Although I was never really concerned with getting in with the "cool kids" during my own high school years, I've always loved watching classic teen movies and TV dramas and have found myself very intrigued by the concept of the "Queen Bee". From 80s cult classics like "Heathers" to recent hit shows like "Scream Queens", the role of the popular, sharp-tongued, clique leader has been a constant feature in entertainment. Characters like Regina George or Blair Waldorf have become cultural icons among teenage girls for their ability to dominate a school with style. But what is it that makes these characters so fascinating to watch? Let's explore the different genres of Queen Bee in order to figure out how they earned that coveted royal title.

Type 1: Evil Dictator

Ex. Heather Chandler (Heathers), Courtney Shane (Jawbreaker), Regina George (Mean Girls), Chanel Oberlin (Scream Queens)

It's far better to be feared than loved. That's the motto of the Type 1 Queen Bee who reigns over the cafeteria with an iron fist. With their select clique of beautiful, accommodating followers, endless cash-flow and stunning looks, these characters seem to have it all. They demand respect and praise from anyone lower on the social ladder and won't hesitate to attack those who dare question their superiority.

They embody the essence of fantasy villainy in a real world setting, spitting outrageous insults and crafting complicated schemes to win Prom Queen or blackmail enemies while basking in the admiration of football players jealousy of freshmen girls.

Of course all this jealousy and anger often comes with consequences. Stories with these kind of characters often involve a plot to remove the Queen from power after she's finally gone too far. The plot of "Heathers" centers on the murder of the clique's leader by her best friend while "Mean Girls" focuses on Cady's plan to fake popularity in order to secretly take Regina down and steal her boyfriend.

So while it's fun to imagine yourself in the role of the evil diva for a little while, it seems that what viewers truly want is to see these ladies get their "just desserts".

Type 2: Popularity Princess

Ex. Cher Horowitz (Clueless), Elle Woods (Legally Blonde)

Unlike the evil brand of Queen Bee, the characters in the Type 2 model are much more likely to resemble the popular girls you find in real life. Characters like Cher from "Clueless" and Elle from "Legally Blonde" achieve their popularity through a combination of charisma, confidence, and determination. (Along with impeccable fashion sense and enviably shiny hair ) Despite some self-absorbed tendencies, these characters truly want to help others and make a difference in the world They gain admirers not through fear but through positivity.

Both characters also defy the "dumb blonde" stereotype by showing passion for school, world issues, and a skill at creative problem solving. Who wasn't impressed when Cher used her matchmaking abilities to negotiate her way to better report card grades or when Elle won her court case through her expert haircare knowledge? Type 2 is the total package: beauty and brains.

Type 3: Defrosting Ice Queen

Ex. Cordelia Chase (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) , Blair Waldorf (Gossip Girl), Alison DiLaurentis (Pretty Little Liars)

Oh how the mighty have fallen...

The 3rd Queen Bee archetype is by far the most interesting and rewarding from a storytelling perspective. These are the ones who start out as Type 1 dictators, but over time reveal a more vulnerable/human side that endears them to both the other characters and the audience Typically, these kind of stories lend themselves more towards TV than film, since it allows for more time for character development.

Whether it's being cut off from their bottomless bank accounts or publicly exposing a deep dark secret, something causes these characters to fall from their pedestal and eventually seek redemption.

One of the greatest cases of Queen Bee evolution is Cordelia Chase from the hit 90s show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". Cordelia began the show as a shallow, snarky rival, who usually made brief appearances to insult Buffy and her friends. However, once she started being included in missions and later joined the Scooby Gang, Cordelia revealed she was actually much smarter and competent then she let on. She revealed the lengths she went to suppress her talents and hold onto her popularity fake 'friends, even hiding her stellar SAT scores.

Cordelia was so loved by fans in later seasons that she became one of the main stars of Buffy's spinoff show "Angel". On "Angel" her character completely transformed from her former ditzy teen girl faze into a mature, compassionate, woman who battled demons and dealt with the responsibility of newfound powers of prophecy.

Gossip Girl's Blair Waldorf,who actually embraced the nickname of 'Queen B', is also another intriguing example of a villain turned breakout character. Blair began as the status- obsessed antagonist to her ex-BFF Serena Van Der Woodsen. However, as the show went on, Blair's major insecurities about her friendships, appearance, and parents' expectations were explored further, and many viewers found her plotlines the most sympathetic because they showed that her glamorous image was often just an illusion.

In fact, Serena's character became much more of the typical effortlessly perfect 'It Girl' in later seasons while Blair was shown constantly working and struggling to hold onto success.

A final subversion of the mean girl trope I want to explore is "Pretty Little Liars" Alison DiLaurentis. For 4 seasons, Alison's character was confined only to dreams and flashbacks which painted her as an incredibly cruel, scheming teenage girl who used people's secrets to manipulate an entire town to her will. Alison's ability for preying on people's weaknesses eventually comes back to bite her when she mysteriously goes missing and is presumed murdered.But unlike Heather Chandler, Alison doesn't stay dead. When she eventually return to the show, after more than a year on the run from a dangerous stalker, she becomes both the bully and the victim. She wants to create a new identity and leave the actions of "Flashback Alison" in the past, but she still is forced to deal with the consequences of the people she hurt at the same she is working on bettering herself and letting go of her old desires for control. PLL has taken on the difficult task of deconstructing their Queen Bee without erasing her personality entirely, showing that even within set character models there are often many layers and shades of gray.