MAY THE 4TH BE WITH YOU VINAS!

A few words come to mind when I think of the women of the Star Wars franchise. Strength. Resilience. Leadership. Grace. Smarts.

Leia, Padme, and Rey are strong symbols of feminism and have been fierce and fighting since the late 1970s.

As a girl, I idolized Princess Leia from the original trilogy. Aside from her fashion and iconic hair, I especially loved how she ran things. I was a bossy little girl and always wanted to be a princess, so I loved having a galactic princess who was in charge to admire. She was the epitome of every word I mentioned previously: strong, resilient, and a smart leader. She was one of the first women in film I remember admiring.

When I was in high school, I met Padme Amidala. She showed me you could be graceful, kind, and a leader. She fought for those who couldn’t fight for themselves, and that was an important to learn when I was a teenager. Padme taught me to stick up for those who don’t have a voice, to be kind, and not be afraid to lead.

Fast-forward to adulthood, when the seventh episode of the series came out. Rey is a young woman who is uncovering something very strong inside herself, which is something I feel we have all identified with at one point or another in our lives. Her yearning to become something bigger is realized and her strength and smarts carry her through her journey of self-discovery. It fills my heart with joy knowing young girls today have a modern Leia to adore.

 Even Jyn Erso from Rogue One is a force to be reckoned with. She was strong and not afraid to stand up and fight. Her strength and passion to fulfill her mission carried her through the film and is someone women, young and old, can admire.

Who was your favorite woman of the Star Wars universe and what has she taught you? Tell us in the comments below! And make sure to celebrate May the Fourth with your closest vinas!