Mel Medarda

Character
Name:	Mel Medarda
Occupation:	Councilor
Relationships:	Ambessa Medarda (mother); Kino Medarda (brother); Jayce Talis (collaborator, investee, fellow council member and past lover); Elora (friend and assistant); Viktor (investee); Caitlyn Kiramman (companion in arms/daughter of fellow council member)
Fandom:	Arcane; League of Legends
Other:
	Click here for related articles on Fanlore.
	Contents 1 Canon background; 2 Reception and discussion 2.1 Mel Medarda and LeBlanc Theory; 2.2 Visual design; 2.3 Manipulation; ; 3 Notable fanon and tropes common in transformative fan works; 4 Relationships; 5 Fan works 5.1 Meta; 5.2 Fan art 5.2.1 Art Memes; ; 5.3 Cosplay; 5.4 Fan fiction; 5.5 Fanvid edits; 5.6 Fan work rec lists and collections; ; 6 Zines; 7 External links; 8 Notes; 9 References;

Mel Medarda is a major character in the animated series Arcane. The character is now also a playable Champion in League of Legends. The character is voiced by actress Toks Olagundoye.

Canon background

Mel Medarda is the presumed heir of the Medarda family, once one of the most powerful in Noxus. In appearance she is a graceful aristocrat, but beneath the surface lies a skilled politician who makes it her business to know everything about everyone she meets. After an encounter with the mysterious Black Rose, Mel discovered the depths of her mother's deception and, for once, faced a situation potentially beyond her control. With newly awakened magical abilities, she sailed home in search of answers—and though many still seek to temper the light within her, Mel's soul remains forever defiant.^[1]

Reception and discussion

Mel Medarda and LeBlanc Theory

During season 1 and before season 2, due to Mel being a main character in Arcane but seemingly original to League lore, some fans proposed the idea that she might be LeBlanc in disguise or be working for her.^[2]^[3]^[4] LeBlanc is a League Champion known for subterfuge and tricking people, able to clone herself and also an expert at political manipulation. Several parts of the theory were both born and demystified as the different acts and seasons of Arcane were released.

Part of the suspicion came from Mel's interest in Hextech and Jayce, shared during act 1 by Viktor, a pre-existing champion who, in League, becomes an antagonist to Jayce and frequently tries to gain access to his tech. Fans' expected betrayal by Viktor at the time leaped on to Mel due to some shared mannerisms as well as Viktor's and Mel's pull of Jayce in different directions (respectively science and politics), which were seen by some fans as ways to manipulate Jayce for their own goals. Mel initiating a relationship with Jayce during season 1 was also seen by some as part of a plot to further manipulate him through seduction, especially as she showed him he needed to be corrupt as a politician, similarly to LeBlanc's modus operandi. Other pieces of the theory were: Mel and LeBlanc's golden accents, their connection to Noxus, Mel's use of informants, their undereye markings etc.

Some fans disregarded the theory due to the distasteful idea of a white woman masquerading as a black one, especially since LeBlanc is known as "The pale woman". The theory was also ignored by some due to fans kneejerk reaction to calling any unknown character LeBlanc in disguise.^[5]

Due to fans calling out possible racist undertones often accompanying this headcanon at the time, eventually many fans chose to avoid it entirely when creating fanworks and many deleted their contributions. Some fans consider the whole theory to be rooted in racism.^[6]

The theory was so popular that mainstream media commented on it.^[7]^[8]

Mel's connection to LeBlanc was finally revealed in season 2, putting the theory to rest.

Visual design

Manipulation

Notable fanon and tropes common in transformative fan works

Relationships

Ambessa Medarda & Mel Medarda
Elora/Mel Medarda (Melora)
Kino Medarda & Mel Medarda
Mel Medarda/Jayce Talis (MelJay, JayMel)
Mel Medarda/Jayce Talis/Viktor (MelJayVik)
Mel Medarda/Sevika (Melvika)
Mel Medarda/Viktor (MelVik)
Lest/Mel Medarda (Catcouncil)
Caitlyn Kiramman & Mel Medarda

Fan works

Examples Wanted: Editors are encouraged to add more examples or a wider variety of examples.

Fan art

I recreated Mel Medarda's painting (acrylics and gold leaf on canvas, 120cm x 40cm) by LanaDiPati (2025)

Art Memes

MEL IN THIS, started by hunnyfrnchtoast, imagining Mel wearing an AI dress in gold and pearl.
- I tried by kamii_ki
- wip- by birbwithscarf
- This is my rendition of it by bar_soap_

Cosplay

Fan fiction

Fanvid edits

Fan work rec lists and collections

Zines

Stella Aurea: A Mel Medarda Fanzine: Coming soon! ✧ A for-charity, unofficial fanzine dedicated to the brightest star in Runeterra, Mel Medarda!

