Following the success of G.I. Joe and Transformers, Hasbro, Sunbow Productions and Marvel teamed once more to introduce a singer who is glamour and glitter, fashion and fame. Do you know who this is?

Created by Christy Marx, Jem and the Holograms revolved around the owner and manager of Starlight Music, Jerrica Benton and her alter ego Jem. As Jem, she was the lead singer of the rock group Jem and the Holograms. This alter ego illusion was accomplished using the holographic computer, known as Synergy, gifted to her by her father. By means of remote micro-projectors in her earrings, Jerrica is able to project the hologram of Jem over herself. This includes disguising her features and clothing. The earrings also allow her to project holograms around her, which comes in handy when avoiding danger and adding special effects to her performances.

Making up the rest of the band is Jerrica’s younger sister/keyboardist/main songwriter Kimber Benton, guitarist Aja Leith and synth drummer Shana Elmsford. When Shana briefly leaves the group to pursue a fashion career, Carmen “Raya” Alonso is introduced as her replacement. Eventually, Shana returns and becomes the band’s bassist. Along with making some truly outrageous music, the Holograms also supported the 12 foster children known as the Starlight Girls who live with them. Competing against the Holograms are the rival bands: the Misfits and the Stingers. The Misfits consists of Pizzazz, Roxy, Stormer and Jetta, while the Stingers are made up of Riot, Rapture, and Minx. 

Much of the animated series centered on Jerrica’s efforts to keep her two identities separate, caring for the Starlight Girls, and protecting the Synergy technology from those who might exploit it. The Misfits are also frequently involved in plots to try to upstage Jem and the Holograms. Jerrica often struggles with a faux love triangle between herself, her alter ego and her longtime boyfriend Rio Pacheco who romantically pursues both women. Later on, Jem is also pursued by Stingers’ member Riot – further complicating her life. 

At its peak, Jem and the Holograms was the third most watched children’s program in syndication with 2.5 million viewers weekly. The franchise also spawned a series of collectible fashion dolls, several comic book series, and even a live-action revival film in 2015.