Eyes of V

When I think of strong & iconic women that have shaped the person I am today, not only do I think of the women in my personal life/around me but also the women that I have seen on my screen growing up in all my twenty three years of living. Women from the popular series & film everyone knows & loves to small ones that people may not have heard of yet. The women in the list not only have shaped me but shaped thousands of women worldwide with their portrayal being brought to life on screen. List is in no particular order

Starting the list off strong with Barbie.

I decided to start off with Barbie because she is an iconic doll we all grew up with. We’ve seen all the different versions of movies that have been released, all the different collections that featured some of the most beautiful dresses that can ever be found on a doll. But most importantly, she was one of the many women, doll or not, to show little girls that they can be anything their heart desires. Anything they can possibly dream of, especially male dominated professions, is possible all while still being a woman. In many ways she walked so characters like Mia Thermopolis could learn how to step into their crown with confidence. Most recently Mattel introduced not only a disabled version of their doll but also a doll that includes an insulin bag that includes girls/women that deal with type 1 diabetes. Barbie will always & forever be the blonde bombshell that can do it all.

Next we have probably Barbie’s worst nightmare, Alex Russo from the Disney Channel Original Show Wizards of Waverly Place. Growing up I loved Alex do not get me wrong but I just didn’t understand her laziness, until I got older. I 100% understood those moments where she just wanted to do nothing more than just sleep or do nothing all day because now I also find myself having those exact moments. But even through her laziness she fought to protect the ones she loved when it truly mattered most and always continues to proves her doubters wrong. In her own chaotic way she almost carried the same unfiltered honesty that someone like Lorelai Gilmore made famous—saying exactly what was on her mind and somehow making it charming.

Next up we have someone that has crossed paths with Alex just once before but she always too busy to honestly remember. It’s our favorite popstar who lives the best of both worlds, Hannah Montana. Our favorite blonde popstar had not only the best outfits & songs but also some of the best lessons of life any girl can have the privilege of knowing and witnessing. From learning to nobody’s perfect to knowing when to follow your heart when it comes to important decisions. She carried that same confidence and stage presence that girls like Santana Lopez would later bring to the screen, bold, unapologetic, and never afraid to own the spotlight.

Our next female icon is no stranger to the glamorous well known life but is known to be a mastermind for schemes. It’s our upper Eastside queen, Blair Waldorf. Although there was a number of questionable moments that makes us bat an eye, but one thing is for sure that Blair Waldorf always stands her ground, always gets what she wants one way or another, smart in quite frankly so many different ways, and has the best outfits. When in doubt we always got to ask ourselves, WWBWD, “What Would Blair Waldorf Do?”. And honestly, her ability to command a room sometimes felt not too far off from the power moves of Olivia Pope, a woman who also knows exactly how to handle any situation thrown her way.

Now our next icon I wanna say is very similar but also the opposite. The angel version of Blair, Elle Woods. Someone who proves that kindness, intelligence, and a love for pink can coexist perfectly. She reminds me a lot of characters like Betty Suarez who showed the world that authenticity and heart can take you further than anyone expects. And in her own powerful way, Elle also carries that quiet determination we saw in women like Daenerys Targaryen, different worlds entirely, yet both proving that a woman stepping into her power can completely change the game.

And if there was ever a social butterfly who could thrive in a world full of Blairs and Elles, it would probably be someone like Summer Roberts, another reminder that confidence, growth, and finding your voice are all part of the journey. All of these women may be fictional, but their story & their strength are real to many. We relate to them in ways that we honestly may not relate to the people around us, they guide us through journeys where we have felt lost. So in a way, we were never really alone growing up. We always had an iconic female role model to look up to on our screens.