Pauline Mario: Who Is Pauline in the Mario World?
If you search for Pauline Mario, you may be expecting to find a person with the full name “Pauline Mario.” In reality, that phrase usually refers to Pauline, the longtime character from Nintendo’s Mario and Donkey Kong universe, rather than a confirmed character officially named Pauline Mario. She first appeared in the 1981 arcade classic Donkey Kong, where Mario had to rescue her from Donkey Kong. Decades later, Nintendo gave her a much larger personality and role in Super Mario Odyssey, where she became the mayor of New Donk City and a singer associated with the memorable song “Jump Up, Super Star!”
That history explains why Pauline continues to attract questions. Is she Mario’s girlfriend or ex-girlfriend? Is she the same woman from the original Donkey Kong? Why is she a mayor? And why does the name “Pauline Mario” appear in fan discussions?
This guide separates established information from fan theories and explains Pauline’s evolution, her relationship with Mario, her major appearances, and why she has become much more important to the Nintendo universe than her original damsel-in-distress role suggested.
Who Is Pauline in Mario?
Pauline is a human character in Nintendo’s Mario-related universe and one of the earliest major female characters associated with Mario.
Her first appearance was in 1981’s Donkey Kong. At the time, she was generally referred to as “Lady” in Japan, while the name Pauline became established in North American material and later media. In the original game, Donkey Kong kidnaps her, and Mario—then known as Jumpman—must climb construction sites and overcome obstacles to rescue her.
The important point is that Pauline predates Princess Peach.
That makes her historically significant. When people think about Mario’s most recognizable female characters, Peach is normally the first name that comes to mind. But Pauline was already part of Mario’s world before Super Mario Bros. introduced Peach.
Over time, however, Nintendo moved Pauline away from the traditional damsel-in-distress role. Her biggest transformation came with Super Mario Odyssey, where she became a confident political leader and performer rather than simply someone waiting to be rescued.
Is Pauline Mario’s Girlfriend or Ex-Girlfriend?
One of the most common questions about Pauline is whether she was Mario’s girlfriend.
The answer is more complicated than a simple yes or no.
Pauline was originally presented as Mario’s romantic interest in material connected with the early Donkey Kong games. Nintendo-related historical material has also described her as Mario’s “old girlfriend,” establishing that their relationship belongs to Mario’s earlier history.
That does not mean Pauline is Mario’s current girlfriend.
In modern Mario games, Pauline and Mario are generally portrayed as friends and associates. The romantic focus surrounding Mario is much more strongly connected with Princess Peach. Pauline, meanwhile, has developed an independent identity as the mayor of New Donk City.
This distinction matters because many online discussions reduce the relationship to “Pauline was Mario’s first girlfriend.” That is useful as a quick explanation, but it misses the larger character development. Pauline is no longer defined primarily by her connection to Mario.
Pauline and Mario: What Happened Between Them?
The Mario-Pauline relationship has changed significantly across Nintendo’s history.
In the early Donkey Kong era, Mario’s motivation was closely connected to rescuing Pauline. Later, the character effectively disappeared from the central Mario storyline for a long period while Princess Peach became Mario’s most recognizable romantic counterpart.
Pauline eventually returned in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series, where her relationship with Mario was presented more as friendship. She could also become involved in Mario’s business and events, demonstrating that the two characters were able to interact without the relationship being framed as a romance.
This is one of the more interesting aspects of Pauline’s story: Nintendo did not simply bring her back as Mario’s former love interest. Instead, the company gave her a new professional identity.
In Super Mario Odyssey, she is the mayor of New Donk City, while Mario helps her deal with the problems created by the game’s adventure. Their relationship feels cooperative rather than romantic.
That change makes Pauline one of the clearest examples of an older Nintendo character being redesigned for a modern audience.
Pauline in Super Mario Odyssey
For many modern players, Super Mario Odyssey is where Pauline truly became memorable.
She appears as the mayor of New Donk City, one of the game’s most recognizable locations. Rather than being captured at the beginning of the adventure and waiting for Mario to save her, Pauline is an active leader responsible for her city.
She also becomes associated with music.
Pauline performs “Jump Up, Super Star!”, the major vocal theme connected with New Donk City. The performance gives her a distinctive personality and establishes her as more than another supporting character.
Her role in Odyssey works particularly well because Nintendo combines several pieces of Pauline’s history:
- She is connected to Mario’s earliest adventures.
