From a young age, role models often come not just from the people around us, but from the characters we see on our screens. Whether they’re heroes, villains or something in between, these fictional figures shape the way we see the world and ourselves. Their stories stay with us, offering lessons that feel just as real as those learned in everyday life.

It’s worth recognizing just how powerful female characters have been in that space and have challenged expectations, redefined strength and shown that there’s no single way to be powerful. 

Their influence goes beyond representation. They inspire confidence, resilience and the courage to take up space.

Curious about the impact these characters still have today, I asked SDSU students which fictional character has inspired them the most, and what life lesson resonated with them the strongest. 

Here’s what they had to say.

 

Mercedes Jones – “Glee” 

Ellen Rubinshteyn, a third-year psychology major, said that Mercedes taught her to achieve success on your own terms. 

“She taught me to not change who you are to be accepted in the world and to achieve your dreams and the career that you want,” Rubinshteyn said 

Rubinshteyn explained that in season five of the series, Mercedes was signed with a record label to release an album, but only if they could control her image for the cover. In the end, Mercedes independently released the album and still got the career she wanted. 

“She didn’t change the way she looked. She didn’t want to believe that there was only one kind of way to be a popstar and one way to have an image as a popstar,” Rubinshteyn said. 

 

Cinderella – “Cinderella” 

Meghan Dang, a second-year computer science and mathematics major, said that one of her favorite movies was “Cinderella,” specifically the 1950 animated film. She said that Cinderella taught her to be more resourceful when facing hardships. 

“She’s one of those characters that a lot of people characterize her in a certain way without thinking about her circumstances…One of the reasons why I love the movie is because I can see how hard [she] is working even through all of the misfortunes that she’s gone through,” Dang said. 

She mentioned that she applies this lesson in her own life, as it helps her manage studying a major in a male-dominated field. 

“What a lot of [computer science] majors tend to do is keep to ourselves. But I think that one resource that we have is each other. So one way I took initiative on that is joining clubs, for example, Women in Technology,” Dang said. “Because I put myself out there, I was able to get myself in a community of women [in the field].” 

 

Pink Power Ranger – “Power Rangers” 

Ariana Legaspi Gutierrez, a third-year electrical engineering student, said that the Pink Power Ranger taught her that it is possible to embody both femininity and strength.

“Pink is a feminine color, and a lot of fictional characters who are women tend to be really girly. The color pink embodies that. But what I loved about her was, yes, her color was pink, but as a character, they made her so independent and strong, and she had a little attitude and wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself,” Gutierrez said. 

When asked if a particular Pink Power Ranger from any of the series inspired her, she replied, “The one that I was into the most was definitely the Pink Ranger from ‘Power Rangers Samurai.’ She was also Asian, which was pretty cool,” noting that a shared identity with the character stood out to her. 

Gutierrez also mentioned that she dressed up as the Pink Power Ranger when she was younger. 

“I was a little bit of a tomboy, but it made me feel like there could a feminine side of myself, but then still be strong, independent and sure of myself, regardless of those two different balances,” Gutierrez said.