I was introduced to Reese Witherspoon's "Legally Blonde" when I was about 12 or 13, and was instantly hooked. Not only is it extremely funny, but also inspiring and uplifting. Elle Woods has served as a sort of role model in the realistic way she handles life's obstacles and how she defines her life on her own terms instead of other's. In honor of the 15th anniversary, here are 15 lessons from Elle Woods
Don’t judge a book by its cover
People aren't always what they seem. That great professor may actually be a complete jerk, your perfect boyfriend may be a complete bonehead, the mean girl in your classes could be your best friend and blondes aren't always dumb.
Love yourself first and be confident
Being confident in your own skin will bring the good people to you, you'll feel powerful and beautiful which will radiate out
There’s no one “right” type of woman
While the cast is lacking in diversity, each woman in "Legally Blonde" is unique in her own way. There's Paulette, who's incredibly shy but also extremely faithful to her friends; Professor Stromwell, who is intimidating but gives great advice and has obviously worked her way to the top; Elle's sorority sisters, who may not be the brightest lights but who are there every step of the way; Chutney, who doesn't want her last name to define her life; and Elle, who is forging her path. Each woman comes from a different background, which shows that you can be whoever and still be important in other's lives as well as your own
Sisters and sisterhood are important
Elle's sorority sisters were there for her every step of the way: making sure she was studying for the LSAT instead of going to a party, there when Warner dumped her and for her very first court case. Women aren't always against you; the relationships you forge with females can be empowering if you let them
Don’t be afraid to go outside your comfort zone
Your comfort zone is made up! Don't let it define who you are. Elle majored in fashion and ended up at Harvard Law; it probably wasn't the easiest route to take and there were plenty of hurdles, but she ended up graduating by pushing herself to take risks
Hard work pays off
See above. If you put in the time and effort to make something happen, it will
Exercise gives you endorphins, endorphins make you happy, happy people don’t kill their husbands
I think this one is self-explanatory. But exercise and be active, so you don't make any huge mistakes. Chances are, Chutney didn't exercise the way Brooke did. Happy people are also more fun to be around
Surround yourself with people that support you
Sisters, friends, professors. Having people support you makes the journey so much easier and all the work much more worth it. So rid yourself of the Warners in your life that say you're too dumb to go to Harvard, and fill your life with Paulettes and Emmetts who will be there with you through the ups and downs.
Wear what you want and don’t care about what people think
Pink leather to move in? A sparkly bikini top and fur? A pink suit for court? Let your personality shine! Unless you think orange is the new pink, then you're seriously disturbed.
Don’t be a snob and be nice to everyone
Whether it’s the awkward nerd or the lady who does your nails, friends and great people are hiding everywhere and you never know who they are until you find out.
Have faith in yourself
Don't let one or two people's low opinions damage your self-worth. Keep working and prove them wrong. Follow your passions and dreams and let them define you instead of a couple of doubters. When you get down to it, the one thing that really helped Elle graduate from Harvard was her neverending ability to follow her passion and faith in herself, which is an incredibly beautiful thing
Go all out
Make that pink scented resume and leave people with something to remember you by. If you want to go to law school, go to Harvard without backups. Why not have your essay be a video? Separate yourself from the crowd and do things that follow your unique personality. It's all about faith and confidence
Don’t let a “stupid prick” ruin your life
Professor Stromwell said it best. If Elle let Callahan's opinion of her as just a "piece of a**" define her future as a lawyer, she would have left Boston and her passions. But she decided to pick herself up and keep moving, leaving Callahan standing with his dropped jaw in the middle of a courtroom.
Perms are not attractive
No offense Chutney, but the hair didn't work. Although it is a good alibi if you want to get out of a murder case, stick to natural curls.
The bend and snap works 98 percent of the time
And also has an 83 percent chance of a second date. Pretty cool. So when you're in a real jam, just "drop" something. But make sure you don't break the person's nose on your way up.
