11 Women We Wish Were Real

Ever wish you could really dance with Tracy Turnblad or ask Hermione Granger for help with your homework? Do you secretly think a real life Luna Lovegood or Elizabeth Bennet would make the perfect BFF? In honor of Women's History Month, here are female characters we'd love to come alive so we could hang out together.

1. Katniss Everdeen

   The Hunger Games tribute is the kind of girl you'd like to bring on a camping trip—of doom. Loyal, smart, and resourceful she knows her way around a bow and completely demolishes the notion of fighting, "like a girl."

2. Mulan

   The Disney heroine risked her life to save her father, proving along the way she can fight just as well as the guys and stratigize better than most.

3. Tracy Turnblad

   The musical Hairspray's main diva reminds us to stand up against discrimination. Dancing is just for a certain body type? Nope. Separation is okay? Super nope.

4. Jenna Hamilton

   MTV's Awkward shows us a just-plain-awesome high school student. Even when she's blackmailing, she's blackmailing for the right reasons.

5. Mercedes Jones

   GLEE's songstress has proven herself to be a great friend to both Quinn and Kurt. She can also take care of herself (careful though, she'll bust the windows out your car).

6. Kat Stratford

   10 Things I Hate About You's main gal doesn't care what people think of her, which means she'll kick butt at soccer and read feminist prose if she wants to.

7. Amy Farrah Fowler

   With a PhD in neurobiology, The Big Bang Theory's brainy character could definitely help you with your science project. And as proved by her devotion to her (kind of) BFF Penny, she might also help you put your personal life.

8. Hermione Granger

   In the world of Harry Potter Ron is there for comic relief, Harry for guts, and Hermione for everything else. Yes, her intelligence and work ethic means she's a star student, but she also gets an A+ in life.

9. Elizabeth Bennet

   At a time when women were completely financially dependent on men, the novel Pride and Prejudice's protagonist values love and loyalty over money. She reminds us: don't settle, in work, friendship, or love.

10. Storm

    Proving even X-Men superheroes have fears, Storm conquered her claustrophobia and talks a leadership role among the mutants. And she can control the weather. That's a plus.

11. Luna Lovegood

    The heart of a lion, the blood pressure of a sloth. Harry Potter's Luna is all about staring down evil with complete calm, all while wearing awesome accessories.

What Can You Do?

• Host an exercise to encourage equality
• Host a lock-in for positive self-esteem