Rarity is a rather rare character indeed

[Zoraxe 546]

I mean it, can you think of another character in anything that is like Rarity? I dare say she is the most unique character in MLP.

 

Edited June 18, 2015 by Zoraxe

[Sugar Pea 2,683]

Her personality is rather flamboyant.

[The Awesome One 1,315]

I'm sure there are plenty of ponies like her who are into fashion and high society although we'd be hard pressed to find one with the same level of generosity as her. You know, because she's the bearer of it's element.

[J.R. 3,183]

There's a reason why Rarity is such a unique pony.

 

It's because she herself is a rarity!

[碇 シンジン 27,437]

Rarity is like no other, she is in her own level in beauty, generosity artistic talent and she is all around perfect pony in my eye<3

[colt .45 259]

...of all the rare ponies, I'm sure she is the Rarest of them all.

[Lucky Star 972]

That's why she's best pony  

[Steel Accord 6,660]

Well she is my favorite of the Mane Six.

 

-She's an entrepreneur and business owner.

 

-Takes pride in her femininity and being a true lady, but posits that as strength of will just as much as grace.

 

-Is very materially driven, yet is the Element of Generosity.

[RarityFan01 2,444]

I don't know of any pony like her. The only fictional character I know of who is similar to her is Zoe Trent from Littlest Pet Shop. So no one else from My Little Pony though. G3 Rainbow Dash seems like her on the surface, but I don't think she has anything below that. Bon Bon from Pony Tales is not really like her on the surface but is a lot like her if you dig deeper. G1 Heart Throb has some resemblance, but not really that much.

 

Zoe

 

Fashionista

Drama Queen

Falls in love easily

Easily jealous

Would put aside jealous feelings for a friend

Diva

Loves attention

Loves fabulously

She even sings a song that is very similar to Life is a Runway.

 

People compare Zoe to Twilight, but she's Rarity as a dog with a few differences.

[cider float 2,539]

So is Fluttershy. There are characters like Rarity and Fluttershy but they don't do it as good as they do.

[ManaMinori 4,146]

I'm sure there are plenty of ponies like her who are into fashion and high society although we'd be hard pressed to find one with the same level of generosity as her. You know, because she's the bearer of it's element.

her adoration for fashion and high society is only the shallow surface of her, and ponies who like those things are a dime a dozen. Have you SEEN Canterlot?

Her generous side, from what we've seen, is a rarity among other ponies. But as generous as Rarity is, she's very rarely self-sacrificing. (Though that doesn't make me like her any less)

[Guest]

More like High Snobiety. Rarity is definitely a snob, but she's pretty cool overall.

[Tao 8,522]

I think Rarity shows some depth at times in not only her choices but showing a love for her sister. helping her friends and

going on these friendships yet also holds down a business.

[Justin_Case001 4,910]

But as generous as Rarity is, she's very rarely self-sacrificing.

I beg to differ.  What she sacrifices is her time and energy.  She will bend over backwards to help and make ensembles for those she loves.  No matter how busy she gets, or what important orders she needs to fill, she always makes time for her friends and family, and gives so much of herself through her time and effort.

 

She is a wonderous gem.  A treasure, indeed.

[ManaMinori 4,146]

I beg to differ.  What she sacrifices is her time and energy.  She will bend over backwards to help and make ensembles for those she loves.  No matter how busy she gets, or what important orders she needs to fill, she always makes time for her friends and family, and gives so much of herself through her time and effort.

 

She is a wonderous gem.  A treasure, indeed.

but the rest of the mane 7 sacrifice their time and energy for others as well. (Especially Spike and Pinkie)

[Justin_Case001 4,910]

but the rest of the mane 7 sacrifice their time and energy for others as well. (Especially Spike and Pinkie)

I just think Rarity does a little more, that's all.  Looking at episodes like For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils and Suited for Success, I think she goes out her way for others a bit more.  But yes, I agree that Pinkie is very self-sacrificing.  Spike often is as well, but just as often he's depicted like Garfield.

[Red Cedar 1,408]

Many cartoons aimed at little girls over the years have had one fashion-obsessed character among them, usually. It's virtually a cliche. Where Rarity stands out, however, is that she is not entirely self-absorbed (Element of Generosity, and all) and rather than being fashion-obsessed from the perspective of being a consumer, Rarity is an entrepreneur, and is interested in making the next big fashion rather than purchasing it, which makes her a wonderful role model in that regard.

