Happy International Women's Day, from Esmeralda Superspy!

Sara Holt is Esmeralda Superspy

We All Need More Superheroines!

While DreamRider’s teaching kids about the environment, we also have a deep message about roles for women, through our character Esmeralda Superspy Planet Protector. 

Recently, Madeleine Shaw, of Lunapads and Pads4Girls, told me about the effect seeing Esmeralda had on her daughter, Gigi. Madeleine said to me that she herself is an eco-feminist, so Gigi had grown up learning about the environment and women’s issues. But Madeleine said that Gigi had never encountered a female superhero before, and that the effect on Gigi was transformative and empowering. 

It’s not accidental. I started writing plays because of my frustration at the narrow and limited roles for women that were being written. I certainly didn’t fit into them, and neither did most of the women I knew. 

So when my partner Ian Gschwind and I set about to write our first Planet Protectors play, Keep Cool, I insisted, “The superhero has to be a woman.”

Esmeralda Superspy Planet Protector has now been in three plays, three videos, and an animation, she’s been seen by almost 200,000 kids. 

Not once ever has anything ever been said about her appearance. 

Sara Holt in "Esmeralda Superspy and the Litterless Lunch."

I think she’s an attractive superheroine, but that is not what is important about her. What she does, what she feels, what she can do, her values and her mission, those are important, and that’s what Esmeralda is about. And so it makes me feel amazing to know that 800 boys and girls every day are encountering this female model of excellence and empowerment and capacity and bravery and purpose.  

A special note needs to be made about the fabulous Sara Holt, who originated the role, has been playing her with all her heart and soul for four years now, who embodies Esmeralda's awesomeness every day, and whose commitment to BE Esmeralda is inspiring. Oh, and did I mention, Sara designed the costume too?


So happy International Women’s Day and here’s to all the superheroines out there, real and imaginary.