So, I get asked a lot by my readers, business aquantinces, friends and family what “Miss Macross” means. (If you follow my Instagram, tumblr or Facebook cosplay page you’ve seen the name used.) . And I always just say “Oh it’s an anime thing…” And it’s usually enough for people to stop asking. There is actually a whole story behind the usage of the name and. Kind of want to clear the air today and enlighten you all on “why”.
I always knew about the series “Robotech” growing up, but it was about 10 years before my generation, and my dad was the real fan of it. When I was 16, I started dating my ex who was 7years older than me. He also really loved anime, manga and Japanese culture (but still really liked fashion, art and film as well). He had the big “Macross” (the Japanese “Robotech” which is essentially the same, but the story differs quite a bit sometimes) box set that was the first release on DVD. So he essentially introduced me to the series and we watched it all over a month.
It’s a really confusing and long story line, so I’ll spare the details. But basically, the three main characters are Rick Hunter, Lynn Minmay and Lisa Hayes. Rick is a pilot of a fighter jet/mech, Lisa is a sort of coordinator for the fighter jets, and Minmay is a newly discovered singer/actress on the SDF 1 Ship. Basically, Minmay entered a sort of beauty pageant aboard the ship called “the Miss Macross Contest” in where she won by her singing ability, which in turn becomes a detrimental part in saving the human race from the zentradi. (Ok too many details) anyways, Rick has a certain Infatuation for Minmay when he first meets her and through out most of the show. Minmay is kind of a klutz, she is really naive and oblivious to most things, and she’s always so busy with her career that it’s never really a priority to pursue any sort of relationship with Rick. (Plus she is just 16 ) Lisa and Rick always butt heads, Lisa is really intelligent and witty (behind a computer) but when she has to face something she looses all of her strengths. She ends up falling for Rick despite being a little older than him. In the end, Minmay doesn’t want to live in the spot light, she just wants a simple life with someone who she always cared for and loved (she’s about 18 or 19 at this point) but Rick ends up going with Lisa, realizing that his infatuation for Minmay was just that, and he always loved Lisa.
Ok How this all relates to me… Whilst watching this, my ex would always compare me to Minmay. He would say I look like her and was cute like her, but also that I had the same intelligence or naivety as her. (And he was indeed dissing me) it always kind of hurt but I didn’t say much about it. At first I thought this was funny, considering the fact that he would compare himself to Rick Hunter, and thought most of the anime Rick is seemingly in love with Minmay and Loathes Lisa. But, he would always compare his ex to Lisa (she was smart, independent, dedicated to “realistic” work, and she was kind of cold) until the end (which he has seen this series over and over again before) it all made sense. When I finished the anime, I felt really alone, and I related a lot to Minmay. Giving up everything you own or you are doing just to be with the person you love. For them to leave you to your own grief. And for another woman (s) .
Today, I associate with a more positive notion, that Minmay entered that contest, full of professionals and women who were stronger, smarter, wealthier and more beautiful than her,, and she still came out victor for her amazing talent. That inspired everyone! She is Miss Macross, and she forever will remain a legend. In all the new Macross sagas, she’s still referenced indirectly or explicitly. She grew up, she realized what’s important, and she’ll continue to touch people’s lives through her talent.
Sorry for the super long post, but hope you guys could get more insight to who I am I guess! And now I have a reference to whenever people ask me “why Miss Macross?” I hope you all are having a wonderful day!
