As every other viewer, I rooted for Olivia Pope and Fitz. I spent seasons hating Mellie Grant, but in season five, Mellie took a new view in my opinion. Mellie Grant went from former lawyer and First Lady of the United States, to freshman senator and Republican nominee for the President of the United States.
Mellie was sexually assaulted by her husbands father, her son was murdered, and although her and Fitz had a destructive marriage, her husband cheated on her. Senator Grant spent months in mourning, anger, and depression from these events, but then she used her heart-ache to motivate her career.
So, here is where I think we should all look up to Mellie Grant. Mellie shows women everywhere that you can be capable to turn your life around and turn it into what YOU want- not what others have wanted. Mellie has her law degree, a field where many women are not in. She is a well educated women who will not dumb herself down for others.
Mellie also sacrificed so much, and we have to admire her loyalty to Fitz in this sense. She knew that it was Fitz's turn to be president, but never gave up her hopes of her days in the Oval Office. She knows that she is capable, and ready to take HER TURN.
Mellie is a feminist. She calls out the inequality in politics, and says it how it is. Even though she is a republican women, she spent hours on her feet to make sure Planned Parenthood was not defunded. Mellie also does not let her ex-husband and current president boss her around on her campaign trail. Mellie also calls out the privilege of her former husband - his political family, money, race, and gender.
So, even though sometimes we love to hate Mellie, we have to admit she is a kick ass women, who (if Scandal was real life) would have my vote.