23 of the most fearless female characters

Kamala Khan, a.k.a. Ms. Marvel, is a gem and showcases that while it’s fun to love superheroes, it’s not impossible to become the hero in your own story.

Growing up is hard, and there is a lot of not-so-fun stuff that comes with it, but Ladybird was proof that sometimes you just have to stick to being you, and while there will be some bumps getting there, eventually you’ll make it through.

Running for one’s life can make them get into some pretty crazy scenarios. Even more so when one has the ability to tell when anyone around them is lying. Charlie Cale’s life could only exist on screen, but that doesn’t mean she’s any less fearless as she navigates an endless cycle of chaos.

Disney Princesses got a run for their money in the 21st century when Princess Fiona stepped onto the scene. Far from a damsel in distress, she taught not only bravery but also an important lesson in acceptance and self-love.

Wednesday Addams has been inspiring those who don’t fit into the box since the TV series debuted in 1964. An animated series, a couple of box office delights, and a hit Netflix series later, and Wednesday is still making people on the outside feel seen.

Lisa Simpson has forever stood her ground, whether it was about her dietary choices or fighting for what’s right. It’s no wonder she went on to be president in her world.

The world might know her as Princess Leia, but really, she’s a queen bee of not only the Star Wars fandom, but many outside of it who view her as one of the baddest characters to ever grace the big screen.

Beth Pearson married into a family that came with a lot of baggage, and she always managed to keep her head up and, more impressively, her cool as she navigated not only the rest of the Pearsons but also her own life decisions.

Everyone’s favorite Amazonian.

A legit beast had her dad locked up, and she didn’t even blink twice when she offered to take his place. Respect.

Cookie Lyon ran that Empire realm with an iron fist and looked impeccable while doing so.

June Osbourne faced one of women’s biggest nightmares head-on, and managed to never give up her fight; a true warrior.

Matilda realized early on in her life that her family was not going to places she wanted to be, and had a plan of escape. She also took on one of the scariest principals to ever exist, fictional or not.

Queen Latifah’s Robyn McCall had big shoes to fill on The Equalizer, and it’s safe to say she had those kicks overflowing.

On MTV’s Daria, there was the titular character who never liked to stray from her regularly scheduled suburban anti-establishment ideals, and on the other side were all the popular kids yearning for the title of cool. Then smack dab in the middle was Jane Lane, a teen who didn’t strive for anyone’s acceptance but her own.

What do Scarlet Witch and Vin Diesel have in common? They’ll face anything and anyone for the sake of family.

Nickelodeon’s Rocket Power played into the popularity of extreme sports at the tail end of the ‘90s and start of the 2000s, with Reggie Rocket being the lone girl in a gang of kids who did everything from skateboarding to surfing. She even ran a little ‘zine and was the envy of every girl who was ever told “girls can’t do that.”

There was a show on Netflix called On My Block, which was part coming-of-age story, part Goonies mystery, set on the outskirts of Los Angeles. It starred a ton of amazing actors, including Jessica Marie Garcia, who played one of the most unapologetic characters, Jasmine Flores, a self-love affirmation come to life.

She volunteered as tribute!

It took nerves of steel to stand up to the toddler with the most sass in TV history, Angelica Pickles on Nickelodeon’s Rugrats, but Susie Carmichael did just that.

Andrea Sachs was put through it in The Devil Wears Prada, and shocked many when she chose herself and sanity over a career bump.

The One Day at a Time remake was as charming as it was comical, and while every character brought something lovely to the table, it was Elena Alvarez who shone when it came to fearlessness. Just check out the episode featuring her quinceañera for proof of her tenacity and strength.

Fearlessness is sneaking away in the middle of the night to fight a war for your elderly father, and then saving your entire country.