Olive Oyl is a character created by Elzie Crisler Segar in 1919 for his comic strip Thimble Theatre (which was subsequently renamed after Popeye ever since the sailor character became the most popular member of the strip's cast). She is Popeye's eternal sweetheart and the two have stuck through thick and thin to face many challenges and adventures together.
Since her debut, Olive is one of the most recognizable female cartoon characters in the world and is often seen as a poster girl for the "damsel-in-distress" theme.