They’re fat, fabulous and fictional. But they’re famous! Pigs in movies and television have been popular entertainment ever since cartoon character Porky Pig first stuttered “Th-th-that’s all folks!”

Arguably, one of the most popular pigs (at least in her mind), is Muppets diva Miss Piggy, the perennial girlfriend of Kermit, the Frog.

Miss Piggy is a creation of the late American puppeteer, Jim Henson. Unable to raise interest in his muppet characters during their brief appearances on Saturday Night Live in 1975-76, he then found himself unable to interest any American company in producing his all puppet Muppet Show, and ended up taking it to Britain, where it aired regularly, and was shown in the U.S. in syndication.

The character of Miss Piggy, played exclusively by Frank Oz until 1981, was only a minor role at the inception of the Muppet Show in 1975. But the highly excitable porcine princess, who dealt with those who annoyed her by delivering a karate chop (Haiiiiiiiiii-ya!), became such an entrancing figure, that the weekly guest stars ended up as either her female confidantes, or fodder for flirting.

While unconfirmed, popular legend has it that Henson modeled Miss Piggy on actress Loretta Swit, who starred in t.v.’s M.A.S.H. Others have noted a similarity to famed singer, Peggy Lee.