Growing up, there were movies that had characters most young girls aspired to be. However, I do not just mean the princesses from Disney movies. I am talking about the female characters that showed us how to challenge closed minded people, fit in, live a truly happy life, and believe in yourself. These characters formed many into the people they are today. Teaching us to ignore all the outside rumors and learn from their stories.

1. Viola - "She's The Man"

This movie challenged the status quo by sneaking a girl onto a boys team. There has been this ongoing stigma that women are not as strong, athletic, smart, and all the other made-up qualities men claim women do not possess. After being told she could not join the boys soccer team, after the girls team was cut, she dressed as a boy and joined the boys soccer team at the rivalry school. Viola showed me, as a young girl, that, not only are the rumors about men and women not being equally capable but, women can beat men. Viola changed my perception of the capabilities of women and I wanted to challenge any guy that told me I was not able to do something.

2. Haley Graham- "Stick It"

In the beginning of the film, Haley's character is riding around on her bike, doing tricks and just hanging with the guys. To me, that is who I wanted to be: the down-to-earth tomboy that was friends with all of the guys. Haley had this "I do what I want" attitude that was so unique and impossible for me to achieve. She broke the rules of gymnastics and the law! Besides the law-breaking, Haley showed me that a girl could just be one of the guys, no matter who you are or what you do.

3. Jenna Rink- "13 Going On 30"

Jenna rocked the New York scene while working at Poise magazine. Jenna proved that no matter what age you are, you are still young at heart. Just because you are working in the "concrete jungle," does not mean that you need to be a hard, mean, or boring person! I learned to live life to its fullest possible ability, let your heart lead your choices, and love like you are 13!

4. Elle Woods- "Legally Blonde"

After being rejected by the man she loved for not being "smart enough," Elle Woods knew that the only way to prove him wrong is to do the exact thing he thought she could never do- attend Harvard Law School. Elle surprised everyone by getting accepted, attending, and, especially, succeeding in law school (read gif now). Elle Woods never doubted herself or her abilities. All odds were against her, but the one thing that got her through was her confidence.

5. Gracie Hart- "Miss Congeniality"

Growing up, I watched this crime-fighting character rock the pageant stage multiple times. Pageantry has this image that it just includes these women who are not as educated or skilled, however, this movie proves all of those rumors wrong. It shows that these women put in various amounts of time and effort to be in these pageants. Additionally, do not judge the woman in these competitions, because beneath the kickass beauty that they have, is layers of intelligence, strength, independency, etc. and the beauty goes deeper than what meets the eye.

6. Sam- "A Cinderella Story"

Sam had always been neglected and treated like a servant in her family. She successfully balanced her grades, household chores and, what seemed to be, a full-time job. Between the evil stepmother, stepsisters, and no matter how poorly she was treated, she continued to put hard work towards her goal because she knew that, in the end, it would all be worth it.