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Legally Blonde is a story about finding yourself. Well, at least that’s how I perceived it. Although this film may seem quirky, comedic, and fun, it also has a deeper meaning. While watching, I didn’t expect to connect with the main character, Elle Woods, played by Reese Witherspoon. For context, Elle is a popular, fashionable sorority queen who appears to have it all until her boyfriend, Warner, breaks up with her, claiming she’s “a Marilyn, not a Jackie,” and heads off to pursue his future at Harvard Law School. Determined to win him back and prove she’s both intelligent and capable, Elle sets her sights on getting into Harvard herself. But in the process, an important question emerges: who is she really trying to prove herself to? Here are some empowering lessons I learned from Elle Woods.
- Be Yourself
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When Elle arrives at Harvard, she is judged for the way she dresses and is perceived. She is an icon when it comes to fashion, nails, and hair, which makes people doubt her intelligence; even her ex-boyfriend, Warner, was dumbfounded when he saw her at Harvard.
Despite the backlash, Elle stays true to herself and proves that intelligence comes in all shapes and minds. One of my favorite attributes she has is empathy, kindness, and optimism for the things she strives for. People may call her “Malibu Barbie,” but she proves her intelligence through her actions and education, and most importantly, she embraces who she is.
- Never Let a Man Define Your Worth
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For most of the film, Elle tries to prove she’s a “Jackie” to win Warner back, but along the way, she finds her own passions and goals. One of the most heartbreaking lines is when Elle states, “I’m never going to be good enough for you, am I?” From this moment on, Elle wants to prove how valuable she can be; although it may seem like she’s doing it for him, it pivots into Elle’s journey. She becomes top of her class and even gets accepted by Professor Callahan as a first-year intern for a murder case.
@Nicwilstar via YouTube. A hardship Elle faces is discovering that Professor Callahan was only interested in her looks, not her intelligence. After the truth is revealed, she feels discouraged, doubts her value, and is tempted to quit law school. One of my favorite scenes of this movie is when the intimidating Professor Stormwell tells Elle, along the lines of “If you’re going to let one stupid prick ruin your life. You’re not the girl I thought you were.”
This reminds Elle of her journey and how she will never let anyone dictate who she is or her intelligence.
- Prove Yourself
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Of course, Elle’s Harvard video submission was part of why she got accepted, but there’s so much more to it. She studied nonstop for the LSATs and worked hard throughout her entire internship to solve the case despite Professor Callahan’s cruel intentions. Ironically, it’s also thanks to her beauty expertise. Despite her initial motives for getting accepted into Harvard, Elle proved to herself that she is capable of anything through hard work, discipline, and dedication.
@HBO via YouTube
Most importantly, embrace yourself for who you are. Many of us in college try to change to fit in with a crowd. Elle wasn’t “too blonde.” She continued to be herself despite people’s snarky comments, actions, and judgments. At the end of her journey, she eventually found someone who loved her for who she is. She represents staying true to who you are, continuing to push ahead, no matter the challenges you face, and having faith in yourself.