Welcome to this week’s installment of Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week, wherein we spotlight strong women and non-binary folks who inspire us. These characters are prime examples of empowerment and how crucial it is for youth to have said examples to follow.

DISCLAIMER: The following contains spoilers for Leehama‘s WEBTOON series Gourmet Hound. If you haven’t had the chance to read the series, you can do so here.

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Fast Facts:

Lucy cutting onions to pretend like she isn't upset.

Gourmet Hound WEBTOON Original Series.

Lucy Fuji is the main protagonist of Gourmet Hound. At the beginning of the series, Lucy and her friends go to dinner for her birthday at a restaurant called Dimanche. This isn’t just any restaurant, but one that holds a special place in Lucy’s heart. Her grandmother, Lynn Fuji, helped found and build the restaurant, and the two would visit every year on Lucy’s birthday. However, on the most recent visit after the passing of her grandmother, she realized that everything was wrong. None of the food tastes, looks, or smells the same.

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Lucy decides that her new mission is to find all of the original chefs and uncover who was the one who made her favorite meal. During her journey, she crosses paths with Graham Ramos and several other chefs who have left Dimanche for their own reasons. With each chef she connects with, Lucy uncovers bits and pieces of her grandmother’s time with Dimanche, her understanding of the world around her and a little bit about every one of them.

The Real Deal:

Lucy eating ice cream.

Gourmet Hound WEBTOON Original Series.

Lucy Fuji is the real deal. While Gourmet Hound comes across as a romance-heavy WEBTOON series, it dives into so much more. It is a beautiful look at how different people deal with grief and loss. A big part of Lucy’s journey is dealing with the loss of her grandmother, which in turn leads to the loss of much more. But even as she is dealing with all this loss, she still finds it in herself to laugh and discover the beautiful moments in life. Just take one look at her interactions with Graham, and you can see just how much she values her time on Earth.

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Why She Matters:

So, why does Lucy matter? It’s not uncommon these days for WEBTOON series to branch out from the typical fantasy or romance genre. But Gourmet Hound was one of the first series we read (and many others) that dealt with much heavier topics. It is easy for anyone to find something within Lucy to connect with and find empathy with. She didn’t just lose her grandmother but a large part of her world. And that is just the tip of the iceberg for Lucy’s story. But even through all of this, Lucy still finds it in her heart to help everyone she interacts with. She’s cheerful, supportive and upbeat even when she is struggling most.

So, be like Lucy Fuji. Smile and stay positive even when things get tough, eat all the tasty snacks and embrace and remember all the beautiful moments with your loved ones even when they are gone. But maybe be careful not to break anyone’s doors – fire or not.

Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: ELLIE MCGUINNESS

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