The New York detective is one of the coolest women on television.

If you’re like me, you grew up watching "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." And when I say watching, I mean spending rainy days watching six-hour "SVU" marathons on USA. I have to concede that it may not have been the best use of my time. Nevertheless, Olivia Benson became one of my idols. She’s a smart, ambitious woman who never lets anyone get in her way.

Here are seven reasons why Detective/Sergeant/Lieutenant Olivia Benson is your best friend/role model/idol.

1. She has always been an advocate for women’s rights and the rights of victims of sexual assault.

2. No one can deny that she’s a bad b*tch, and she knows how to work an interrogation room.

3. She’s smart, and she knows it. She’s confident in her abilities, which is something we could all work on.

4. She always puts her team first. Benson is loyal until the end.

5. No matter what, she’s there for everyone, and her friends can come to her for anything.

While we can't be friends with Olivia Benson in real life, watching her do her thing on TV might just be the second-best thing. I know I'll be doing it for as long "SVU" is on the air (or for as long as Netflix continues to feed my "SVU" addiction).