August 22 - 25, 2024

Metro Toronto Convention Centre

FAN EXPO Canada

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Team Picks: Inspirational Fictional Women

Here at the FAN EXPO HQ, our team is always nerding out over the world of fandom. On Team Picks, we share some of our favorite things we’ve been watching, reading and playing. Earlier this month, we celebrated International Women’s Day. For this edition of Team Picks, we’re keeping that energy going.

Fiction is full of role models that teach us how to live and fight for what we want. These role models are even more important for women because fiction is often a way for us to inhabit feelings of power that might not otherwise be available to us.

That’s why this month, we asked a few of the women on the FAN EXPO team to answer this question: which fictional woman has inspired you?

Buffy Summers (Buffy)

Ashley
Customer Service Coordinator

Growing up, seeing a strong female lead was always very important to me. One character in particular that has inspired me since I was young is Buffy Summers. I loved how strong and brave she was and as a very shy young girl, I always wished I could be like that. Not only was she physically strong, but she was also a good friend and her sense of humour was awesome! Seeing a character who could kick some butt, but who was also compassionate and caring was a huge inspiration for me. I still think of her often.

Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games)

Caroline
Social Media Coordinator

It's so hard to pick just one, there are so many fictional women that are inspiring. But one that does stand out to me is Katniss Everdeen. I really admire Katniss' bravery and strength. Not only did she volunteer her life for her sister, but she also balanced fighting for her life in the Hunger Games while protecting other tributes like Rue and Peeta. Then on top of that, she rebelled against the Capitol. She teaches women everywhere to stand up for themselves and what they believe in.

Leslie Knope (Parks and Recreation)

Lizzie
Operations Coordinator

There are SO many fictional women who inspire me on different levels: Captain Marvel, Wonder Woman, and Ahsoka Tano inspire me to never back down from a challenge and to fight for what I believe in. Valkyrie inspires me to go to the gym to work out my arms! However, one fictional woman who I always connect with is Leslie Knope, played by Amy Poehler, from Parks and Recreation. Her determination, ambition, and commitment to her career and making her community a better place are motivating and resonates deeply with me. Plus, her love for breakfast food reassures me that it's okay to eat waffles for every meal of the day while also lifting weights to be strong like Valkyrie. It's called a balanced lifestyle.

Lup (The Adventure Zone: Balance)

Quinn
Social Media Coordinator

Mixing it up with a character from a Dungeons & Dragons podcast. Among all of the amazing characters in The Adventure Zone: Balance, Lup is a fan-favourite, and for very good reason. Every time I re-listen through TAZ, I am more impressed and in awe of Lup, and would love to be more like her. She’s confident and has something clever to say in every scenario, owns her faults, has no problem going after what she wants, and she’ll do whatever it takes for as long as it takes to help her friends. (See: becoming a lich just to protect them better). Also, her now-centuries-long grudge against Greg Grimaldis for something as petty as $15 proves that she is not to be messed with.
(Lup cosplay photo by @aj_cosart).