If you had a childhood, you know who J.K. Rowling is. Giving us a treasure like "Harry Potter," a series that has changed so many lives, has earned her a spot as a Queen in my book. There is even a Facebook page, "The Queen Herself, J.K. Rowling". She is a true inspiration, bouncing back from her mother's death, a divorce, and being "literally as poor as you can get in Britain without being homeless at one point" in the same year she went on to give us "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." Shown time and time again through her interactions with the media and a few haters (who dares to hate J.K. Rowling, I mean, really), she's also a strong and independent woman. J.K. Rowling makes for the most incredible role model, and here are just a few reasons why.
1. She Has Zero Tolerance for Your Negativity
J.K. Rowling has an incredible way with words, especially when she puts her words together to put a hater in their place. Yesterday, Rowling called out one particularly rude Twitter user, @Diegtristan8, for saying Serena Williams' victory was only attributed to her being "built like a man." Flawlessly, Rowling sent him back to the dark corner of the internet where he came from with one simple tweet.
2. She's Hilarious
For as serious and at times tear-jerking as Harry Potter can be, Rowling is a regular comedian. In constant communication with her fans on social media, especially through Twitter, she is always sharing her funny thoughts with the PotterHeads, every tweet perfectly crafted for a giggle. Whether it's saying she would be Zayn Malik in an alternative universe, or that she would rather have the simple life of weighing otters, Rowling always knows how to bring a smile to her followers' faces.
3. SHE'S GIVING US MORE HARRY POTTER
"Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" is set to debut in London next year. A new story entirely and a whole new adventure, Rowling has given us a live action Harry Potter story. She is breaking U.S. fans' hearts though, as we will have to wait for their box-office results before we get the show stateside.
Still to come, there is a the screenplay in the works for "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them," a 2001 novel she wrote that Warner Brothers is now set to produce as a trilogy with Rowling as the screen writer! This story will star Newt Scamander, the same pseudonym she used to publish the book, and be set nearly 70 years before Harry's story starts.
4. She Supports Equal Rights
J.K. Rowling does not care whether you are magical or muggle, she believes everyone should get to marry who they want. In today's culture, when a celebrity backs a cause like Gay Rights, such support can really help move it forward. When J.K. Rowling announced to the world that Dumbledore was gay, it was referred to by the Toronto Globe and Mail as "the biggest outing in the entertainment industry since Ellen DeGeneres."
5. She is Wise
“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default.”
Watch the Harvard commencement speech she delivered, or really any interview she has done. J.K. Rowling has an eloquent way of imparting wisdom, both through example and words.
