8 Ways JK Rowling Is The Ultimate Role Model

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling is basically my second mother, my BFF, and my greatest role model. She gave me a home away from home, a magical world so vast and wonderful I grew up with it as if I were there myself. She sparked my imagination, my creativity, and inspired some of my dreams and aspirations. She gave me advice when I needed it most and some of the best friends I could have ever asked for. It's safe to say that Rowling is someone I've looked up to, maybe without even realizing it, for the majority of my life.

Harry Potter fans call her the queen, and it's certainly not far from the truth. Even now, years after the books and movies made their final bow (well, at least until this summer), Rowling continues to stand up for what is right.

Every little girl needs a couple strong role models, and even as an adult, I know I definitely still do. When you're stuck in a difficult situation and you can't make up your mind, you might wonder what your mother or older sister would do. Maybe you'd seek advice out from your grandmother or favorite teacher. For all the book lovers out there, I know it's safe to say that you all look to J.K. Rowling from time to time, and here are eight great reasons why:

1. She's A Strong Feminist

Rowling once said: “I consider myself to be a feminist, and I'd always wanted to show that just because a woman has made a choice, a free choice to say, 'Well, I'm going to raise my family and that's going to be my choice. I may go back to a career, I may have a career part time, but that's my choice.' Doesn't mean that that's all she can do."

She made her female characters independent, intelligent, and opinionated. Hermione, Ginny, Luna, McGonagall, and so many more characters from Harry Potter are strong role models for young girls, all of which reflect Rowling's beliefs.

2. She's An Advocate For Self-Love

How could we forget Rowling's famous, "I mean, is ‘fat’ really the worst thing a human being can be?" quote? She values humans beyond their physical looks, weight, and measure — which is honestly how we should all view each other and ourselves. Embracing self-love is a lesson Rowling taught us in multiple ways, and I can't thank her enough for it.

3. She Inspired An Entire Generation To Love Reading

Before Harry Potter, people loved to read, and even after Harry Potter ended people loved to read, but Harry Potter did something truly special. It took an entire generation of kids and turned them into lifelong readers. It inspired little girls and boys to become writers. It sparked imaginations. It will continue to inspire for generations to come.

4. She Encourages Girls To Embrace Their Intelligence

Rowling once said: "Let my girls be Hermiones, rather than Pansy Parkinsons.” Who wouldn't want to be the brightest witch of their age?

5. She Shuts Down The Romanticization Of Bad Guys

When it comes to Draco Malfoy, some fans have quite a fascination and obsession with romanticizing the mysterious bad guy. However, Rowling is unnerved by it.

"Draco has all the glamour of the anti-hero; girls are very apt to romanticize such people. All of this left me in the unenviable position of pouring cold common sense on ardent readers’ daydreams as I told them, rather severely, that Draco was not concealing a heart of gold under all that sneering and prejudice and that no, he and Harry were not destined to end up best friends."

6. She Frequently Donates To Charities

Rowling was the first writer to become a billionaire, but she soon fell off of Forbes list as she continues to donate a significant portion of her money to charities continually. If that isn't life goals, I don't know what is.

7. She Started With Nothing

Rowling came from humble beginnings. When she began Harry Potter, she was a single mother, impoverished, and depressed. She still managed to push through and chase her dreams, which alone makes her an excellent role model to look up to.

8. She Never Gave Up

Most importantly, though personal battles and multiple rejections, she never gave up on Harry Potter or her dreams. She showed her fans how determination and faith can pull you through just about anything, and that hard work really does pay off.

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