(WARNING: THERE WILL QUITE POSSIBLY BE SPOILERS FOR THE NEW STAR WARS FILM BEYOND THIS POINT. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.)

In 1977, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope premiered. My mother, the biggest Star Wars fan I know, turned three that year and she was too young to go to the movie premiere. She says she remembers crying on the floor, wishing she could go see the film. Even though she was upset about missing the movie, she eventually watched it, and to this day she says that it changed her life. A few years later, when she was finally old enough to play Jedi with her cousins, they wouldn't let her play with their lightsabers because she was a girl. Instead, she had to play as the Jawas. Let's be honest though. She was probably a pretty cute Jawa.

I should mention that our cousins meant no harm by this. They just liked to playfully pick on my mom. However, this story made me wonder: Can girls be Jedi? Sure, there are female Jedi in the galaxy (especially in the expanded universe), but how much screen time do they actually get in the films? While Leia is an awesome butt-kicking princess, it would be great to see more women wielding lightsabers. So, I guess I'll rephrase the question. Can we have some lady Jedi, and can they get some screen time and backstories please?

Well, thanks to the new Star Wars movie, girls can save the day with the force now and be more than just blur in the background, who may be swinging a lightsaber. In Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens, we are introduced to a new (and honestly my new favorite) character. Her name is Rey, and she is the new epitome of a strong female protagonist. That's right. Step aside, Katniss Everdeen. Here's a few reasons why Rey is the new face for fierce females in film:

1. She is hard-working.

At the beginning of the movie, we see Rey works incredibly hard for just a few scraps of food. She literally depends on no one other than herself. Not that it's bad to depend on other people, but I think it's nice to see how willing she is to work to provide for herself.

2. She's honest.

Sometimes brutally. She even called the millennium falcon a piece of junk. The millennium falcon. While this trait seems unimportant, I like a female character who speaks her mind and doesn't care who hears.

3. Girl can fight!

Need I say more? The girl can fight!

4. She's real.

Rey is a relatable character. While she is clearly strong, she also shows emotion. She's not portrayed as a perfect heroine. She is flawed like everyone else.

5. Rey is totally freakin' awesome.

She is seriously an amazing, butt-kicking gal.

If those five reasons didn't convince you, it doesn't stop there. Along with being honest, relatable, and good with a gun, Rey's character doesn't revolve around a love story. She doesn't have a strong love interest (it's debatable that she even has a love interest at all). Rey is also not sexualized at all. Her presence in the movie isn't solely based on her sex appeal.

(Okay, I've been kind, but the spoilers are seriously about to happen.)

Lastly, a HUGE reason why Rey is the ultimate female protagonist, especially in the Star Wars movies is... *drumroll*

She's Jedi. Or, at least, she could be. It is shown in the movie that she is force sensitive, and she even uses a lightsaber to fight a Sith. This is extremely exciting for Star Wars fans because this could also lead to even more female Jedi from the expanded universe being showcased in future movies. Why is this important? Imagine this movie had premiered in 1977. The three-year-old version of my mother watches the film, and sees Rey swinging a lightsaber and using the force. No one could ever tell my mom (or any other little girl) that she couldn't be a Jedi. And that is amazing.

So, grab your lightsabers, ladies because...The force awakens.