From Taco Tease to Meme Queen: The Enduring Legacy of the ‘Old El Paso Girl’
Nearly two decades ago, a young Mia Agraviador became the face of a popular Tex-Mex brand, starring in a television commercial that would, years later, spawn an internet meme sensation. The advertisement, featuring the then-six-year-old asking the now-iconic question, “¿Por qué no los dos?” – or “why don’t we have both?” – etched her name into popular culture. For those who’ve ever wondered what became of the “Old El Paso Girl,” it seems her journey is far from over, with potential for a significant return to the spotlight.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of that memorable ad. Agraviador, now 25, recently made a comeback to Australian screens, this time to champion a new Mexican-inspired range of seasonings from Mingle, set to land on Woolworths shelves this month. In a candid conversation, she reflected on how this early brush with fame has paved the way for numerous opportunities, even expressing a keen interest in pursuing further acting roles.
The story of Agraviador’s accidental stardom began in the mid-2000s. While on set for the Old El Paso hard and soft shell taco kit commercial, a simple family debate about dinner preferences was unfolding. The ad depicted a family wrestling with the age-old question: hard tacos or soft tacos? Agraviador herself has since confirmed her preference for the soft variety, a choice rooted in fond childhood memories of making fresh, homemade tortillas with her grandmother.
However, it was her spontaneous interjection that truly cemented the ad’s place in advertising history. Her innocent suggestion, “why don’t we have both?”, not only settled the on-screen debate but also laid the groundwork for a viral internet phenomenon that would surge in popularity in the 2010s.
While many might recall the meme’s impact without remembering its origin, Agraviador vividly remembers its inception. She was part of one of the earliest iterations of online memes. Her father, noticing the emerging trend of internet memes and GIFs, informed her that her Old El Paso commercial had been transformed into one.
“My father said, ‘there’s this new thing called a meme and a GIF, and Mia, you’re one of those’,” she recounted. Her initial reaction was one of bewilderment: “And I just remember being like, What is a GIF? What is a meme?”
The meme, featuring her memorable line, gained significant global traction, with its peak popularity, according to Google Trends, occurring around 2014. Despite this burgeoning internet fame, Agraviador admitted to feeling a sense of shyness during that period.
“I think I was a little bit shy as a kid,” she revealed. “I got a bit nervous whenever my friends would ask me to say the line, especially in class. But as I grew up, I ended up just sort of embracing it.”
The enduring influence of that single advertisement continues to shape Agraviador’s life. The “why not both?” philosophy has become a guiding principle she carries into adulthood. After spending nine months travelling, she found the catchphrase applicable to many aspects of her life.
“I think, especially as a child up until now, I evolved, and the whole idea of ‘why not both’ is very in line with me,” she explained. “I always try every option, so it’s very much a line that will stay with me forever.”
While she acknowledges that she might not be instantly recognisable as the little girl from the Old El Paso ad anymore, she hasn’t entirely moved on from that formative experience.
Agraviador has found that the ad’s reach has manifested in unexpected ways over the years, with brands and advertisers continuing to approach her for collaborations. “Like, it keeps coming up,” she said. “That’s something that I’m really interested to get on board with now as well, and I feel like I’m so grateful to the taco [ad]. It really did kickstart a lot.”
Looking ahead, Agraviador is ready to step back into the public eye and explore more acting opportunities. She has even hinted at an upcoming advertisement with a major brand, signalling a new chapter in her career. Her journey from a child actor in a memorable commercial to a modern-day influencer and aspiring actress highlights the unexpected and lasting power of pop culture moments.
