Laleina Pierce
The heroine in the Reality Bites (1994)
Directed by Ben Stiller, written by Helen Childress.

This movie explores how it is post-college and the proverbial "entering the real world" phase. In a way, Laleina gave me perspective on how it is to try to be more mature, compromise your ideals and to not be self-entitled. "The world does not owe you anything." Laleina once said.

Julianne Potter
from My Best Friend's Wedding (1997) Directed by J. P. Hogan, written by Ronald Bass

"You're never gonna be jello." My Best Friend's Wedding was my ultimate favorite movie since I was in grade six. Julianne Potter was the woman I pictured myself to be when I turn 28 - feisty, independent and a little icky about the yucky love stuff.

Watching this movie again now that I am months away from turning 28 is a different experience. I got married at 26, does that make me Kimmy and not Julianne? I panicked.

Maybe getting married is not about being traditional and submission. I can still be independent, feisty, creative, strong and a little sarcastic (or self depricatory) with the love stuff.

But the best thing I learned from Julianne is to admit defeat and let go. That's the difference between a woman and a girl.

Watts
from Some Kind of Wonderful (1987) Directed by Howard Deutch, written by John Hughes

One of my friends, Richard Bolisay, said that Some Kind Of Wonderful is the perfect rom-com movie. I agree. Especially it gives you the most rewarding ending -- Keith coming after his boyish bestfriend, Watts, giving her the earrings that's supposed to be for the other girl and saying the perfect line, "You look good wearing my future." Under layers of boyishness, Watts was a sweetheart. She was the perfect best friend: good listener, always there when you need her, nags you on what you truly need, but never telling you how much she loves you. Tough love.

One admirable act from Watts - she was able to kiss her dream guy in the guise of "practice" for kissing the other girl. Way to go, Watts.

And since forever, I've endeared myself to that bestfriend archetype. Never the dream girl, always the bestfriend.

Veronica Sawyer
from Heathers (1988) Directed by Michael Lehmann, Written by Daniel Waters

"Dear Diary, my teen-angst bullshit now has a body count."

Before Mean Girls (and Jawbreaker), there was the Heathers, a dark comedy that critiques social politics, gossip and how most people revere mediocrity.

Cady Heron is no match to Veronica Sawyer. Veronica was smart, self-aware, sarcastic and edgy. She gets distracted by the her anger and the ever-so charming bad boy JD, but he has her moral compass to go back to.

Heathers wasn't your typical coming of age film. It was witty, graphic and unapologetically violent. It didn't restrain itself from criticizing how damaged the concept of a clique is. And honesty, I completely understand JD and Veronica. But then again, I'm too old for cliques.

Penny Lane
from Almost Famous (2000) Written and Directed by Cameron Crowe

"I always tell the girls never take it seriously. If you never take it seriously, you never get hurt. And if you never get hurt, you always have fun. And if you ever get lonely, just go to the record store and visit your friends."

Easier said than done. But awesome advice, especially when you're in your early 20s, enjoying your youth. (Let's insert the backdrop of the indie music scene filled with pseudo sensitive musicians or music loving boys that will eventually break your heart and cheap beer.) Nothing compares to Almost Famous, imagine coming of age + rock n roll. So much philosophizing how it is better to stay uncool and not be friends with the rockstars, because indeed, they will ruin rock and roll.

If ever I'd give out my own advice, it would be, "Love the music, not the musician. The music will never leave." Although I can see myself now more in Lester Bangs than Penny Lane. But Penny Lane was magic.

Laney Boggs
from She's All That (1999) Directed by Robert Iscove, Written by R. Lee Fleming Jr.

Who doesn't remember that slo-mo scene of Laney going down the stairs, in red dress, "Kiss Me" by Sixpence None The Richer playing?

But Laney Boggs was more than that. She was awesome right from the start. Responsible daughter and sister. She takes her art seriously, she's ready to wear white leotards while dancing weirdly. Actually, Zach Silar was least of her concerns.

I love how uncomfortable she is with her "make over" and how home she feels painting in their basement.

Katherina Stratford
from 10 Things I Hate About You (1999) Directed by Gil Junger, written by Karen McCullah and Kirsten Smith

Ask my best friend and Kat Stratford is probably the character I have tried to imbibe since high school.

The Shrew. Temperamental, sarcastic and a feminist. She made being unapproachable so attractive. And it took a strong and witty guy to actually tame her.

And when hurt, she turns to art.

Clarice Starling
from The Silence Of The Lambs (1991) Directed by Jonathan Demme, written by Ted Tally

Growing up, I would often look up to brave and strong women, especially women from fiction, from the movies. Women can get hurt or scared, but it's up to us how to respond to those moments. The women I look up to always chose to fight, in the way that they can.

Furiosa
from Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) Directed by George Miller, Written by George Miller, Brendan MacCarthy and Nick Lathouris

I cannot NOT draw her. Mad Max: Fury Road is such a well-made film, perhaps, if you let my say this, the best of this decade. I love a lot of films that made their statement on women and feminism, but Mad Max: Fury Road is just complete genius.

George Miller (along with his team) successfully made their feminist and progressive point, without scrimping pn testosterone, grit and explosions. It is a masterpiece.

Furiosa can outman many so-called men yet she doesn't stop herself from emotion. She's brave, but calculating. She nurtures as she fights. She's badass.

One more thing, George Miller's editor is his wife Margaret Sixel.

Eve Carmichael
from God Help The Girl (2014) Written and directed by Stuart Murdoch

I wandered the streets of Glasgow daydreaming about the movie God Help The Girl, of course while listening to its OST. Seeing the actual places where they shot scenes was surreal. The film is close to my heart.

Eve is a talented girl who was sick. She won't take in food and believed that she would live only with music. At first, anyone could think she was weak - mentally and physically. But through music (and friends), she heals. She lives beyond the music.

Most film critics would regard God Help The Girl as twee, or sweet, "thin" as some would write. But for me, sometimes we need to go back to the innocence and the naiveté to appreciate how much lessons we have collected.

Sometimes, we don't need deep and dark so we could feel. Sometimes we just need to sing melodic songs.

Also this drawing is sort of my hug to Glasgow -- Inspired by two of my favorite persons in the world, Stuart Murdoch and Cameron Stewart.

Violet Baudelaire
from Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004) Directed by Brad Silberling, written by Robert Gordon

When I heard that Netflix will be coming up with A Series Of Unfortunate Events adaptation, I had a cocktail of feelings: excited, nostalgic and little bit anxious. I started reading the series when I was in college. I collected all the books, saving my allowance and buying from a small second hand book shop in UP. I fell in love with the Baudelaire children, especially with Violet. It's pretty basic why I related to her character. I'm also the eldest, with a brother who's also a book worm like Klaus and a little sister like Sunny, who likes to bite (eat) things. Violet may not be as bookish as Klaus, but she was the INVENTOR. She always used her imagination, logic and crafts(wo)manship to work their way out of an unfortunate event. Pretty much what I always aspire to be.

Emily browning was the perfect Violet Baudelaire. I cut my bangs because of her. And still keeping it up to now, actually. That's why I'm a bit anxious with the Netflix adaptation. I know Emily Browning is already too old for the role, but you get what I mean. I will not compare, but I feel that Malina Weissman would be as great.