Bibi Goes Global
Miami Beach comic book heroine takes a new trip

By Mary Damiano

Brigitte Andrade with a poster of her alter ego, Bibi

Brigitte Andrade has never been to the U.S. Open. Or the World Cup. Or to Beijing for the Olympics.

But Andrade’s alter ego Bibi has.

Bibi leads a glamorous life. She’s a public relations hotshot and event planner who travels the world with her friends, meeting the famous and fabulous, acting as sort of an animated Zelig, always in the right place at the right time to have some fun.

“Everyone should have an alter ego,” Andrade says. “I would love to be Bibi one day.”

Bibi is the star of The Adventures of Bibi & Friends, the comic book that Andrade created 10 years ago. Andrade sees the comic book as a sort of marketing tool with Bibi acting as a cultural ambassador, extolling the virtues of Miami Beach to residents and visitors alike.

Andrade created the comic book series as a tribute to her niece, who died in a car accident at age 18.

“I thought this was the best way to immortalize her,” Andrade says. Her niece appears in the books as an angel.

Andrade has turned Bibi into a branded empire—her website offers a collection of Bibi gear, including mugs, shirts, baby bibs, hats, mouse pads and dog T’s. Although Andrade has kept things local, she’s now expanding into the global market. Andrade gave Bibi a cousin, Lili, and sent them off to Beijing for the Olympics. For a little dose of surrealism, the fictional cousins are joined by the very real Louis Aguirre of "Deco Drive."

The poster for Bibi’s Olympic adventure

Andrade has always been a big fan of the Olympics and has been fascinated with China since she was a child.

“Maybe I was Chinese in a former life,” Andrade quips.

When the announcement came that the 2008 Summer Games would be held in Beijing, Andrade saw two of her favorite things coming together in a big way, and she knew she wanted to do something special.

She came up with the concept of creating a book that would also be in Chinese. The story would detail Bibi’s adventures in China and Miami Beach, so that both countries could learn about the other.

“The Chinese are just as fascinated with us as we are with them,” Andrade says. “It could be very much a win-win situation. And Asia is known for a love of animation and comics. Introducing a book where you can be a part of the adventure is something new for them.”

But publishing is difficult in China, because, according to Andrade, everything must be approved by the Chinese government. So she decided to create an online venture that would take Bibi to a global audience. She teamed up with a business partner, Charlotte Barron, who helped her with Chinese translations and who also has contacts in China.

Andrade began intense research on China, Beijing in particular, so Bibi could tell her fans the hot places to, to eat, to explore.

Readers can follow Bibi and Lili at bibisports.com.

Andrade launched Bibi’s Olympic adventure with an opening night party at Bice Bistro at Cocowalk in Coconut Grove, where guests watched the opening ceremony of the Olympics on big-screen TVs and dined on a special Olympic-themed pre-fixe menu that will be available for the duration of the games. She’s also planning other live events, that she will detail in her blog.

“The ceremony was the event of the night, not just me,” says Andrade of the opening night party, which was covered by the local NBC affiliate. “But I did get some new fans.”

A collection of covers of Bibi books

In addition to the comic strip, Andrade is doing live blogging about various Olympic events. She’s been glued to her TV practically round the clock

“For two weeks, I like to cheer on these people who can do things I couldn’t do,” says Andrade.

Andrade is looking beyond China to other countries, and would like to see Bibi branded worldwide, as an adventure guidebook with a storyline. She sees the series as a comic cultural exchange, a tool for tourism boards and a fun guide for readers. For that reason, Andrade created Bibi so that she would fit in anywhere in the world.

“Bibi doesn’t have a last name so she’s not defined by any race,” Andrade says. “She can be any ethnicity of any country we decide to put her in.”

But wherever she goes, both Bibi and Andrade know the way home.

“She’ll always be from Miami Beach,” Andrade says, “unless someone pays me enough to leave.”

For more information on The Adventures of Bibi & Friends, visit www.bibiadventures.com.

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