nation's most beloved sweetheart

[rainous]

Hi,

If, say, a 16 year old gymnast, who was basically under nobody's radar up to the moment, went to the Olympics, performed her heart out and clenched the gold medal and became very popular and beloved by everyone at her home country, how would people or media call her?

Is "the nation's most beloved sweetheart" possible?

If I wanted to emphasize her young age and her little-sister-like cuteness, what other words could be used instead of "sweetheart" (maybe "everyone's/nation's favorite sister"?)
or how could the phrase be rephrased for the better?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[5jj]

It's almost impossible to answer your question. Newspaper X might come up with a very unlikely phrase that just happened to work, especially if it involved a pun on her name and/or the sport.

[rainous]

It's almost impossible to answer your question. Newspaper X might come up with a very unlikely phrase that just happened to work, especially if it involved a pun on her name and/or the sport.

Fair enough.

Then could you give me your insights strictly on the following?

If I wanted to emphasize her young age and her little-sister-like cuteness, what other words could be used other than "sweetheart" ?

Could "everyone's most favorite sister" or "nation's most favorite sister" be possible, as in "She became the nation's favorite sister."?

[5jj]

Could "everyone's most favorite sister" or "nation's most favorite sister" be possible, as in "She became the nation's favorite sister."?

It's possible, if she were the sister of another well-known gymnast.

However, as I said my first post, it is impossible to know which expression would actually catch on.

[riquecohen]

In the mid-70's, Nadia Comaneci was named a Hero of Socialist Labor by the Romanian Government.

[emsr2d2]

I would hope that none of the newspapers would choose "most favourite" anything.

[Ouisch]

When describing a young girl - particularly one who is gaining some measure of fame - who is cute in that little-girl way, the media will often describe her as a "wide-eyed innocent" or "chubby-cheeked girl next door" or maybe a "little kewpie doll." Sometime's they'll be dubbed "America's (or Romania's or Bulgaria's or wherever) Sweetheart." There are an endless number of catch-phrases that can be used to describe a cute-but-not-beautiful female. But usually using a familial term is reserved for an actor known for a particular role; for example, Keshia Knight-Pulliam could have been described as "everyone's favorite baby sister" when she was on The Cosby Show.

[rainous]

Thank you very much all.

It was really helpful.