- She is associated with Donkey Kong.
- She has a strong connection to a major city.
- She is independent from Mario romantically.
- She has her own career and public identity.
- She is portrayed as confident and socially capable.
This is a much more developed character than the Pauline players saw in 1981.
Why Is Pauline a Mayor?
Pauline’s position as mayor is one of the most important parts of her modern identity.
In Super Mario Odyssey, Pauline is the leader of New Donk City. Her job gives her a role within the game’s world that does not depend on Mario rescuing her.
That is significant from a character-design perspective.
Nintendo could have brought Pauline back simply as a nostalgic reference. Instead, the developers used her to represent New Donk City’s personality. She is connected with the city’s culture, entertainment and public life.
Her mayoral position also helps distinguish her from Princess Peach. Peach is a princess and ruler of the Mushroom Kingdom, while Pauline is a city mayor. Both are leaders, but they occupy different narrative spaces.
Is Pauline the Same Character From Donkey Kong?
For most practical discussions of Mario history, Pauline is treated as the returning version of the character introduced in Donkey Kong.
However, Nintendo’s handling of Pauline’s history has not always been perfectly straightforward.
The original character was often called Lady, particularly in Japanese material, while the name Pauline became associated with the character internationally. Later games redesigned her considerably.
This means her appearance has changed dramatically over the years.
The early Pauline was represented through the visual limitations of arcade-era graphics. Modern Pauline has a recognizable adult design, distinctive clothing, long hair and a glamorous stage presence.
So, while the character has evolved visually, the connection to the original Donkey Kong heroine remains an important part of her identity.
Pauline’s Return in Mario vs. Donkey Kong
Pauline did not remain completely absent after Donkey Kong.
She returned in the Mario vs. Donkey Kong series, where Donkey Kong once again becomes involved in situations that put Pauline in danger. Her role in these games helped reintroduce her to players before her much larger appearance in Super Mario Odyssey.
An interesting change is that the relationship between Mario and Pauline becomes more casual and cooperative.
Instead of presenting Pauline only as Mario’s love interest, the games establish her as someone who can participate in the broader Mario world.
That gradual transition is easy to overlook when looking only at individual games. Across several decades, Nintendo essentially rebuilt Pauline’s identity piece by piece.
Pauline in Mario Kart and Other Games
Pauline eventually moved beyond traditional platforming adventures.
She became playable in Mario Kart Tour, making her first appearance as a playable Mario Kart character. She was introduced during the New York Tour and later became a regular character, with additional versions such as Pauline (Party Time).
She also appeared in other Mario titles, including Mario Tennis Aces, and became part of the wider cast used in Nintendo’s crossover and party-style experiences.
Her inclusion in these games tells us something important: Pauline is no longer treated merely as a historical reference.
Nintendo now recognizes her as a character capable of standing alongside Peach, Daisy, Rosalina and other established female characters.
What Is Pauline’s Relationship With Donkey Kong?
Pauline’s history is closely connected to Donkey Kong because her first major story involved him kidnapping her.
Modern games, however, often present the relationship with more humor and less of the straightforward hero-versus-damsel structure seen in the original arcade game.
This is particularly noticeable as Pauline becomes part of the wider Mario and Donkey Kong cast.
One useful way to understand the relationship is to separate the original story role from the modern character relationship. Donkey Kong was originally her kidnapper, but later games are much more interested in using familiar characters together than maintaining a permanently hostile relationship.
That flexibility is typical of Nintendo’s approach to its long-running characters.
The Pauline Mario Name: Is It Official?
There is no established Nintendo canon confirming that Pauline’s full name is “Pauline Mario.”
The phrase appears in online fan discussions, especially when people speculate about Mario’s family, relationships or fictional naming conventions. Some fans have jokingly or seriously proposed surnames for Mario characters, but those theories should not be confused with official Nintendo information.
So if you encounter a page claiming that Pauline’s official full name is Pauline Mario, it is sensible to ask where the claim originated.
A safer description is simply Pauline, the character from Donkey Kong and the Mario universe.
A useful rule for understanding Mario lore
When researching Nintendo characters, separate three categories:
- Officially established facts — information shown or stated by Nintendo.
- Strongly implied history — details supported by games or developer comments but not always repeated consistently.
- Fan theories — interesting interpretations that have not been officially confirmed.
The “Pauline Mario” surname falls into the third category rather than the first.
