In a world full of princesses, it was interesting to see "Once Upon a Time’s" heroine, Emma Swan, who is a “savior” rather than a typical “princess.” In her flashy red leather jacket, Emma reminds us of who we are and who we can be if we believe in the magic in the world and take charge of our own destinies.

1. She’s constantly trying to save people.

While her nickname in Storybrooke is “The Savior,” Emma often goes above and beyond the call of duty. She’s always there for those she cares about and those who need her.

2. She’s guarded, but has a great capacity to love.

I can’t say that I blame her for being guarded. She was sent to an unknown world as a baby, grew up in foster care, and went to jail for someone else (*cough cough* Neal). While Emma’s red leather armor does cause her to be closed off at times, once she opens up to Henry, her family, and the love of her life, we see how fiercely she can love.

3. She sees the inherent good in people.

Let’s all admit that Emma is not making great first impressions with people. Regina was threatened by her from the moment Emma entered Storybrooke, and given Hook’s old mischievous ways, it’s easy to see why they did not mesh well. However, Emma’s persistence to believe there is good in everyone allows her break through the bluster people often hide behind.

4. She is selfless.

After Regina devotes herself to fighting the darkness within her, the darkness threatens her. However, Emma takes Regina’s place so that Regina may have her happy ending with Robin Hood and not erase all of the progress she had made. Emma’s time as the Dark One wasn’t easy, but she knew it would be easier for her to fight the darkness with the light.

5. She resists the darkness inside of her.

The Dark Swan was unsettling, but I must commend Emma for always trying to fight the darkness inside of her, especially when Nimue and all the previous Dark Ones enter the picture. Emma does become more cunning during her period as the Dark Swan, but she ultimately tries to save her family and Hook.

6. She’s a total badass.

When Emma chased after Neal in New York on behalf of Gold, I was impressed. While Emma is consistently pretty stealthy, my favorite moment is when she goes back to find Lily to try to reunite her with Maleficent. A car chases, a fist fight, and ultimately a pretty intense moment at gun point, Emma proved she’s more than a pretty face in a yellow bug and red leather jacket.

7. She believes in the magic in the world.

When Emma first came to Storybrooke, she thought that Henry’s ramblings about magic were just that. However, when it came to saving Henry from the sleeping curse, Emma shared a mother’s true love with her son and restored the magic back to Storybrooke.

8. She truly and deeply loves those she cares about.

The Charming family cannot help but help people. Emma constantly worries about her parents and Henry, and goes to great lengths to protect Regina from her dark side. Still, Emma’s most heroic act is her trip to the Underworld to try to save Hook. When she realized she put her family in danger, she did everything she could to get them back safely. Emma’s capacity for love always tugs at the heart strings.

9. She forgives, even when it’s hard.

After finding out what her parents did to Maleficent’s egg (aka Lily), Emma couldn’t live with the guilt of what they had done. While Emma pushed them away and punished them for what they did, she ultimately forgave Snow White and Charming because she always sees the good in people despite their mistakes.

10. She embraces the uniqueness of the family dynamic.

Given the realm travel and the curse on Storybrooke that froze time, it’s a little difficult to understand the dynamic between Snow White, Charming, Emma, Henry, and Hook. While it takes Emma some time to adjust, she ultimately embraces the family she has, because that is all she ever wanted.

11. At the end of the day, all she wants is to be loved.

Emma’s red leather armor isn’t always so easy to break through. She wants to be tough, because that is who she has had to be her whole life. But in reality, Emma wants what everyone wants, to be surrounded in love.

From her wicked cool sense of fashion to retro taste in cars, Emma Swan sets the bar high. But I’m sure we all have a little Emma Swan in us. We just have to believe.