Queen B had her dark moments -- that pregnancy scare in season one -- but the Queen of Scheme taught me everything I needed to know about being a real strong woman. While it is true that her outbursts of sass often got her into trouble, Blair always had the best of intentions, and when it came to manipulative plotting there was no one better.

1. Blair knew best friends are forever.               

Blair Waldorf is my role model for transitioning high school friends into college and, eventually, the real world. No matter how dumb the fight, she and Serena could always find neutral ground on the steps of the Met and they came out even stronger than before.      

2. She aspired to marry royalty, and she did!             

We might joke about getting an MRS degree, but Blair lived out the dream. She started out on the steps of Constance, but knew she wanted to rule on a global scale. She worked her way to the top, complete with a tiara. She set an example for all of us girls that you really can have all your dreams come true.      

3. She had a way with words unlike anyone else. 

Whether she was zinging Dan Humphrey for his “Muppet mop” of hair, or yelling at Dorota about peony placement, she knew how to effectively get her point across in a concise way. Plus, she only made people cry occasionally while doing it.      

4. She dressed to impress. 

No matter where she was going, Blair would never be caught in anything less than her absolute best. Whether it was class at Columbia, running around the Upper East Side, or deep in the heart of Brooklyn, she always had on the hottest new shoes and made all of us want to try a little harder on a daily basis.     

5. She knew she was fabulous and owned it. 

No matter who insulted her, or wrote terrible things about her on Gossip Girl, she always kept her head held high. As she once said, “I have to present myself as a crown jewel, surrounded by other, smaller, slightly flawed gems -- but quality stones, nonetheless.”      

6. She believed in love, and was willing to do anything for it

“Three words. Eight letters. Say it and I’m yours.” Whether it was for the love of Louboutins, or her beloved Chuck Bass, there were few lines Blair was not willing to cross to save someone, or something she held dear. She constantly inspired me to fight for what I want, because hard work always pays off.      

7. She married Chuck Bass. 

She, singlehandedly, turned a bad boy into the boyfriend we all want and will never have. They might have had their rough patches throughout the years, but no matter what was going on, we all knew they had to end up together. Once they finally figured out how to channel their powers of manipulation, together and for the good of humanity, they became the ultimate power couple that no one else could ever top.