1. She gives back to her community.
Leslie Knope founded the Pawnee Goddesses when a girl was denied admission into the boys-only Pawnee Rangers. She was told to start her own club, so Leslie did! Tbh, who wouldn’t want a Best Penguin Blog badge?
2. She deeply believes in her friends.
You want Leslie to be a part of your #girlgang because she not only gives her all to her friends but has fantastic pep-talk lines.
“Ann, you are a beautiful, sassy mannequin come to life.”
“Ann, you are a poetic and noble land-mermaid.”
“You’re so beautiful, I mean, you’re always beautiful, but right now you’re the most beautiful, glowing, sun goddess ever.”
3. She looks up to other women.
Leslie’s Wall of Inspiration not only includes a DU alum—Condoleezza Rice—but Hilary Clinton, Madeleine Albright, Dianne Feinstein, Janet Reno, and Nancy Pelosi. A powerful wall indeed.
4. She loves what she does.
When the show starts, Leslie is the Deputy Director of Pawnee’s Parks and Recreation Department. Despite setbacks and angry citizens, “…what I hear when being yelled at is people caring loudly at me,” Leslie is determined to make Pawnee the best city it can possibly be (and of course, better than Eagleton!)
5. She dreams big.
Leslie has aspirations to be President of the United States. Not bad for a small-town girl from Indiana!
6. She is not easily discouraged.
Whether it’s her best friend leaving town, Eagleton being reincorporated into Pawnee, or being recalled from the Pawnee City Council, Leslie’s contagious optimism ensures she makes best of bad situations.
7. She is entirely comfortable with herself.
Leslie is always relentlessly herself and does not let anyone dictate her self-identity.
8. She maintains a great relationship with her husband.
Leslie’s and Ben’s relationship is based on love, respect, a mutual adoration of politics, and a deep understanding of how the other works. #relationshipgoals
9. She is a feminist icon.
Whether it’s becoming Pawnee’s first female city council member or operating a garbage truck all day to show that garbage women are as fully capable as garbage men, Leslie strongly believes in the power and equality of women.
10. And finally, she invented Galentine’s Day!
In 2010, the sixteenth episode of the second season of Parks & Rec featured the birth of Galentine’s Day. Leslie proclaimed that she takes the day before Valentine’s Day to celebrate the fabulous women in her life. *heart eyes*
And with that, Happy Galentine’s Day to you and all of the wonderful sun goddesses in your life!