Hermione Granger has always been a role model for young women. She’s smart, she’s kind and she was responsible for keeping Harry Potter in line for seven books. So many of us looked up to Hermione and now, thanks to one Twitter user, even more young girls can see themselves in Hogwarts’ heroine.
Sophia (@peaceofseoul) created a piece of fan art depicting Hermione as a black girl, carrying her many Hogwarts books, and even wearing a SPEW badge. (Hardcore fans of the Harry Potter series will remember that SPEW aka the Society for the Promotion of Elvish Welfare, was a social movement Hermione started in the fourth book.)
A quick Hermione, living her best life pic.twitter.com/I7hTUja1Jx
— Sophia (@peaceofseoul) August 12, 2018
The beautiful drawing has generated positive buzz online with one Twitter user even saying, “This is the most beautiful and realistic Hermione I have ever seen.”
THIS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND REALISTIC HERMIONE I HAVE EVER SEEN PROPS TO YOU FOR ADDING THE SPEW BADGE ASSGJHGKHYFDS
— Amo (@shakspaere) August 13, 2018
This is hands down the most beautiful Hermione fanart I’ve EVER seen https://t.co/3Qf7u1fdLh
— Huda F (@yesimhotinthis) August 13, 2018
I need Black Ron, high key. https://t.co/aMGryF34fl
— Marcus Savage (@MDSavage63) August 13, 2018
Ho.
Lee.
Shit.
This.
Is.
Freaking.
Awesome.Take.
A.
Bow. https://t.co/dn1ixP8Vb9— N8 (@N8vaWalkAlone) August 13, 2018
Sophia seemed surprised at the response to her work saying in a follow up tweet, “Wow, I did not expect this piece to take off.”
Wow, I did not expect this piece to take off. I used @JasMeannnn as a reference to paint her face! Thanks for all the nice comments
— Sophia (@peaceofseoul) August 13, 2018
While Hermione was played by Emma Watson (a white actress) in the eight Harry Potter films, this isn’t the first time Hermione has been portrayed as a woman of color. In the Tony and Olivier Award-winning play, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Hermione is played by English actress Noma Dumezweni, a woman of color.
WOW – #womenoftheworld – Another privilege – Dame Maggie Smith! – Do I look a little excited… Wouldn’t YOU?! @standardnews Theatre Awards pic.twitter.com/Ak59J1yGlH
— MissNomamaaa (@MissDumezweni) November 19, 2016
The huge outpouring of support for a piece of fan art illustrates a larger point: representation matters. Individuals of all identities need to see themselves represented in the mainstream popular media. And while films like Love, Simon and Crazy Rich Asians are certainly helping, more representation is needed. So, while we wait for our pleas for increased representation to be heard, at least we have amazing artists like Sophia to give us what we want!