External links

Arcane [ stories] and [ crossovers] featuring Mel M on FanFiction.Net (FFN)
Mel Medarda tag on Archive of Our Own (AO3)
- Mel Medarda Archive, a curated AO3 page that house stories and fan works that feature Mel Medarda in any compelling capacity.
Mel Medarda on Safebooru
r/MelMains on Reddit
on Tumblr
on Pixiv

Notes

References

^ https://www.leagueoflegends.com/en-us/champions/mel/
^ Afinal a Mel Medarda é a Leblanc? Eu fiquei sem entender! (translation: Did Mel Medarda end up being Leblanc? I didn't get it!) post by geek_muniz on Threads
^ MEL É A LE BLANC? RESPONDENDO A TEORIA DA COMUNIDADE(translation: IS MELL LE BLANC? ANSWERING THE COMMUNITY THEORY) Video analysis of the theory by zaunslab on Youtube
^ [Regarding LeBlanc's existence in Arcane] She's either Mel or her assistant or one of them is working for the Black Rose. thread response by Daftworks on LeBlancMains Reddit
^ Mel is LeBlanc?? Thread by ladygagaiscool/ on LeBlancMains Reddit
^ Oh look that's me! But I saw the whole "Mel will die for Jayce's character motivation", "Mel is secretly LeBlanc and will turn evil" shit WHILE season 1 was airing, and it wasn't surprising that it only got worse. You can dig up my old posts and you will find these comments. post by kymagpie on Twitter (X)
^ (...) Alguns fãs de Arcane também acreditam que Mel Medarda é, na verdade, LeBlanc disfarçada, já que uma descrição da personagem afirma que ela “serviu em segredo como uma conselheira”.(...) (translation: Some fans of Arcane also believe that Mel Medarda is, in actuality, LeBlanc in disguise, since a character description affirms she "has served in secret as a counsellor". Article by Brazilian online news portal Observatório do Cinema
^ (...) Durante a primeira temporada, que estreou em 2021 e foi um sucesso de crítica e público, muitos telespectadores que já conheciam a história de LoL suspeitaram que a noxiana Mel Medarda seria, na verdade, LeBlanc disfarçada, uma vez que a campeã consegue camuflar-se e estar em mais de um lugar simultaneamente.(...) (translate: During season 1, that premiered in 2021 and was a success amongst critics and the public, many watchers that were familiar with LoL's story suspected that the Noxian Mel Medarda would be, in reality, LeBlanc in disguise, since the champion can camouflage herself and be in more than one place at the same time.) from the article "O que é a Rosa Negra em Arcane? Entenda filosofia dos membros e personagens de LoL que ainda podem aparecer" (What is the Black Rose in Arcane? Understand the philosophy of the LoL members and characters that might appear.) on IGN Brasil

Related Concepts, Fandoms, Terms, Fanworks
See also

[1] ttps://www.leagueoflegends.com/en-us/champions/mel/

[2] Afinal a Mel Medarda é a Leblanc? Eu fiquei sem entender! (translation: Did Mel Medarda end up being Leblanc? I didn't get it!) post by geek_muniz on Threads

[3] MEL É A LE BLANC? RESPONDENDO A TEORIA DA COMUNIDADE(translation: IS MELL LE BLANC? ANSWERING THE COMMUNITY THEORY) Video analysis of the theory by zaunslab on Youtube

[4] [Regarding LeBlanc's existence in Arcane] She's either Mel or her assistant or one of them is working for the Black Rose. thread response by Daftworks on LeBlancMains Reddit

[5] Mel is LeBlanc?? Thread by ladygagaiscool/ on LeBlancMains Reddit

[6] Oh look that's me! But I saw the whole "Mel will die for Jayce's character motivation", "Mel is secretly LeBlanc and will turn evil" shit WHILE season 1 was airing, and it wasn't surprising that it only got worse. You can dig up my old posts and you will find these comments. post by kymagpie on Twitter (X)

[7] (...) Alguns fãs de Arcane também acreditam que Mel Medarda é, na verdade, LeBlanc disfarçada, já que uma descrição da personagem afirma que ela “serviu em segredo como uma conselheira”.(...) (translation: Some fans of Arcane also believe that Mel Medarda is, in actuality, LeBlanc in disguise, since a character description affirms she "has served in secret as a counsellor". Article by Brazilian online news portal Observatório do Cinema

[8] (...) Durante a primeira temporada, que estreou em 2021 e foi um sucesso de crítica e público, muitos telespectadores que já conheciam a história de LoL suspeitaram que a noxiana Mel Medarda seria, na verdade, LeBlanc disfarçada, uma vez que a campeã consegue camuflar-se e estar em mais de um lugar simultaneamente.(...) (translate: During season 1, that premiered in 2021 and was a success amongst critics and the public, many watchers that were familiar with LoL's story suspected that the Noxian Mel Medarda would be, in reality, LeBlanc in disguise, since the champion can camouflage herself and be in more than one place at the same time.) from the article "O que é a Rosa Negra em Arcane? Entenda filosofia dos membros e personagens de LoL que ainda podem aparecer" (What is the Black Rose in Arcane? Understand the philosophy of the LoL members and characters that might appear.) on IGN Brasil

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Character
Name:	Mel Medarda
Occupation:	Councilor
Relationships:	Ambessa Medarda (mother) Kino Medarda (brother) Jayce Talis (collaborator, investee, fellow council member and past lover) Elora (friend and assistant) Viktor (investee) Caitlyn Kiramman (companion in arms/daughter of fellow council member)
Fandom:	Arcane; League of Legends
Other:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.
Contents 1 Canon background 2 Reception and discussion 2.1 Mel Medarda and LeBlanc Theory 2.2 Visual design 2.3 Manipulation 3 Notable fanon and tropes common in transformative fan works 4 Relationships 5 Fan works 5.1 Meta 5.2 Fan art 5.2.1 Art Memes 5.3 Cosplay 5.4 Fan fiction 5.5 Fanvid edits 5.6 Fan work rec lists and collections 6 Zines 7 External links 8 Notes 9 References