Dearest Elle Woods,
I just want to start out by saying thank you for always being there for me. You never failed to make an appearance at any slumber party I hosted, and you were always there for me on those nights when I just needed a pick-me-up. For that, I’ll be forever grateful. But that is just a fraction of what you’ve done for me. You’ve also taught me some life lessons that I’m not soon to forget.
Thank you, Elle, for showing me that in life, not everything is handed to you on a silver platter. Sometimes you have to buckle down and work hard for what you want. You showed me how to stay motivated and not to lose sight of what is really important, even if you have to miss a theme party or two on the road to success. Heading towards your goals often means needing to go the extra mile. You demonstrated this to me when you took extra trips to the prison to make sure you could prove your friend innocent and to show Hannigan that you had initiative. You taught me to never settle for less than you deserve, but that doesn’t mean you demand things be given to you, but you have to work to make sure you never have to settle.
Elle, you taught me that no one is worth changing myself over. At times in a girl’s life, it may seem like keeping that boy or making friends with those people is the most important thing and that you should do anything to have those people in your life. You went through that, Elle Woods, and you survived with a lesson that you could pass on to lots of impressionable girls like me. If you have to prove your worth to keep someone in your life, that relationship is toxic, and you need to leave. Never, ever, EVER sacrifice what is important to you just to fit in or to stay in a relationship. Girls, have confidence in yourself. It’s what Elle would want for you.
Thank you for showing me the importance of standing up for myself and for others. There were so many times in “Legally Blonde” when people tried to throw you under the bus or take advantage of you. You showed me how to stand my ground and never let anyone tread on me. You also taught me to stand up for my friends. When Paulette disclosed that her vial ex-husband used their divorce to make her feel small, you marched right over to that creep and told him to knock it off and give Paulette her dog back. I was grateful to you as a role model in that instance. Always I strive to stand up for my friends and for myself in the way that you never failed to do.
Finally, Elle Woods, you taught me to never judge anyone based on first impressions. You had to overcome trials and tribulations, all because you were cute and blonde and liked to wear pink! Being cute or blonde doesn’t reflect on a person’s character or on their wit. You taught me and the world to knock it off on the discriminatory stereotyping. Even though Vivian was totally rude to you at the beginning of “Legally Blonde,” by continually taking the moral high road, you showed us people are often not as they seem. I couldn’t believe the awful things Vivian did to you, but you believed in the sanctity of people. By never being rude to her back, you and she actually bonded, and Vivian allowed you to see her true self. Through your experiences, you taught me that people are complex and to give everyone an equal chance at friendship.
So thank you, Elle Woods, for teaching so many young girls like myself the importance of these lessons. “Legally Blonde” is an important movie for young women. I’ll see you the next time all my girls get together.
Sincerely,
A Die-Hard “Legally Blonde” Fan