The early 2000s have been iconic years for teen films; Mean Girls, Clueless and many other shaped young girls’ view of themselves and the world. For how iconic these films were, they did not do justice to women. These films often put women against each other, dividing them into two structured and stereotyped groups; the fashion and mean or dumb blonde girl, versus the messy and unfashionable clever girl.
In 2001, Legally Blonde, with Reese Whiterspoon, revolutionised the trope.
At the beginning of the story, Elle Woods is the stereotypical blonde fashionista who everyone considers dumb. When her boyfriend breaks up with her, Elle decides to apply to Harvard Law School to win him back. After scoring the perfect grade, our uncommon heroine is admitted to Harvard and goes through a great transformation. Still judged for how she dresses and behaves, Elle realises that she is more than what others see.
Through hard work and dedication, Elle Woods becomes one of Harvard’s best students without changing her love for fashion, and bubbly personality. Her transformation comes from the inside but not from the outside, and she shows that women can wear pink, fashionable clothes and still be clever.
This film shows women that they don’t belong to one label and that they can aim high without changing themselves.
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