Zara

**Zara** is a minor character and a former antagonist of the Candy Series. She made her debut in Reaching for the Stars: Friendship. Zara is one of the school's 'princesses ' along with Qistina, Sofia and Emilia.

## Biography

### Early Life

Born into a wealthy family, Zara is dubbed as one of the four "princesses" in Sacred Hearts Primary School alongside Qistina, Sofia and Emilia. Zara is childhood friends with the three. It is subtly implied of how the four's parents know one another and had let their daughters be friends at least since they were 5 years old. The four frequently visited each other homes to play at a tender age and went to study at the same primary school together.

Zara at one point during her earlier years went for a playdate with Qistina, Sofia and Emilia at a children's playground. The four were playing with dolls at that time and was greeted by Joni, who sought to join them in their activity. Dubious on whether or not she should let the tomboy join, Zara had no other choice but to ultimately side with Sofia when the latter rejected Joni. Joni, who was not giving up, urged for their friendship. Sofia tricked Joni into playing a game of hide-and-seek in an attempt for her and her three friends to leave whilst she was counting. Tagging along with Sofia, Zara, Qistina and Emilia took their toys with them and left the playground, ditching Joni and leaving their picnic mat behind.

### Dreams Take Flight: Ambition

When Zara, alongside Sofia and Qistina, were asked by Joni about their ambitions, Zara brought up the fact that she wanted to become a journalist in the future.

### Memory Mishap: Road Safety

When an amnesiac Joni asked Miss Miyuki where is her seat, Zara was seen puzzled alongside Sofia and Qistina.

## Appearance

Zara is an 11-year-old tween around average height. She has purple eyes and hair that is often tied up into a ponytail and have been keeping the same hairstyle since she was at least 5 years old. Similar to other characters, she consistently changes her clothes.

## Personality

Zara, akin to Sofia, was initially portrayed as a stereotypical mean girl in school who picked on Joni and Mia, most of her actions were under Sofia's commands or influence. Being sandbox friends with Sofia, Zara (and Qistina) bore a follower mentality towards the spoilt princess and most of the time would adhere to her opinions and orders and do her bidding. Despite this, there are times when she and Qistina would go against Sofia when the latter crosses the line in doing or saying certain things, such as when Sofia threatened her to not befriend Candy JEM or when Sofia wanted to abruptly end her friendship with the two, this showed how Zara can be pragmatic and level-headed.

Though being one of the richest students in the school, she remains humble and refrains from putting on airs, flaunting her wealth or displaying arrogance unlike Sofia; only Emilia could tell Zara and Qistina have strong sense of humility since they knew each other since a tender age, demonstrated multiple times like when she told Joni and Mia of how Zara and Qistina are genuinely good natured girls deep down. The only times when Zara actually flaunts or boasts about something are when the situation or the topic is about Sofia, like when she and Qistina outwardly praised Sofia's singing skillsand proudly explained to their classmates about Sofia modelling for a magazine,

Zara eventually progressed to become more courteous and thoughtful. She has a strong sense of right and wrong, and would do the best she can to keep her most impulsive friends follow what she thinks is the right track. What defines Zara's character the most is her long-term bond and friendship with Sofia which she deeply cherishes and afraid to loose, she and Qistina were able to look past Sofia's flaws and her toughness and hostility she often displays, and has almost limitless patience towards Sofia's impulsive decisions and remarks. Zara, together with Qistina, greatly cares for Sofia, and would often try to put Sofia on the right track, like wanting her to stop wasting money on buying clothes further,, stopping her from sabotaging Iris's garments in the fashion competition, or apologizing to Candy JEM on Sofia's behalf after she accidentally bumped into them.

## Abilities

### Mental Intellect

Zara displayed mental intellect when she made it to the 11th to 20th position in class during book 10.

## Other Media

### Candy Careers Card Game 1.0 and 2.0

Zara, along with many other characters, are depicted and designed in several cards as performing different types of occupations. She is depicted as:

* Ticket Seller
* Make-up Artist

### Candy Cuties

Zara, along with all characters from Candy Series are featured in the spin-off Candy Cuties series. Zara appears in:

* Candy Cuties Vol.1
* Candy Cuties Vol.2
* Candy Cuties Vol.3
* Candy Cuties Vol.8
* Candy Cuties Vol.10
* Candy Cuties Vol.11

## Trivia

* In Dreams Take Flight: Ambition, it was revealed that Zara's ambition is to become a journalist.
* According to the official 2018 *Candy Series* Fanbook:
	+ Zara's blood type is A.
	+ Zara's birthday is on June 28, hence making her a Cancer.
	+ Zara's hobby is singing.
	+ Positive traits of Zara include her caring nature towards her friends, kindness and gentleness (although she can get very scary when she is angry).
	+ Negative traits of Zara include her tendency to being bullied easily and lack of personal opinions.
	+ Zara's family consists of her father, mother, older sister and younger sister.
	+ Zara's favorite food is Japanese cuisine while her least favorite food is spicy food.
	+ Zara's strongest subjects are English, Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese while her weakest subject is history.
	+ Zara joins the singing club in her school.
	+ Zara's personal stats are:

## References

1. ↑ Zara's blood type in Fanbook's Character Stats, see Trivia
2. ↑ Zara's birthdate in Fanbook's Character Stats, see Trivia
3. ↑ Zara's birthdate in Fanbook's Character Stats, see Trivia
4. ↑ Zara's hobbies in Fanbook's Character Stats, see Trivia
5. ↑ Zara's favorite food in Fanbook's Character Stats, see Trivia
6. ↑ Zara's least favorite food in Fanbook's Character Stats, see Trivia
7. ↑ Cast of Candy Collector's Edition, Side Comics Our Friendship, pages ?-?
8. ↑ In This Together: Unity, page ?
9. ↑ Cast of Candy Collector's Edition, Side Comics Our Friendship, pages ?-?
10. ↑ Cast of Candy Collector's Edition, Side Comics Our Friendship
11. ↑ Reaching For The Stars: Friendship
12. ↑ Style with Substance: Savvy, pages ?-?
13. ↑ Rules of Popularity: Reputation, pages ?-?
14. ↑ Citations needed
15. ↑ Reaching For The Stars: Friendship, pages ?-?
16. ↑ Little Ladies: Courtesy, pages ?-?
17. ↑ Rules of Popularity: Reputation, pages ?-?
18. ↑ Style with Substance: Savvy, pages ?-?
19. ↑ Top of the Class: Academics, page 22
20. ↑ Dreams Take Flight: Ambition, page 48