Gone are the days when we'd need to scour through IMDB personalized lists to find badass women to look up to in the media. Today, we've got so many versions of Catwoman, it's honestly hard to keep up with them. Thankfully, a new version is borne every decade or so to keep us on our toes. And have you noticed that even female villains have now turned into our unsung heroes? Where oh where would we be without the likes of Maleficent or Harley Quinn to represent the good fight? The badassery will continue—as it's necessary—but what about the resilient, beautiful, badass broads of the past? There are countless that kicked ass, both literally and figuratively, or honed their witchcraft with enough skill to put Harry Potter to shame. I'm here to sing their 2000s praises.
Sydney Bristow was the CIA agent who we all wanted as a friend. Her intelligence and Judo skills impressed us to no end and her wardrobe skills killed too, in more ways than one. Remember trying to replicate those famous wig/makeup combos of hers? Better than any YouTube guru of today whose eyeshadow palette game is strong af; Sydney could just match and exceed it.
Where would we be without The Power of Three? Seriously though. My sister and I lived and breathed this show, with their corny incantations and spaghetti strap heels. With their individualized powers that made us crave the day we too would inherit telekinetic strength or the power to freeze time. Piper, Phoebe, Prue, and Paige's distinct characters, wacky personalities, and sexy confidence helped mold me into the woman I am today. Just call me their long-lost 5th Halliwell sister.
Unstoppable, funny, charismatic, and total badass queens: Girlfriends was my everything when it came to a sitcom. The humor wasn't as on the nose or abrasive as Sex and the City, since we're talking about public television programming of the early 2000s here. However, they harnessed innuendo so organically, it felt like I was watching something risqué. I loved that Joan was a lawyer and that Lynn had no idea what to do in her life, stuck in college declaring one major after another in order to procrastinate her future. One of my favorite pastimes honestly. I loved how Maya was a mom trying to just make it to tomorrow, but would never lose her comedic sass. And Toni? Was tolerable, but truly loyal. I loved the spectrum they showed and how unequivocally strong their friendship was.
This dynamic duo of double agents had us floored during its debut. Though the quality of the writing may have significantly gone downhill over the seasons, Maggie Q and Lindsey Fonseca delighted us with some of the best combat scenes in TV history. Their bond grows over time, from "expert teaches novice" to something more maternal and loving.
Okay. Let's jump ahead to a few movies. So Aeon Flux is essentially about this gorgeous robot (played by none other than Charlize Theron, because duh, that's why). She needs to take down a big bad operation, and she does so—all while keeping her jet-black side bob exactly in place. It's sexy, it's hardcore, it's very animatronic.
This is the story about a real-life bounty hunter named Domino Harvey who risked nearly everything to chase and take down some indisputable hard criminals. Keira Knightley plays Domino and I couldn't buy the idea until the movie began and I realized that she was cast so perfectly. Which is pretty badass in and of itself; Knightley trading in some 16th century poofy gowns for worn-out leather and a potty mouth is the kind of Knightley I'd like to see more often. The gif here isn't actually from Domino, but she just looked so ethereal here that I had to.
Okay we're gonna throw it wayyy back here for a moment. Hildy Johnson, played by the incomparable Rosalind Russell, blew me away. Here's a reporter that wants to settle down, but also wants to be the best journalist out there. Her moxie won me over from the moment she started speaking. A credit to the screenwriters, true, but the delivery and performance by Russell instigated something within me. I am now that annoying friend that recommends this black-and-white movie daily to all my friends and family.
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Like what you see? Find more hilarious women's memes and crazy stories on our Instagram @Cheezcake_Humor and more videos on our TikTok @cheezcaked