Dazed & Confused

I had 2 first times with PepSi.

It was the morning of August 9, 2008 when I first discovered Pepa and Silvia on a YouTube video. I remember that day because it was the weekend after my younger sister’s birthday. I remember waking up that morning and immediately turning on my computer. I planned to only check my email but I ended up heading to AfterEllen and then going on the ever-so addicting YouTube.

I was looking for a lesbian movie or television series that I never discovered yet. I stumbled upon an author’s YouTube video that compiled her Top Lesbian film couples. One of the couples was a brief clip of a brunette and redhead:


My immediate thought: I was intrigued to know what this movie or television show was but I didn’t spend a lot of time thinking about it because I was wrapped around another discovery: South of Nowhere and the lesbian pairing of Spashley (Spencer and Ashley).

I don’t understand why South of Nowhere caught my attention more. If I compared the clips now, I'd be left scratching my head!!

But in December 2008, it was announced that South of Nowhere was ending after 3 seasons. I’ll always keep South of Nowhere close to my heart because of the self-discovery and innocence that was portrayed by Spencer and Ashley. But I was back to where I was in the summer of 2008: searching for another lesbian show.

It was December 24, 2008 and I was at work. In fact, I was the only person working in my department that day. With all this unsupervised time, I decided to do some research on AE, after all that was where I found 90% of my lesbian films/television shows such as Imagine You & Me, GirlTrash! and D.E.B.S.

I came across the website’s main article of the day: “AfterEllen.com 2008 Visibility Awards”.

I scrolled through the awards until I halted at Best Scripted TV Series with Lesbian/Bi Characters (International). I thought the screen cap of the couple seemed familiar but I couldn’t place them.
I ended up reading the forum that was originally called “Lesbian and Bisexual Characters Pepa and Silvia” or most of the day (it was only about 4-5 pages at the time!!). I couldn’t log into YouTube because my company blocks videos so I was left desperately waiting for 2pm to head home.

When I finally got home, I quickly went to YouTube and typed in my search. I stumbled upon a video that had a partial PepSi scene. It was the Undercover Stripper Operation, it started with the redhead and brunette wearing lingerie and wielding handguns. I didn’t have the luxury of Random_Flores’ recaps or PepSiEnglish’s subtitles so I didn’t know what was going on or understand what was being said.

It wasn’t the sensual Spanish language or the scantily clad females that captivated me. It was the unspoken look they shared. Silvia had given her partner a look of uncertainly mixed with fear, as if to show Pepa her anxiety as they had just completed this bust. But Pepa’s sly grin and wink of reassurance were enough to settle the Pelirroja’s nerves. Pepa was telling Silvia that they were okay, she was here to help her, to protect her. I remember shivering.


I thought to myself, how could one look write a novel? How could 60 seconds be able to touch my soul?

I knew there was a history to these characters that I wanted to learn. But it had to come at a later time because my older sister practically had to drag me away from my computer so we wouldn’t miss Christmas Eve dinner with the rest of the family.

I soon found myself planning around my personal schedule just to get my PepSi fill. I was wasting countless hours at work catching up on the AE forum, reading the latest fanfiction and learning to read and speak Spanish.

Who knew a University would be created after these characters? Or a virus called BMF fever would momentarily side track the forum? Or better yet, a group of avid lovers coming together to keep the spirit of Pepa and Silvia alive?

I was sucked into a world that still leaves me dazed and confused.

Daisy the Cow’s note:
Mola! Moo, moo, moo, moo Pepa moo Silvia!!

Piper's Note:
Angie005, MPep, was a lot of firsts: first student of Pepsi University, first to be awarded its MPep (complete with a virtual diploma, ceremony, and acceptance speech), first lead in Pepsi U's production of PepSide Story, first Pepsi Thesis I read, our first graduate student, and first person to bring her cow on campus.  On a personal note, Angie was the first person I've emailed with, and hers is the first fan fiction I've ever read.  I am really thankful to call her a friend when I am not Dr. Piper, I value her wisdom, diplomacy, and hockey prowess. Technically and amazingly, Angie005, MPep, is one of the founding lesbians of PepSi University.