eBay search data reveals rise of female action stars

Monday, December 4, 2017 - 09:57 by Sarah Collinson

A report released by auction site eBay last week shows that more Brits are becoming obsessed with female film stars, making use of shopping online to buy products relating to their most famous roles.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the most searched-for name on the site over the past two years is that of Rey, the protagonist of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and its upcoming sequel played by Daisy Ridley. Second place goes to Wonder Woman, portrayed in a growing number of films by Gal Gadot.

In fact, Wonder Woman’s rise to prominence has largely occurred this year, with the release of a standalone film focusing on her origins and exploits, resulting in the number of shopping searches for products related to her rising by a factor of 13.

Other popular heroines from the big screen that are gaining a lot of traction via safe shopping online include classic Star Wars character, Princess Leia, and videogame stalwart, Lara Croft, who is about to return in a new movie adventure starring Alicia Vikander.

Hourly searches for Disney’s influential princesses are also among the most common on the site, with 500 people looking up Belle from Beauty and the Beast via eBay every 60 minutes or so. Ariel from the Little Mermaid follows close behind her.

This is good news for eBay itself, which is repositioning its online offerings and distinguishing its site from rivals like Amazon by focusing on the variety and diversity of products it can offer, with both new and used items represented.

This festive season is likely to see a resurgence in searches for Rey, as Star Wars: The Last Jedi makes its UK debut on the 14th of December, inspiring a new generation of kids looking for strong female role models on screen.