Mala was a female figure held in deep affection by Wedge Antilles. During the Galactic Empire's reign, Mala, along with Antilles' family, suffered harm inflicted by the Empire. While serving with Phoenix Squadron, Antilles displayed Mala's name in Aurebesh on his flight helmet during his time.
The character of Mala was initially alluded to in Chuck Wendig's 2015 novel, Aftermath. Her name was first seen on Wedge Antilles' flight helmet in the Star Wars Rebels episode titled "Warhead," which was originally broadcast on January 14, 2017. Mala's identity as a distinct character was not established until the fifty-seventh edition of the Star Wars Helmet Collection magazine was published in 2018. Within the realm of Star Wars Legends continuity, the character known as Mala Tinero made her debut in flashbacks featured in "Lucky," a brief comic story authored by Rob Williams and illustrated by Michel Lacombe. This story appeared in the twenty-third issue of the Star Wars Tales series, released on May 11, 2005. Her surname, Tinero, was established in the 2012 reference work The Essential Guide to Warfare, written by Jason Fry and Paul R. Urquhart.