Nerd Girls Save The World: 17 Of Pop Culture’s Greatest Female Geeks

Tina Belcher (Dan Mintz) in Bob’s Burgers (Image via Fox)

16. Tina Belcher (Bob’s Burgers)

Like Lisa Simpson, watching Tina Belcher on Bob’s Burgers may bring up an unexpected specter of your own nerdy girlhood. For anyone that’s ever been a little too focused on the classic horse fantasy (or, uh, zombies) or written long, complicated fanfiction, Tina Belcher’s your girl.

If you somehow haven’t been watching Bob’s Burgers, here’s a quick summary. Bob and Linda Belcher run a small, often struggling burger joint in a seaside town. Most of the show’s stories focus on the fundamental weirdness of their family, which includes their three children, Tina, Gene, and Louise. While younger siblings Gene and Louise are flamboyantly extroverted, oldest daughter Tina (voiced by Dan Mintz) is far more withdrawn.

That doesn’t mean she lacks a rich inner life, however. Tina has a very active imagination which has included talking horses, rainbows, zombies, and the kind of butt-based obsession only a pubescent teenager can sustain.

She’s also deeply awkward. Tina’s social skills leave much to be desired, though whether or not she’s on the autism spectrum is up for debate. Still, she often finds it difficult to hold a “normal” conversation and can frequently be found hiding beneath a restaurant table, emitting her characteristic groan.

Despite all this, Tina Belcher is highly confident. While it’s common to see the “weird” kid frequently apologize for her strangeness or descend into a self-hate spiral, Tina is having none of that. She’s said, “I am a smart, strong, sensual woman”, and it’s true. We couldn’t be more proud of her confidence.

Tina has also said “My heart just pooped its pants”, which I have personally used in conversation more times than strictly necessary. She deserves her spot on this list for that line alone.