LIFE

Raise your hand if you've learned *a lot* from strong women in your life!

Between awesome moms, sisters, cousins, grandmas, aunties and BFFs, we have a lot of rad role models in real life. It's so amazing to see similar heros on screen too! Here are the *best* life lessons we've learned from chick flick heroines.

Elle Woods (Legally Blonde)

Don't let anyone stop you from achieving your dreams!

Everyone seems to tell Elle that she isn't good enough, that she can't marry Warner, that she isn't smart enough for Harvard Law School and that she won't be a good lawyer. Rather than listen to the negativity, Elle keeps shining and in the end, achieves *all* her goals. Yes, girl!

Viola Johnson (She's the Man)

Fake it till you make it!

When Viola's soccer team is cut, she pretends to be her brother and joins the boy's team. Though we obviously don't recommend identity theft, Viola gives us all a good lesson: if you have a problem to solve, get creative and never give up.

Cady Heron (Mean Girls)

The truth will catch up with you eventually.

We can all learn from Cady's experience. Lies and rumors may be temporarily anonymous, but the truth always comes out. Imagine how you would feel if someone was spreading rumors about you—the backlash isn't worth it.

Lara Jean Covey (To All the Boys I've Loved Before)

Be dreamy, but remain practical.

Lara Jean is the *epitome* of dreamy: head in the clouds, sentimental and romantic. However, when she and Peter start dating, she doesn't have any unrealistic expectations. She doesn't spend her life devoted to any of her crushes (past or present) and knows when to let them go.

Sydney White (Sydney White)

Don't judge a book by its cover!

Sydney, who started college with dreams of belonging to the same sorority as her late mother, is in a rough spot when the new sorority president has it out for her. To fight back, Sydney joins forces with seven outcasts to take down the corrupt greek system. Sydney looks past their exterior and in them finds her true family.

Jenna Rink (13 Going on 30)

Stay true to yourself!

In an attempt to fit in, middle school Jenna pretends to be someone she isn't, which leads her down a path of posturing even when she's in her 30s! Thankfully, she eventually does embrace her real self and has the happy ending she dreamed of. Lesson? Always be yourself. 

Anna Coleman (Freaky Friday)

Don't judge someone until you've walked a mile in their shoes.

Anna and her mom couldn't be more different. But when a freak accident causes them to switch bodies, they have to live as each other. As they do, they develop a new understanding and in the end learn a lot about the other. 

Lena, Carmen, Tibby and Bridget (Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants)

Distance doesn't mean anything to true friends.

The four girls spend the summer apart and have to work hard to stay in contact (oh, and this was before social media *and* texting). But, they keep up to date with the traveling pants, which connects them despite their physical distance. True blue friends will *always* make it work.

Which life lessons have you learned from chick flick leads? Let us know on Twitter @girlslifemag!

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Slider image via instagram.com/hola_mx

by Elina Graham | 2/5/2021