Hiya Pinkies! It’s me, Lissa, and I’d like to introduce you to Joy, our Pink Editor-in Chief and Diva Extraordinaire. Joy is posting today, from a Pink galaxy far, far away, to honor Star Wars Day (who knew?) So give her a ginormous Pink high five!
Happy Star Wars Day! Yep, Star Wars Day. Who knew? Surely not we at Pink headquarters. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t make a pink day out of it and take a few lessons from Princess Leia, the “stong-willed heroine of the rebel alliance.” How kick-ass is that title? I’m totally running with that today. Powerful, sexy, feminine, able to take out storm troopers with a futuristic laser-uzi, leader of a planet and driving force behind the New Republic (I don’t know what that is but I LOVE it). Leia for a day? I’ll take it. Based on my own limited recollection of the movies and information harvested from those more in the know about the film, here are ten lessons we Pinkies can take from the Imperial Senator (with apologies to Star Wars fans for literary and cinematic inaccuracy-I’m going for the essence of Leia here):
1. You ROCK that hairdo if it’s what makes you feel happy and powerful. References to baked goods (or Medusa, or Amy Winehouse, or Telly Sevalis) be damned.
2. In that vein, it’s TOTALLY cool to wear the same outfit every day, and fire up the metal bikini on special occasions.
3. No need to freak out … Of course let it out. Cry when you have to, but sometimes all a situation really warrants is a dry laugh or roll of the eyes. I always loved Leia’s genuine unflappability … she doesn’t always bury emotion to appear strong. You can tell that sister just knows that everything is going to end up fine. And it does.
4. When life gives you lemons … Clad in her metal bikini in the Empire Strikes Back, Leia takes out Jabba the Hut with the very chains that bind her.
5. Literally, the whole universe is yours to move, shape, and unite as you wish.
6. Be happy with your body and all its curves. I’ve heard that Carrie Fisher caught real-life storm-trooper fire because she could never shed quite enough weight to make the movie creators happy. Did you once look at Leia and think, man, if she had slimmer thighs or more pronounced cheekbones, she could REALLY kick some ass? How many men (or women) don’t harbor Princess Leia fantasies to this day because she wasn’t the boy-shaped waif born of false expectations?
7. Trust your instincts. By and large, Leia always just knew to steer clear of Luke … in that way. Every day our guts are giving us equally valuable advice. Listen deeply and you’ll never be led astray.
8. You can go your own way … So her father was the Dark Lord of Everything Bad. How many of us grew up in crappy situations? Don’t rest on family history, genetics, or the fate of your relatives to determine your own destiny.
9. Sure, you don’t need to be rescued, but give yourself a break every now and again. If Han wants to sweep you away in the Millennium Falcon to the planet Dathomir for a spontaneous post-battle getaway, make the time. The empire will be there when you get back.
10. Wield that light saber. Or pen. Or paint brush. Or crocheting hook. Or surgical knife. Or hockey stick. Or socket wrench. Whatever tool it is that helps you carve or own your place in the world – wield it with pride and without apology. And hey, what better way to find your slash?
If we can Own Pink by way of the most iconic science fiction film of all time, is there any place or situation or time that Owning Pink isn’t possible? We Pinkies are the rebel alliance and the empire; the stars and planets and ships sailing between. We’re the warriors and aliens and machines. We are saber-wielding women, slashing our way through the universe we shape. Take a lesson from Leia – stay cool, stay strong, be yourself in all your curvy, white-robe wearing, side-bun rocking glory.
From my Pink galaxy to yours,
Joy
Tags: Empire Strikes Back, female empowerment, Han Solo, Jabba the Hut, Luke Skywalker, New Republic, Princess Leia, Star Wars, Star Wars Day
Leia is awesome. When I was a little girl, I used to make my stepmom put my hair up in braided buns just like her.