50 influential fictional women in nerd history

Princess Leia

Truly it wouldn’t be a list of nerdy girls without Princess Leia. In a lot of ways, she was the pioneer of the feminist movement in modern pop culture. Leia, who ended up going from a princess who needed rescuing (as many men see it) to a general, helped show girls everywhere that they could be the hero in their own stories.

It is a common misconception that Leia needed saving from Luke and Han. She’s fine. She was starting a rebellion and helping get the plans to the Death Star to Obi-Wan Kenobi long before the farm boy and the smuggler arrive into the story. In the end, she even saves the two of them during said “rescue” mission.

Throughout the entire Star Wars franchise, Leia has consistently been the free-spirited girl who wants to rid the world of the dark side of the force. She is an active part in taking down Darth Vader and is even force sensitive herself.

In pop culture, Leia has helped cement the idea that girls can be nerdy too. Before her, we basically could look up to Wonder Woman, and even then, we were told we weren’t nerdy enough. But Leia’s arrival paved the way for nerd girls everywhere to show their love of all things geeky with pride.

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And it is with all these amazing women that we stand in geeky pride today.