“Why Don’t We Have Both?” (Old el Paso Commercial)

A little girl says “why don’t we have both” during a commercial for Old el Paso.

This meme GIF is perfect for choosing both options, finding an easy solution to a debate, refusing to pick between two good choices, or suggesting a compromise that makes everyone happy.

The commercial presents a simple dilemma over whether the family should have hard-shell or soft-shell tacos. The young girl solves the argument by asking “Why don’t we have both?”, prompting everyone around her to celebrate the obvious solution.

The moment became a recognizable internet meme because of its extremely simple setup and payoff. Two competing options can be placed on either side of the original dilemma, with the girl’s suggestion representing the obvious third choice: simply take both.

The girl in the commercial is Mia Agraviador, a Sydney-born child actress who was only six when she filmed the Old El Paso ad in Australia. The Australian National Film and Sound Archive dates the commercial to 2007 and identifies Agraviador as its star. The campaign promoted Old El Paso’s Hard ’n Soft Taco Kit and originally aired in Australia and New Zealand before the moment spread internationally online.

Agraviador has said she still remembers the shoot, including the film crew, set, and mansion where it was filmed. At the time, she viewed it simply as a fun acting job and had no idea that her brief appearance would follow her for years.

Commercial GIFs often remain recognizable long after the original advertisements stop airing, especially when a simple line or reaction takes on a life of its own online. “Why don’t we have both?” became a versatile reaction for situations where choosing between two options seems completely unnecessary.