50 fearless, confident, all around badass women on television

Photo: ABC

Olivia Pope – Scandal

If female badass heroine was a place, Olivia Pope would be mayor, Queen, and President all at once. She is television’s boldest female character, and the kind of woman you want to be in your corner, always.

Olivia Pope is Washington’s most effective fixer, and she slays all day, everyday. She’s advised Presidents, Senators, and everybody in between. At this point in American history, we could use a force like Olivia in our real lives.

Even when Kerry Washington was pregnant in real life, Olivia never slowed down, facing political giants, formidable foes, and she did all without spilling one drop of her giant glass of red wine. Olivia set up a paradigm in which she was the danger, and folks came to her to intervene when they were at their weakest. Knowing she was flawless in all the ways that count, Olivia Pope would take your worst day and turn it into something to you don’t have to be afraid of.

In addition to being queen boss of her professional life, she is also the master of her personal domain. Who among us didn’t cheer when she told Fitz he had to earn her, or when she faced down her own father for the good of her country? She will not be diminished, and for that she’s the real badass.