It comes as a shock to absolutely no one when I say how much I love the 2001 classic (or the 2007 Broadway musical, all based off the Amanda Brown novel) Legally Blonde. For those who haven’t been able to enjoy such a fantastic movie: Legally Blonde focuses on the life of Elle Woods, a Delta Nu sorority chapter president who applies and is accepted into Harvard Law School in order to win back her ex-boyfriend. But instead, Elle wins the respect of her peers, wins a great group of loyal and supportive friends, and wins her first major trial. Elle tackles every obstacle thrown in her face: being tricked into wearing a costume to a non-costume party, a slimy professor who can’t see past her blonde hair and pink stationary, and whether or not her client’s confidentiality is worth potentially risking her case. Elle Woods shatters the preconceived notions that women don’t have to choose between beauty or brains, they can be both on their own terms.
For the past 15 years Legally Blonde, specifically Elle Woods, has helped shape the young woman I am today. I would like to say thank you.
Thank you, Elle, for the Bend & Snap, for showing me your unwavering determination you had wanting to get into Harvard Law with no backup plans, for teaching me about the first cardinal rule of perm maintenance, and for showing me having a good friend is just as important as being a good friend.
Thank you, Elle, for teaching me that no one should ever have the power to pit women against each other. There is nothing wrong with being a Marilyn or a Jackie. Both women are wonderful in their own right.
Thank you, Elle, for showing me that being a girly girl doesn’t make me any less powerful. Wearing pink doesn’t make me any less strong. You taught me that I am more than what people think about my physical appearance.
Thank you, Elle, for teaching me that pink will always be the new pink. “Whoever said orange is the new pink is seriously disturbed”.
Thank you, Elle, for showing me that it is okay to fall down and be hurt. Every once in a while you need to spend a few days in bed, throwing a box of chocolates at JR’s lying face and let yourself be hurt before you can realize your true potential. It’s okay to get knocked down and need help, as long as you take care of yourself and get up twice as strong.
Thank you, Elle, for being my exercise encouragement and my saving grace during every health class trivia game. “Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don’t shoot their husbands, they don’t.”
Thank you, Elle, for giving me the strength to stand up for myself and still be peppy and bubbly. You showed me that there is nothing wrong with being happy and kind, and not taking any crap I don’t deserve.
Thank you, Elle for growing. I was able to watch you go from “I’m seriously in love with you, isn’t that enough?” to “I’m never gonna be good enough for you, am I?” to the greatest realization that one’s life cannot revolve around someone who doesn’t love you for you “I’ll show you how valuable Elle Woods can be”. You showed me that one’s true worth can only be measured by themselves and not by anyone else’s standards.
Thank you, Elle, for teaching me the importance of sisterhood. Every girl, even a horrible preppy girl who tried to take you look bad in front of your professor and is dating your ex-boyfriend, deserves to be supported by a sisterhood. Partners change, motives change, but true sisterhood conquers all and accepts everyone. “We girls have to to stick together.”
Thank you, Elle, for teaching me that “being true to yourself never goes out of style”. It meant the world to the impressionable second grader 15 years ago, and still means just as much to me now.
