*Designed and produced by the Equestrian Office of War Information (OWI) during the late stages of the Equestro-Changeling War, ‘Be Her King’ was a follow-up to the now-infamous ‘Get Some Honey’ which was met with widespread controversy and criticism for its overtly sexist tone.
Like its predecessor, the poster utilized the same sexualized imagery of a handsome, overmuscled unicorn soldier whisking a changeling female from the burning Changeling Kingdom in the background. The key alteration is that the changeling is presented here as the stallion’s overjoyed new bride instead of war plunder, indicated both by her pristine white wedding dress and the fact he is carrying her in a bridal manner. Unlike the first poster, she is characterized as being infatuated with her new husband, smothering his face with kiss marks. She is also shown to be gaining weight from all the love she is receiving from her newlywed husband to the point her species’ trademark holes are shrinking.
The poster’s purpose was to encourage further stallion recruitment, promising a beautiful changeling bride as a reward. At the same time, it attempted to correct its predecessor’s missteps by portraying the prospect in a much more positive, romantic, and less cynical light for both parties involved.
‘Be Her King’ received a much more positive reception among the Equestrian public, though some were quick to note a feeling of damage control.
The affair helped prompt the Equestrian government to hurriedly legislation that would simplify and fast-track the immigration of newlywed changeling spouses to Equestrian soldiers. An estimated 110,000 to 145,000 changelings entered Equestria under this scheme in the first five years after the war ended.*
