Peruvian Otakus create a waifu for candidate Carlos Espá

Latin America never ceases to amaze us when it comes to political campaigns, and Peru has just taken things to the next level by blending presidential elections with otaku culture itself. During the recent campaign closing of candidate Carlos Espá, representative of the Sí Creo party, the rallies were transformed into something akin to an anime convention thanks to the appearance of Velita-chan, a waifu created by his own supporters that stole the spotlight from both attendees and the entire internet.

From a traditional candle to a life-sized waifu

To understand this peculiar crossover of worlds, one must know that the party's official emblem is a missionary candle. However, the movement's youngest supporters, known on social media as the "Dibujitos," decided to give the design a radical twist to align it with their own tastes. They took the harmless image and anthropomorphized it into Velita-chan: an attractive anime-style young woman with reddish hair, a white ruffled blouse, and a small lit candle crowning her head. The craze was such that, during the closing events in Barranco, the crowd arrived carrying life-sized cardboard cutouts and wearing elaborate cosplay costumes of the peculiar character.

The power of internet culture at the polls

As Peruvians head to the polls this April 12, 2026, in a tight presidential election, the visual impact of this Japanese-style girl demonstrates how internet culture is transforming modern campaigns. The 65-year-old candidate saw his traditional campaign message quickly intertwine with viral social media phrases celebrating the arrival of his "new official waifu." Regardless of party preferences, the creativity of these young people managed to turn their character into one of the most talked-about topics of the electoral process.

Knowing that new generations are incorporating their passion for Japanese animation into the real world, what do you think about supporters using anime waifus to give visibility to their country's political movements?