Since her comic book debut in 1941, Wonder Woman has been recognized as an Amazon princess, a demigoddess and an emissary and ambassador from her homeland. Soon, Diana of Themyscira will gain a new real-world title: U.N. honorary ambassador for the empowerment of women and girls.

Created by psychologist and writer William Moulton Marston, his wife, psychologist Elizabeth Holloway Marston, and artist H. G. Peter, Wonder Woman is one of DC Comics’ most iconic superheroes. While details of her origin story have evolved through various retellings in her 75 years, Diana — with her Lasso of Truth, indestructible bracelets and tiara — has long been a symbol of female empowerment.

The official designation event announcing Wonder Woman’s new title will be held at the U.N. headquarters in New York on Oct. 21, in conjunction with Wonder Woman’s 75th anniversary.

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The ceremony will be attended by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, DC Entertainment President Diane Nelson and other special guests.

Gal Gadot and Lynda Carter will also be present at the event, which will mark the first meeting of the two most well-known “Wonder Woman” actresses.

Gadot made her on-screen Wonder Woman debut in this year’s “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.” She will star in 2017’s “Wonder Woman” as well as 2018’s ensemble superhero film “Justice League.”

Carter portrayed Diana Prince in the popular “Wonder Woman” television series that originally aired from 1975 to 1979. The enduring popularity of the series has even led DC to publish “Wonder Woman ’77,” a comic book series that takes place in the same universe as the TV show, written by Marc Andreyko.


Wonder Woman’s upcoming ambassadorship will also launch a landmark global campaign supporting the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goal No. 5, which is a mission to “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.”

tracy.brown@latimes.com

Twitter: @tracycbrown