The world has plenty of role models to look up to. Michelle Obama , Dwayne Johnson, and Meryl Streep , to name a few.
While these icons are great and all, there may be times when you’re reading a book or watching a TV show and find yourself relating to the characters.
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This is where fictional role models come in! From Olivia Benson to Elle Woods , come learn which fictional role models are inspiring women.
Leslie Knope from ‘Parks and Recreation’
Oh, Leslie! This quirky character is a lot of people’s favorite for a reason: she’s a strong female leader. This makes her someone to look up to, both professionally and personally. We also have her to thank for Galentine’s Day!
Majority of good mature/older women from Studio Ghibli movies
“They are wise and kind, while having sense of humor and their own interests in life. I want to grow into being a woman who is not shaken by hectic world, but finds beauty and power in calmness.” – u/ snailminister
Olenna Tyrell from ‘Game of Thrones’
You don’t want to get on this grandmother’s bad side! One Redditor wrote that she’s a badass grandma. This was proven when she protected her granddaughter from marrying the monster, Joffrey.
Peggy Hill from ‘King of the Hill’
“I have confidence issues so I always say I wish I had half of Peggy Hill’s self confidence. Even if she’s usually delusional, the woman loves herself and truly believes she’s amazing which is something I would like.” -u/ Viiibrations
Olivia Benson from ‘Law & Order SVU’
There’s a reason Taylor Swift named her cat after her! Olivia is brave, resilient, and never afraid to fight for her victims. Many Redditors agree, writing that she knows how to get stuff done.
Marge Gunderson from ‘Fargo’
“She’s kind and warm, but firm when she needs to be. She’s also empathic and observant, and really freaking great at her job. She’s an incredibly competent, badass woman without ever sacrificing her gentleness and belief in goodness, which is rarer to see in female characters. I also appreciate that she and her husband are incredibly supportive of each other.” – u/ winternoelstice
Buffy Summers from ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’
So many of us wanted to be her when the show was still on the air. She dealt with challenges that came for her and didn’t shy away from her fears.
Victoria McQueen from ‘NOS4A2’
“Young woman fighting an old decrepit man to save all that she loves while trying not to lose her sanity each time she uses her strong creative abilities. She’s not the most likeable character but to me she’s relatable.” -u/ carolinabluebird
Sailor Moon from ‘Sailor Moon’
No one can deny that she’s the best character in the series!
She taught young girls about standing up for themselves and the importance of teamwork. One Redditor wrote that she exemplified the importance of building relationships.
Atticus from ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’
“He is caring, intelligent, empathetic, kind, patient – qualities I admire in a person in general and aspire to. He gives and is treated with utmost respect and love. He is written so beautifully and played to perfection by Gregory Peck.” – u/ secondamethyst
Olivia Pope from ‘Scandal’
No one “handles” problems quite like her. She makes it look so easy! While she made mistakes (her affair with the president being a huge one) this flaw worked to humanize her iconic character.
Sansa Stark from ‘Game of Thrones’
“A girly girl who isn’t the villain? Who gets by purely on wits and empathy and networking instead of violence or backstabbing?? I’m inspired by how full of love she is despite her horrific abuse.” – u/ LilyMunsterIsQueen
Meredith Grey from ‘Grey’s Anatomy’
She has been through so much — whether that’s losing her husband, taking care of her sick mother, or losing friends — and yet, she never gives up.
Snow White from ‘Snow White’
“She’s tougher than most of the newer princesses, surviving murder attempts twice and never once feeling sorry for herself. I am not always as kind and patient as I could be and I have immense admiration for people who are in spite of the pain life has dealt them. Those are the real badasses.” – u/ LilyMunsterIsQueen
Hermione Granger from ‘Harry Potter’
She made it cool to be studious and smart, always stood up for herself, and was such a loyal friend. She was also a huge feminist, which inspires other women to be the same.
Lara Croft from ‘Lara Croft: Tomb Raider’
“Lara Croft, up until Underworld to be specific. The acrobatics, intelligence, snarkiness, and globe trotting with a pair of pistols and finding the worlds secrets is pretty bad a*s.” – u/ niciswan
Diane Nguyen from ‘Bojack Horseman’
“It’s comforting to know that she eventually got her [expletive] together, wrote a successful series of books and married a good Guy that is really good for her and gets her. I’m still younger than she was at the start of the series so I guess there’s still hope for me yet.” – u/ subtropicalpancake
Elle Woods
Elle Woods is the perfect example that you can do whatever you set your mind to! You shouldn’t let the doubts of others get in your way. Plus, she showed that it’s okay to be girly.
H/T: Reddit
Last Updated on March 30, 2022 by Sarah Kester
