"The Princess Diaries" were a coming of age classic that every teen and tween girl fell in love with. Mia Thermopolis was the epitome of awkward. She understood bad hair days, and bad days in general. She totally felt our pain when it came to talking to guys. But in end, she got the crown and the gown. What about her best friend?
That's right. Lilly Moscovitz.
How could we forget? That stylish and cynical sidekick that dished out sarcastic comebacks like it was her job. The girl who taught us how to be sassy before we even knew what the word meant. The best friend we all wanted to be. This is an ode to her.
She understood individuality.
And that's a hard thing to do. She taught hundreds and thousands of little girls that it was okay to not be like everyone else. She showed that "being cool" wasn't all that cool, a lesson we all didn't start to fully appreciate until we escaped the black hole of high school popularity. Because of her quirks and her distinct style, she taught so many other kids like me that it's okay to dress how I want, speak up, and be myself. Plus, how many other high schoolers have you seen with an otter backpack? Mm. That's what I thought.
She rocked god-awful 2000s trends like nobody else.
As we sit, looking back at TimeHops from middle school and cringing at our awkward Hollister-clad bodies, wondering what the hell we thought was good about that outfit, Lilly strutted fearlessly through the San Fran streets. Granted, she had the uniform that most of us didn't, but still. Her confidence was undeniable. And her hairstyles (and scrunchies) were something to admire.
She knew the pain of physical activity.
From gym class to the daily commute to school, Lilly told it like it was. She didn't pretend to looooove the work-out (like some people). Nope. She whined. She complained. She totally didn't act like it was an exhilarating burst of fresh air. As always, her honesty was refreshing. And more than welcome.
She didn't stand for disrespect.
Lilly Moscovitz was not someone to be walked over. She wasn't going to let you talk down to her. She wasn't going to let you have your way without a fight. And she sure as hell wasn't going to fall prey to your pathetic pick-up lines. Honestly, Jeremiah. I think she speaks for everyone when she implies that she's getting real sick of your misogynistic magic trick sh*t.
She enjoyed comfy clothes just as much as the rest of us.
She spoke our feelings on awkwardly overdressing. True, maybe our overdressed realization didn't occur at a ceremony commemorating our best friend being heir to a fictional monachy. But let's face it. We've all totally been there.
She understood the honesty policy of the Girl Code.
Best friends don't let best friends get royal makeovers without some gentle bullying. Even though we can all probably agree that Anne Hathaway made a total babe transformation in this scene, Lilly stayed true to the BFF Code of Conduct and spoke her opinion, totally uncensored. And while she was wrong, you've got to admire her honesty. (There's a reason her cable show is originally titled "Lilly Tells it Like It Is".)
She mastered Resting Bitch Face before it even had a name.
Also, she's environmentally conscious. Score.
She never missed an opportunity for sibling rivalry.
Unlike every other Disney bro-sis duo, The Moscovitz siblings didn't pretend to be a candy-coated concoction of smiles and friendship. They taunted, teased, and irritated the living bejeezus out of each other. Even though Michael was older, LIlly filled the shoes of annoying little sister with a whole new level of sass.
She was the coolest friend we never had.
Sure, she was loud and a little obnoxious, she talked a lot more than she should have, and wasn't always the nicest. But she was quick, clever, and hilarious. She was supportive, she was loyal (except for that argument in the first movie but that was all a misunderstanding because of jealousy and Josh Bryant so let's pretend it never happened), and she was everything you could've wanted from a movie or book character. But alas, she was never someone you could know, or meet, or admire in real life. Because, well, as much as we hate to say it, she wasn't real.
But real or not, she taught us all a lot more than comebacks, and she showed us a lot more than just how to bring a choker back into style (p.s. please don't). No, Lilly Moscovitz was more than just comedic relief in her reign as Royal BFF. She was a symbol of a nation (that may sound melodramatic but so is this entire article, okay?), teaching hundreds of thousands of nervous tweens to find something to smile about. She made us laugh, she helped us grow, and she taught us that having a voice and not being afraid to let the world hear it is the greatest way you can broadcast yourself.
Even if your cable show only reaches 12 people.