Pauline’s Most Interesting Modern Mystery
Pauline became even more interesting with Donkey Kong Bananza, which introduced a younger Pauline.
That development created a major question: is the young Pauline literally the same Pauline who later becomes the adult mayor of New Donk City?
The question is not as straightforward as it sounds because the apparent ages and chronology create complications. Nintendo has not provided a definitive explanation. In 2026, GamesRadar reported that producer Kenta Motokura was asked directly about Pauline’s identity and declined to settle the matter, effectively leaving the interpretation open to players.
This is one of the most useful insights for understanding Mario lore: not every apparent inconsistency has an official explanation.
Nintendo’s fictional universe often prioritizes gameplay, character recognition and fun over a perfectly rigid chronology. Trying to force every detail into one exact timeline can therefore create more confusion than clarity.
Three Things Fans Often Miss About Pauline
1. She was important before Peach
Pauline is not a character Nintendo created after Peach. She belongs to Mario’s earliest arcade history and therefore occupies a unique place in the franchise.
2. Her biggest development happened outside Mario’s romantic story
Her transformation into a mayor and singer is arguably more important than her former relationship with Mario. It gives her an identity that exists independently of him.
3. Her inconsistencies are part of the fun
The questions surrounding her age, identity and timeline are not necessarily mistakes that fans must solve. Nintendo has sometimes deliberately left character history flexible, allowing players to interpret connections without a definitive answer. The unresolved Donkey Kong Bananza question is a good modern example.
Common Mistakes When Searching for Pauline Mario
People researching Pauline Mario often run into the same problems.
Mistake 1: Assuming “Pauline Mario” is her official name.
It is not established as an official full name.
Mistake 2: Calling Pauline Mario’s current girlfriend.
Her modern relationship with Mario is primarily friendly, while her early history involved a romantic connection.
Mistake 3: Treating Pauline as only the woman from Donkey Kong.
That ignores her transformation into the mayor of New Donk City and a playable character.
Mistake 4: Assuming every fan theory is Nintendo canon.
Mario lore contains plenty of speculation. It is important to distinguish confirmed information from interpretation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pauline in the Mario franchise?
Pauline is a human character who first appeared in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong. She was originally the woman Mario rescued from Donkey Kong and was later reintroduced with a much larger personality. In Super Mario Odyssey, she became the mayor of New Donk City and a singer.
Is Pauline Mario’s ex-girlfriend?
Pauline is commonly described as Mario’s former or “old” girlfriend based on Nintendo’s historical characterization of their relationship. In modern games, however, Pauline and Mario are generally portrayed as friends and allies. Her character is no longer centered on being Mario’s romantic partner.
Is Pauline’s full name Pauline Mario?
No official Nintendo source establishes “Pauline Mario” as her full name. The phrase mainly appears in fan discussions and speculation. The safest and most accurate name to use is simply Pauline.
Is Pauline the mayor of New Donk City?
Yes. Pauline is portrayed as the mayor of New Donk City in Super Mario Odyssey. Her role as a political leader is one of the main reasons her modern character is so different from the damsel-in-distress seen in the original Donkey Kong.
Is Pauline the same person in Donkey Kong Bananza?
Nintendo has not definitively explained whether the young Pauline seen in Donkey Kong Bananza should be understood as the same Pauline who becomes the adult character from Super Mario Odyssey. The apparent timeline and age differences have prompted considerable fan discussion, and Nintendo has left the question open.
Final Thoughts on Pauline Mario
The search term Pauline Mario points to a character with a much richer history than the name alone suggests. Pauline began as the heroine of Donkey Kong, became associated with Mario’s earliest romantic storyline, disappeared from the spotlight for long periods, and eventually returned as the independent mayor of New Donk City.
Her evolution is what makes her especially interesting. She is no longer simply “the woman Mario rescued.” She has a career, a public role, musical identity and a place among the wider Mario cast.
At the same time, some questions remain deliberately unresolved. Her exact relationship to the younger Pauline in Donkey Kong Bananza, for example, shows that Nintendo is comfortable leaving parts of its character history open to interpretation. For anyone researching Pauline, the best approach is therefore to distinguish confirmed Nintendo facts from fan theories.
Ultimately, Pauline’s story is a good example of how a seemingly minor character can survive for more than four decades and eventually become one of the most distinctive personalities in the Mario universe.
