What can a bubbly law student in pink and the fierce daughter of a Montana ranch possibly have in common? More than you might think. In this reflection, I explore why Elle Woods and Beth Dutton have become two of my favourite fictional women, and the unexpected lessons they both teach about authenticity, courage, boundaries, and refusing to shrink to fit other people's expectations. Their journeys may look completely different, but together they reveal that there is no single way to be a strong woman.

Beth Dutton is one of television's most unforgettable characters. Fiercely loyal, brilliantly intelligent, and deeply scarred by trauma, she refuses to fit neatly into the role of hero or villain. In Yellowstone, Beth is the storm at the centre of every conflict, a woman shaped by loss, driven by love, and willing to burn down the world to protect the people she cares about. Love her or hate her, she is impossible to ignore.