My hatred for the color pink started in middle school. Everyone was obsessed with dystopian books like The Hunger Games and Divergent, and I was obsessed with them, too. I wanted so desperately to be a badass woman who could save the world, a girl who didn't need help from anyone. Middle school is a time where everyone feels awkward, and I craved the confidence these women possessed.

These women were smart, strong, and "tomboyish". They were too busy saving the world to care about "girly" things. I decided that I would hate the color pink and renounce anything labelled as "girly". I thought that anything girly meant that you were weak. Now, I see that the underlying belief was that being a girl meant being weak: to save the world you had to be just like one of the boys. It has taken characters like Elle Woods to make me realize that you can be a badass and a pioneer in your field AND love the color pink.

I hope we see more strong, female characters that aren't afraid to be in touch with their feminine side. I don't know if Hollywood will ever get the memo. That's why I've decided to be the strong woman who loves the color pink. I refuse to sacrifice the feminine part of myself to be taken seriously. If I can inspire one girl to stay true to herself, it will have been enough, but I hope that I can inspire a whole generation of women to love the color pink.