[cider float 2,539]

I just think Rarity does a little more, that's all.  Looking at episodes like For Whom the Sweetie Belle Toils and Suited for Success, I think she goes out her way for others a bit more.  But yes, I agree that Pinkie is very self-sacrificing.  Spike often is as well, but just as often he's depicted like Garfield.

Not to mention she seems to use her voice to syncronize with how she is feeling that work perfect and flow sweetly like honey.

 

Tabitha St. Germain you are a voice god.

 

Edited June 18, 2015 by cider float

[The Awesome One 1,315]

her adoration for fashion and high society is only the shallow surface of her, and ponies who like those things are a dime a dozen. Have you SEEN Canterlot?

Her generous side, from what we've seen, is a rarity among other ponies. But as generous as Rarity is, she's very rarely self-sacrificing. (Though that doesn't make me like her any less)

I've seen plenty of characters and real people even who like Rarity, want to be a part of 'high society' and they simply idolize that kind of lifestyle. Rarity's generosity is what is supposed to make her stand out but many times she has failed to live up to her element. At least in my opinion

[chirox the pony 1,336]

The fashionista character has been done before, however though I think she is unique in the sense she is one of the few times I've seen a character like that without all the stereotypes. 

[Grepper 3,193]

I find her to be unique in the sense that she's more than the stereotypical fashonista character.

[Wind Chaser 4,768]

One of the big deals with Rarity is how they were able to make a fashionista character who was not the vain, stuck-up, prissy stereotype most shows assign to this character. She does have the high-culture interests and some of the drama queen tendencies, however she's down-to-earth when dealing with friends and the business aspect of her work is handled surprisingly well for such a character in a show such as this.

 

The closest character in any other work that I can name is Muffy Crosswire from Arthur, being a rich young fashionista attending a public school and best friends with a working-class tomboy, even occasionally going out of her way to be with her and her other friends. Of course the rich, drama-queen, vain aspect of her character is much more played up than Rarity's, but she's also a younger character, so I'd find it more excusable in her case.

 

As for the business and social aspect of her character, to be honest I don't think there's any other character I can relate her to more than Applejack. Both of them, despite being polar opposites in terms of interests, personalities, and lifestyles, are very similar in that they have adult responsibilities to look after. They both have family (just Sweetie Belle in Rarity's case) to look after and businesses to maintain in order to support themselves, which they both take very seriously. Both go out of their comfort zone very often for the sake of those around them, and being in similar situations, both can cooperate and dispense advice to each other very effectively even if their preferred lifestyles clash ("Sisterhooves Social"). I'm pretty hard-pressed to find any better combination of role models in pretty much any other kids' cartoon I can recall having seen.

Edited June 18, 2015 by Wind Chaser

[Shanks 10,816]

The fashionista character has been done quite a few times in countless cartoons, live action shows, movies ect... so what Rarity unique is not that her character type hasn't been done it is how it has been done. Nearly every time there has been said character they have either been the bitchy popular girl or even an actual villain but Rarity she has some aspects of the bitchy popular girl it is done in a way to where she actually has traits that flip this character type on its head.

 

It is one thing to be interested in fashion but it is an entirely different matter to actually put in the hard work and sacrifice to start up a business and have the guts to put yourself out there and try to follow your dream. She has shown a strong creative side with her chosen profession. She can be selfish and vain at times but can tends to later realize the error of her ways and make amends and has shown examples of generosity the most obvious of which being when she actually made dresses for free for all her friends for the Grand Galloping Gala.

 

Many in this character type are also depicted as stupid and narrow minded but while Rarity isn't as learned as Twilight Sparkle she has shown signs of being relatively intelligent and seems to actually care about others besides herself with her relationship with Sweetie Belle being the most prominent example of this. They don't always get along and often have arguments and misunderstandings but Rarity tries as best as she can to make her little sister happy even if it sometimes means doing things she deems "uncooth".

[sweetolebob18 728]

I don't dislike Rarity, but she is my least favorite of the Mane 6 (like many guys, I have just about zero interest in fashion).  Still, contrasting her behavior between Season 1 & Season 4, she has grown a great deal.  Perhaps having a few real crises to deal w (like being kidnapped by Diamond Dogs in A Dog and Pony Show) has taught her not to be such a Drama Queen about minor things.

[Zoraxe 546]

The fashionista character has been done quite a few times in countless cartoons, live action shows, movies ect... so what Rarity unique is not that her character type hasn't been done it is how it has been done. Nearly every time there has been said character they have either been the bitchy popular girl or even an actual villain...

 

Or just vain and clueless but well meaning, but yeah, those are the tropes that fashion characters tend to fit into.

 

Edited June 24, 2015 by Zoraxe