Who are my favorite fictional queens, and why do I love them?

I decided to switch gears for this article on the Land of the Misfit Queens and talk about fictional queens that I adore. Most of these are from movies or TV shows, and I’ve grown up admiring their character and what they have taught me. Their struggles reflect those that many queens from history have dealt with. It gives us perspective on power and how to wield it.

I present to you the queens that I love from fiction and the lessons they have taught me.

1. Regina Mills — Once Upon a Time

I grew up watching Once Upon a Time with my family, and Regina was a character that I grew to love. Classical fairytales keep their characters static, assigning them labels like “good” and “bad.” People in real life are multidimensional and grow with experience. I appreciate Regina because she learned from her mistakes and let go of her vengeance.

Representing the Evil Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Regina had a vendetta against Snow White, blaming her for losing her lover. Unable to forgive, Regina made it her life mission to take away Snow White’s happiness. After finding love and learning to move past her grief, Regina became a strong and developed female lead.

2. Mary Stuart — Reign

Mary Stuart is the fictional counterpart of Mary Queen of Scots from history. Her storyline follows similarly to that of the real-life Mary but is fluffed up for the sake of entertainment. Mary was raised in a convent, then traveled to the court of France to marry Francis, son of King Henry II and heir to the French throne.

At the young age of 16, Mary learns that she has a target on her back. England plotted to take Scotland for their own and sought to stop the marriage between Mary and Francis. Reign does a great job of showing how a young woman takes control of her power and learns from her mistakes. Plus, all the drama makes for great television. Mary Stuart taught me to speak up for what I believe in and never to be too trusting.

3. Glimmer — She-Ra Princess of Power

Glimmer is one of the main characters in the Netflix original show She-ra Princess of Power. Her mother was the queen of Bright Moon, and after she dies, Glimmer takes her place. In the show, there is a war between the kingdom of Bright Moon and the Horde, an opposing force trying to control the whole planet they live on, Etheria.

Glimmer struggles with balancing her duties as queen and commander of Bright Moon’s forces throughout the show and her relationships with her best friends and fellow princesses. Juggling the pressure of living up to her mother’s legacy and keeping into perspective what she is fighting for is tough for a young girl, and I appreciate how the show interprets that in Glimmer.

4. Elle Woods — Legally Blonde

Technically, Elle Woods wasn’t a formal queen, but she was the Homecoming queen at her university, so I say she’s legitimate. I love Elle Woods for various reasons, but most importantly, the way she treats others with kindness. Characters in the movie do terrible things to her, but she handles it with grace and sticks to her goal.

I know that Legally Blonde is considered a “chick flick.” Most people view it for pure enjoyment, but I see the value in Elle’s character and appreciate how the movie portrays her. Being “intelligent” manifests in more ways than one, and Elle is a perfect example of that.