My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Many young girls are horse-crazy, and advertisers have tapped into this attraction to sell everything from toys to cartoons to bedroom sets. But how do they manage to appeal to rough and tumble tomboys and girlie-girls alike? And where to these ads fit among the feminine stereotypes being sold to young girls? 

“Everypony, without further ado we’d like to introduce the creator of My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. Lauren Faust!”

4,000 fans leap from their chairs. The predominantly male crowd claps and whistles and screams Faust’s name, the auditorium echoing with their cheers.

When Lauren Faust developed the idea for a new iteration of Hasbro’s animated show My Little Pony, the last place she thought it would land her was here, on a stage in front of thousands of screaming men. She surveys the audience at Meadowlands Expo Center and covers her face, overwhelmed by the fans’ joy and adoration.

Bronies—bros who love My Little Pony—have flocked to New York from around the country and the world to attend Bronycon, their semiannual convention.