Hikari has been loli~ing up the Pokémon series since her first appearance in Begin! From Twinleaf Town To Masago Town!, the very first episode of the Diamond & Pearl arc. Desiring to follow in her mother's footsteps, Hikari is an aspiring coordinator, much like May, the previous female protagonist; however, despite similarities there, Hikari has her own unique personality, which makes her differ greatly from May and even Misty. Hikari is a naturally optimistic person, with an energetic spirit and a wonderful sense of independence. She likes to do things on her own, and while she does take both Ash and Brock's advice, neither of them hold the role of a mentor to her.
When it comes to advice, Hikari normally listens to her "rival," Nozomi, who hands over healthy bits of information regarding Contests, appeals and training. And, yes, while Hikari and Nozomi are indeed "rivals," their relationship is still friendly (*wink, wink*). In fact, Hikari gets along with almost everyone, including Kengo, her second "rival." Kengo and her are childhood friends and spend a lot of time relating to their past. Kengo normally takes opportunities like this to mention embarrassing stories regarding Hikari, but overall, the two get along fine. If there is anyone Hikari does not get along with, it is Shinji, Ash's rival, but the two lack interaction, as Shinji is too caught in paying attention to Ash (*wink, wink*).
In a stereotypical way, Hikari is probably the most feminine girl in the Pokémon series. She enjoys dressing up for Contests and encourages her Pokémon to do the same. She has a sweet sort of personality, but does have a temper when it comes to not getting her own way, making her very similar to Ash in a sense. Hikari's Pokémon team is also a large indicator of her "girlish" ways, but it does complement her profession as coordinator. Although she previously caught Buizel, she traded it for Ash's Eipam, who had a notable aspiration to do appeals. Currently, her team includes the following:
Pochama Mimimoru Pachirisu Eteboth (evolved from Eipam)