Mona Vanderwaal

Mona Vanderwaal
Pretty Little Liars character
Janel Parrish as Mona Vanderwaal
First appearance	Novel: Pretty Little Liars (2006) Television: "Pilot" (Episode 1.01)
Last appearance	Novel: Stunning (2012)
Created by	Sara Shepard
Portrayed by	Janel Parrish
Born	October 8, 1994 (age 22) Rosewood, Pennsylvania
Information
Nickname(s)	"A" Loser Mona Crazy Mona Nutjob Mona Original A
Aliases	"A"
Gender	Female
Occupation	Lobbyist A (formerly)
Family	Leona Vanderwaal (mother)
Significant other(s)	Noel Kahn (ex-boyfriend) Mike Montgomery (boyfriend)
Relatives	Ned (uncle)
Education	Rosewood High School Duke University
Residence	Rosewood, Pennsylvania

Mona Vanderwaal is a fictional character in the Pretty Little Liars book series by Sara Shepard and its Freeform television series adaption.

Introduced as the primary antagonist, Mona is the first and original "A", initially harboring a grudge against the Liars, using her intelligence and resources to torment them anonymously. In the third season of the TV series, Mona gains a partner who eventually takes control from her. Afterward, she forms an unstable alliance with the protagonists, becoming a victim of her own creation. Considered the most knowledgeable character in the series, Mona is versed in computer hacking, foreign languages, singing, empathy, and manipulation. Though introduced as a villainess, she eventually takes steps toward redemption.

In March 2015, PrettyLittleLiars.com named Mona the greatest Pretty Little Liars character ever.MTV also named her one of the best characters on television in 2014. During the TV series' run, Marlene King, producer of the show, acknowledged Mona as a "beloved character."

Mona Vanderwaal was introduced in the first four Pretty Little Liars novels. A teenage resident of Rosewood, Pennsylvania, she has white-blonde hair, light blue eyes, and a few freckles. She used to be an unpopular nerd who was teased by Alison and her friends, longing to be in their group. After Alison went missing, Hanna and her became friends and reinvented themselves as the 'it' girls of Rosewood Day.

Mona is Hanna's best friend who takes drugs together with her. Mona used to be a dork, but together with Hanna she transformed into a beautiful 'it' girl during the summer three years ago. She is invited to Noel Kahn's start of the term party where she makes out with his older brother Eric. Whenever the school's mean girls, Naomi and Riley say something mean about Hanna, Mona is there for her. Mona and Hanna get into numerous fights and arguments about Hanna's old friends, Emily, Aria and Spencer, because Mona thinks that she's been spending more time with them than with her.

As Mona's birthday is coming up, she chooses Naomi, Riley, Hanna and some other girls to be her 'next-in-lines' so she goes to buy dresses with them. She chooses champagne-colored dresses, but gets in a fight with Hanna, whom she accuses of sabotaging her birthday party. Later on, Hanna gets a package with the champagne-colored dress, and thinks it was Mona who sent it.