I’ve grown up watching shows like Xena, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Alias and more, all based around kick-ass women who were slaying at life. Growing up, I always imagined myself as a boss lady, dressed in killer suites, making angry calls on behalf of my vulnerable and distressed clients and just #winning.
This makes a lot of sense to me now because as a child I was extremely demanding, bossy and always wanted to get my way. My first leadership endeavor entailed me hanging up a chalkboard, sticking on fake Barbie nails and tapping away on that poor board with lessons about life to my younger brother.
“REPEAT AFTER ME,” I would scream as I strutted around the room waiting for an answer that was remotely close to what I had in mind. I always thought I was the smartest person in the room and if I ever felt threatened by another child I deemed as more intelligent, I’d throw a tantrum about something completely irrelevant. I always wanted to be the best, I was always competitive and I never backed down.
20 years later, the outcome is a little different than what I had in mind but most of the characteristics I possessed are still intact. Bossy, check. Demanding, check. Leadership skills, check. An angry little ball of love, check. I do not, however, wear killer suites and I’m mostly dressed in jeans and sneakers. After I graduated university, I noticed my choice of shows still had one common theme. Powerful boss ladies who made their own way and shaped their own careers. They weren’t all necessarily angry and scary, some of them were actually hilarious and fun but still managed to be top-notch at work. Also, having a mother who blows my mind with her success has raised the bar really high in terms of how I act. She’s a bio-medical engineer, architect and interior designer who has three kids, so I have pretty big shoes to fill. Besides my momma, here are some of the women on TV who have caught my attention one way or another. The list could go on forever but these are a few at the top of my head!
Dr. Mindy Lahiri, The Mindy Project
Via Variety
The Mindy Project is actually one of my favorite shows because it’s so light and I find Mindy’s ridiculous personality and sense of humor hilarious. I love how much confidence she has and how she always thinks she’s the best at everything although she’s mostly a walking disaster. She makes it work though whilst managing to be innovative, entertaining and stylish.
Annalise Keating, How to Get Away With Murder
Via Hollywood Reporter
I mean, if you had to describe a powerhouse, this would probably be it. Clever, serious, scary, strategic, brilliant and also vulnerable and kind. She creates a balance between all the different opposing characteristics she possesses, whilst always reigning supreme.
Cristina Yang, Grey’s Anatomy
Via Ibtimes
When I was a lot younger I used to hate her character and could never understand why she was so tough and cold and so confused with how she displays her emotions. The older I got, the more I respected her character and ended up loving her. Yang never does anything she doesn’t want to do and although she can unnecessarily get dragged into drama sometimes, her boundary setting is top notch.
Cersei Lannister, Game of Thrones
Via Bildamon
I know this one is a little odd because she is presented as so evil and so manipulative but MY MY MY, Cersei is definitely a character I like to closely watch and follow. Opposite of almost everyone I know who is intrigued by the Mother of Dragons, I enjoy watching the KWEEN do her thing so much more.
Blair Waldorf, Gossip Girl
Via Wonder
A classic. An icon. A legend. Waldorf needs no introduction. I guess I’ve always had a thing for the mean girls because I know that under all the resting B face, attitude and high maintenance demeanor, lies a heart of gold. Just, like, moi! Bye.
