The thing I've noticed is that I can't stand Rarity normally, but the Rarity-heavy episodes are some of the best
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Word. The Diamond Dogs episode is a good example. Rarity seems selfish and super-annoying at first, but when you get a chance to look a little closer, there's a lot more to her. I guess it's a matter of opinion whether those moments outweigh, well, the rest of her personality.
Yes, I really disliked Rarity at first, but, then I saw Suited for Success. Her song about making the dresses really won me over. It let me see her fashion work as a form of art, and now I can kind of identify with it as a metaphor for writing. (My own chosen form of art.) So, I definitely agree that there's an interesting tension between how Rarity comes across from a distance and how she seems from close up.
Anyway, I chose Fluttershy in this poll -- she's just so sweet, and I really identify with her shyness and love of animals. However, the two unicorns -- Twilight Sparkle and Rarity -- would tie for second. With one, you have the introverted reader and the other is the driven artist. I can identify with both of those.
Though, if I was answering for my daughter, I'd have picked either Pinkie Pie or Rainbow Dash. She clearly identifies most with Pinkie Pie (the crazy social party girl!), but, lately, she walks around all day talking to Rainbow Dash like an imaginary friend. ("What's that Rainbow Dash? You want more ice cream? Me too!" That sort of thing.)