After watching Mean Girls for the millionth time this past Saturday, I started to remember the impact Lindsay Lohan had during the late 1990s and early 2000s. From her debut movie The Parent Trap to her more well-known films Freaky Friday, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Get a Clue, and obviously Mean Girls, Lindsay was one of the few actresses that made an impact on our generation. Here are some of the reasons why Lindsay Lohan was so important to young girls during this time:
1. Her Hair
One of Lindsay’s greatest qualities was her hair. Although gingers tend to get a bad reputation, Lindsay owned her hair and made many young girls insanely jealous of its perfection. Aside from Ariel in The Little Mermaid, Lindsay was the reason I always wanted to be a redhead. Unfortunately, that color does not come from a bottle. Unless you are born with such flawlessness, it is almost impossible to imitate.
2. Her Music
There were two singers that young girls were obsessed with during this time: Hillary Duff and Lindsay Lohan. And although Hillary was much more successful, no one could forget Lindsay Lohan’s hit single “Ultimate” from Freaky Friday. In all honesty, the only reason I wanted the soundtrack was for that one song. Lindsay wasn’t the greatest singer, but her songs were always catchy.
3. The Parent Trap
Everyone was (and still is) obsessed with The Parent Trap. Whenever it is on TV my friends and I always watched it. How could we not? Lindsay was everything we always wanted to be – spunky, intelligent, and adorable. She also played the child of a wedding dress designer and a vineyard owner. How could we not be jealous? And let’s not forget the fantastic handshake the butler and her did every time they saw each other. This movie and Lindsay were spectacular.
4. Mean Girls
For obvious reasons, Lindsay has become so popular because of her role in Mean Girls. This movie has defined a generation with its catch-phrases. If I had a nickel for every time someone yelled “You go Glen Coco!” in a gesture of congratulations, I would be a millionaire. But this was also the beginning of Lindsay’s transition into adult-themed films. Beyond this point, Lindsay would never be the same Lindsay we had grown to love. But she has left a legacy that none of us will ever forget.
