julie Dawn Newland, Robin Sydney, and Elizabeth Morash all played Hilda in various TV and print campaigns.
In the 1980s and 90s, Patrice Hollis became a popular face of Hershey’s by portraying Hilda in numerous ads. Actress Heather Mizerak took on the role frequently in the 1990s as well. Other actresses like Erin Kluska, Kelsey Lewis, and Isabella Tran have all donned Hilda’s polka-dotted dress in recent years for Hershey’s marketing.
Although Hilda’s look is distinctive, a variety of actresses have been able to bring the character to life through their cheerful performances. As Hershey’s continues adapting Hilda for new generations, it’s likely even more talented actresses will have the chance to create sweet memories as the quintessential chocolate girl.
The Impact and Legacy
As one of the longest-running advertising icons, Hilda has made a significant impact as the face of Hershey’s for over a century. She was instrumental in helping promote some of Hershey’s most popular products and campaigns over the decades. Hershey’s attributes much of their brand’s nostalgic appeal and loyal customer base to the positive associations consumers have with Hilda.
Hilda also stands out as a rare example of an advertising character that has endured across multiple generations. Her ability to tap into wistful Americana has kept her relevant even as tastes and trends change. Families pass down fond memories of growing up with Hilda representing their favorite chocolate treats. For many, she’s as integral to Hershey’s as its actual chocolate products.
Looking ahead, Hilda seems poised to continue inspiring nostalgia and chocolate cravings for years to come. As a testament to her influence, Hershey’s even opened Hershey’s Chocolate World stores and attractions where tourists can pose with life-size Hilda statues. The character also inspired the Cafe Hilda restaurants featuring Hershey-inspired menu items. Thanks to her lasting appeal, this century-old chocolate girl will likely delight families well into the future.
Fun Facts About Hilda
Over her many years as the face of Hershey’s, some intriguing facts have arisen about America’s beloved chocolate girl:
– She was unnamed for over 60 years before being given the moniker “Hilda” in the 1960s.
– Hershey’s has trademarked Hilda’s distinctive polka-dotted dress and hat design.
– The Smithsonian National Museum of American History displayed an original Hilda costume in 2002.
– For a brief time in the 1970s and 80s, Hilda appeared without her iconic hat and dress.
– Actresses portraying Hilda have ranged in age from 12 years old to their 40s.
– Early TV ads featured Hilda enjoying chocolate in settings like a barnyard or flower-filled meadow.
– Voice actor Julie McWhirter has voiced Hilda in recent animated projects and ads.
– In 2015, Hershey’s produced a YouTube video series showing Hilda interacting with modern families.
– Hershey’s has featured Hilda in ads for everything from Almond Joy candy bars to Syrup.
– A life-size statue of Hilda stands in front of Hershey’s Chocolate World in Hershey, PA.
After more than a century in the spotlight, Hilda has her share of fun pop culture trivia that adds to her nostalgic charm. Her ability to tap into happy childhood memories keeps this genteel chocolate lover meaningful across generations.
Conclusion
As we’ve explored, the classic girl in Hershey’s advertisements represents a cherished piece of candy history. From her early days as an anonymous figure to becoming Hilda the beloved icon, she evolved into the quintessential wholesome chocolate lover. Her polka-dotted dress and hat have charmed multiple generations thanks to Hershey’s smart maintenance of her retro appeal. Even in the 21st century, seeing Hilda reminds us of the simple, nostalgic joy of unwrapping your favorite Hershey’s treat. So next time you spot her face on a candy bar or advertisement, remember the fascinating story behind one of America’s most iconic brand ambassadors.
