Female TV Characters That Made Growing Up Feel Less Lonely

Growing up as a girl can be very difficult. There’s just so many decisions to navigate: friendships come and go, there’s insecurities, hopes and dreams, and in the midst of all of this, you’re just trying to figure out who you are. This can feel so overwhelming at times. When I was growing up, I consumed so much tv media and found so much comfort in watching teen drama shows or movies. They always inspired me and made me feel seen. Sometimes the characters on our screens provide us comfort that we don’t know we need. Obviously, not every female character is the perfect role model, but their complicated personas is what made them relatable. No one is perfect. 

charlotte york

Charlotte York represents the girl who grew up believing in the fairytale. She greatly values love, traditions and her friends. Throughout Sex and the City, her expectations are challenged as she realizes that life doesn’t always follow the timeline we imagine for ourselves. Despite others’ judgements, Charlotte always stayed true to herself. She knew her worth and what she wanted, and always stuck to that. 

marnie michaels

Marnie represents girls who don’t have their life figured out and are exploring their identity. Marnie wants the world: she wants to be successful and put together. But these wants heavily weigh on her, because like most people, she doesn’t have it all together. She often makes very rash decisions. Her imperfections are what make her relatable, she’s what most people don’t want to admit about themselves. 

cristina yang

Cristina Yang provides a great example of the ambitious woman who refuses to make herself smaller for others. Throughout Grey’s Anatomy, she prioritizes her career rather than following a traditional route. She challenges the expectation that women should put relationships ahead of their ambitions. Cristina is the embodiment of the idea that it’s okay to choose yourself.

elle woods

Elle Woods reminds the world that being feminine doesn’t make you less. She was often doubted in her abilities due to her femininity, but she always pushed through and showed her capabilities. Her story shows that women shouldn’t have to change who they are to be taken seriously. You can love fashion, beauty and the color pink while still being ambitious and intelligent.

sharpay evans

Growing up, many viewed Sharpay as the villain of High School Musical, but I always loved her. Sure, she was dramatic, but she was admirably ambitious. But what’s so wrong about a girl who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to pursue it? While she had made some poor decisions, Sharpay challenges the idea that girls need to be quiet about their goals to be liked.

All of these characters come from completely different shows and movies, but they each represent a different experience of womanhood. They remind us that we don’t all have to want the same things, or follow what society deems we should do. We can be our own person, on our own personal journey. Sometimes, seeing a little bit of ourselves in someone on a screen is enough to feel strong enough to achieve the life we want. 

• entertainment